Dear Industry Colleagues,

It was a tremendous effort by ‘Team Australia’ at the recent 10th anniversary of TABEE held in Macau this month. In all aspects, the event was a success and we look forward to getting started on planning TABEE 2009. Thank you to the Australian sellers who took part in this mission. There is no doubt that TABEE continues to be a valuable business development forum.

Sellers reported they secured strong leads and specific pieces of business. This is a testament to the solid qualifying process used by Tourism Australia’s Asia team headed by Johnny Nee, Regional General Manager, North Asia. At the gala dinner Johnny’s contribution to TABEE was recognised in a special tribute from Tourism Australia and also from leaders in the industry.
To read more                     

New brand for Business Events Australia

Tourism Australia has launched a new Business Events Australia brand that will underpin all business event marketing activities and position Australia as a leading, sustainable business events destination. 

To reflect the new brand our business unit name has been changed from Tourism Events Australia to Business Events Australia. As part of this brand roll-out, a brand book and fact sheets have been developed as a tool for the industry to use when marketing Australia for business events. To read more

Celebrating a decade of TABEE

The three-day Team Australia Business Events Educational (TABEE) 2008 was held in Macau from 3 to 5 March. The 10 year anniversary of this event set another benchmark this year with 60 Australian industry, 10 VIP guests, 23 media and 110 buyers from across Asia attending.

The program included one-on-one appointments between Asian buyers and Australian sellers. To read more or to view image gallery.

UK incentive agents familiarisation

20-26 February 2008: Melbourne, Whitsundays, Brisbane

Tourism Australia’s business events team partnered with Melbourne Convention & Visitors Bureau, Brisbane Marketing and Convention Bureau, Tourism Whitsundays and Qantas to host nine UK conference and incentive agents. To read more

A new perspective for successful business events

The business events sector is increasingly aware of the need to adopt best practice in environment and corporate social responsibility.

For meeting planners, we produced a Green Check-list. This was developed using the work of Jeremy Garling from Great Southern E-vents whose green check-list is downloadable from http://www.gse.com.au/. To read more

Business events visitation statistics - January results

As part of our monthly updates on conference and visitors arrivals, the Business Events Arrivals - January 2008 Report is now available.

There were 188,800 convention or conference arrivals during the year ended 31 January 2008, an increase of 9 per cent year-on-year. In addition, overall business arrivals increased 6 per cent year-on-year, while total arrivals to Australia increased 2 per cent.

UK - Eventia Awards 2008

The UK’s annual business events awards, The Eventia Awards took place in February to recognise the best UK conference and incentive agencies for 2007. Tourism Australia representatives Lene Corgan and Rodney Harrex were amongst the Australian industry in attendance in addition to a number of Australian convention bureaux, convention centres and DMCs. To read more

Tourism Australia market briefings - incorporating business events

For the first time, the March and April Tourism Australia Market Briefings will incorporate business events. This demonstrates Tourism Australia’s commitment to promoting Australia as a business events destination.

The Market Briefings provide an overview of the various tourism market segments for the broader tourism industry. To read more or to register.

US corporate and incentive road show

The Corporate and Incentive Road Show is a new event being managed by Tourism Australia’s Business Events Manager in the US. It provides an opportunity for Australian incentive product to spend one-on-one time with key North American buyers in up to three cities. The show will revolve around a lunch presentation in each city. To read more or to register.

US Incentive Travel Exchange applications open

The Incentive Travel Exchange (ITE) will be held in Las Vegas from 23 to 25 June 2008. ITE will bring together pre-qualified hosted buyers and a limited number of sellers of incentive travel for two days of pre-arranged meetings and networking. Tourism Australia’s Business Events Manager in the US is co-ordinating the Australia Suite. To read more or to register.

Business Events Australia at IMEX 2008

IMEX is a premier trade event for the incentive and corporate meetings industry in Europe, held from 22-24 April 2008 in Frankfurt, Germany. Business Events Australia’s presence at IMEX 2008 will mark the first European roll-out of the new business events brand for the country. The Australia stand will comprise eight Australian industry partners to showcase Australia’s incentive and corporate meetings product. To read more

Tasmanian Convention Bureau farewells Vincent Barron

Tasmania Convention Bureau and the business events sector will farewell Vin Barron as he retires from the sector next month. Vin has been a great advocate to the business events sector and provided much support for the nation as a business events destination.

Tourism Australia and the Business Events Australia team wishes Vin all the best for the future.

Business events industry news

New Directors appointed to Adelaide Convention Tourism Authority

$130M Expansion for Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Sunshine Coast has issued its first events calendar

Melbourne’s Telstra Dome launches its new function facilities