Joyce DiMascio
Head of Business Events Australia |
31 October 2008
Dear industry colleagues,
As world economic indices continue to decline, there will be a direct impact on the business events sector in Australia and around the world.
While this could help keep more Australian corporate meetings and incentives at home, some international clients may be reassessing their plans to come to Australia. We have been advised by a number of DMCs, hotels and bureaux that some bookings have been put on hold or cancelled as companies take stock of their fortunes.
In order to measure the scale of impact in Australia we’d be keen to hear from you. If you know of a piece of business that has been affected please send us a note at bea@tourism.australia.com – please specify the type of event, number of delegates, days and location. This will give us a more accurate picture of the state-of-play for our industry and help us to determine how best to assist the industry with future marketing. |
The important message to our industry is that Australia must continue to market and nurture even more the relationships with our clients around the world to keep Australia visible and connected.
As our global and domestic operating environments are affected by mega financial trends – we must stay focused and active across all sectors of the market working as a strong and cohesive Australian business events team.
Through the trade marketing programs delivered by Business Events Australia around the world we will continue to find and qualify buyers and create platforms that allow Australia to be showcased in fresh and inspiring ways. These partnership opportunities will continue to be available to industry.
On the bigger promotional stage for Australia – the launch of Tourism Australia’s new destination campaign and the imminent release of Australia the movie is creating unprecedented exposure for Australia around the world.
Our business events programs will leverage these opportunities – already in the UK and at EIBTM in Spain we will be holding special screenings of Australia for our clients.
These are challenging times for our industry – but we will face these with new levels of drive to inspire our clients to consider the benefits of meeting in Australia.
Best wishes,
Joyce DiMascio
Head of Business Events Australia
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Vacancy - Senior role at Business Events Australia
We are currently recruiting a Buinsess Events Project Manager to join our team in Sydney. To see the the job advertisement, click here.
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Unprecedented exposure for Tourism Australia’s campaign
It has been a few weeks since the launch of Tourism Australia’s new destination campaign and we continue to get great coverage.
The campaign has generated: 58 news stories on television around the country (free to air stations), 2001 stories on radio programs across the country, 600 print and online stories around the world and 1,200 blogs around the world. To read more, click here. |
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Exclusive Australia screenings at EIBTM and in UK
Tourism Australia is hosting an exclusive screening of Australia for buyers and stand partners at the EIBTM tradeshow in Barcelona. The details of the screening are:
Date: 3 December 2008
Time: 18:00 Reception (welcome drinks) followed by 19:00 Movie Screening
Venue: Filmax Gran, Vía Cinema (just across the road from the EIBTM exhibition hall)
This will be advertised through the EIBTM hosted buyer website and via a series of e-blasts to the registered hosted buyers and also through Austrade in Spain. To view the invitation, click here.
In the UK, three special screenings will be held in December, one in London, Manchester and Birmingham. For all screenings Tourism Australia will host a business events reception. These will be advertised to corporates via a Tourism Australia e-blast with Conference and Incentive Travel Magazine in mid November. |
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TABEE 2008 in Macau -
buyers, sellers and TA staff
at the gala dinner
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TABEE 2009 goes to Kuala Lumpur
The TABEE 2009 project team, led by Ms Vean Chan, Business Tourism Manager in Asia has selected the Shangri La Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as venue partner.
Tourism Australia has priced bureaux participation levels at the same rates as 2008 in order to keep TABEE accessible in the current economic climate.
To read more, click here. |
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G’Day USA inaugural business events opportunities
For the first time, G’Day USA will provide unique opportunities for the Australian business events sector. Suppliers of incentive products and services will be able to participate in events that connect them with qualified corporate clients during Australia Week.
The program includes three events that will be held between 15 and 19 January 2009. These events are: Business Events Australia and Maritz Travel Boutique Dinner, San Francisco; Beverly Hills Down Under Walkabout, Los Angeles; and the G’Day LA Ball, Los Angeles.
G’Day USA’s Australia Week 2009 is a festival running from 13-24 January that showcases the best of Australian culture, business and tourism.
Applications close for G'Day USA: Business Events Australia Opportunities on Friday, 14 November 2008. To view the prospectus, click here.
For more information visit Tourism Australia’s trade events website or contact Skye Baird. |
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Austrade/Business Events Working Group
Business Events Australia continues to meet with Austrade to assess opportunities to work together and leverage new business opportunities for Australia.
Last month, Austrade, Business Events Australia and the Association of Convention Bureaux agreed to establish an Austrade/Business Events Working Group. The Group will assess how to leverage future business for Australia particularly in the sectors such as clean energy, health, biotechnology and education.
This initiative follows the signing of an MOU between Tourism Australia and Austrade and the inclusion of a goal to work more closely in business events.
Austrade Trade Commissioner in Spain, Michelle Wade, has been very proactive in promoting Australia as a business events destination leading to the creation of new business from this market. The aim is to develop the capability of other Austrade Commissioners with the knowledge and expertise to replicate the Spanish approach.
For more information contact Joyce DiMascio. |
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Conventions Australia and Business Events Australia partnership
Business Events Australia and Conventions Australia are working together to deliver a marketing program for 2009/2010 for the association sector.
The new marketing program will be rolled out for the 2009/2010 financial year when current funding for Conventions Australia comes to an end.
Joyce DiMascio, Head of Business Events Australia said: "We are delighted to be at the table with the Ton van Amerongen, Amanda Anker and Lyn Lewis Smith developing a plan together for the association sector - the scope of this work will be influenced by the level of funding we receive for next financial year."
Conventions Australia Acting Chairman and Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre Chief Executive, Ton van Amerongen, said the partnership would enable Conventions Australia to build on its achievements.
“Since its creation in 2007, Conventions Australia has run a broad marketing campaign featuring advertising, public relations, direct mail and a dedicated website, which has raised our profile amongst meeting planners and associations around the world,” Mr van Amerongen said.
“Partnering with Business Events Australia will let us continue this awareness program and enable us to work strategically to secure future events business for Australia in an increasingly competitive environment.”
For more information contact Lara Wolski. |
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Qantas Sustainable Tourism Seminars
This month, Qantas rolled out a series of Sustainable Tourism seminars around Australia. The seminars provided practical information for operators to adopt sustainable business practices.
Speakers included: Chairman and Founder Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World, Ian Kiernan AO; Co-author, True Green book series and Co-founder, Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World, Kim McKay AO; Professor of Travel and Tourism Economics, University of NSW, Larry Dwyer PHD; Director, EcoFutures, Molly Harris Olson; and Michelle Gapes; Manager Strategic Communications Tourism Australia. |
The seminars complement the recently announced ‘Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism’. To find out more about the Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism, click here.
To find out how Tourism Australia and Business Events Australia can assist with your CSR plans refer to the Sustainability fact sheet or the Green event checklist. |
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Events around Australia
Do you need to know what business and consumer events are taking place around Australia? Meeting planners find the Events Calendar a valuable tool to help choose their next Australian destination for an upcoming meeting or incentive.
This calendar is updated weekly and is available from the homepage of businessevents.australia.com
If you have an event you would like listed, contact Alicia Hutchinson.
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North America and United Kingdom buyers arrive
Between 30 October and the 5 November 2008, Tourism Australia’s business events team will welcome eight qualified corporate buyers from North America. This educational will showcase the best of Sydney and the Sunshine Coast for business events and is hosted by Business Events Sydney and the Sunshine Coast Convention Bureau with flights generously sponsored by Air New Zealand.
Eight incentive agents from the United Kingdom will participate in a business events educational to Perth and the Red Centre. The visit is hosted by Perth Convention Bureau and the Northern Territory Convention Bureau with Emirates the airline partner.
Business Events Australia educationals showcase Australia’s capacity to deliver events and incentive programs. With the growing need to develop ‘green’ itineraries or socially responsible incentives, bureaux are working closely with Tourism Australia to incorporate these elements in future programs.
For further information contact Thomas Hill. |
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Dreamtime 2009 Destination Tender
The invitation to host Dreamtime 2009 was issued this month to Australian convention bureaux. The Australian host destination will be decided once all bid submissions have been assessed. |
The refashioned Dreamtime 2009 will be held between Saturday 10 October and Sunday 18 October 2009 and will provide opportunities for Australian incentive operators to meet with qualified international incentive buyers from around the world. This is the only event of its kind in Australia and we encourage all business events operators to mark the dates in your diary.
To support your destination’s bid to host Dreamtime 2009, contact your local convention bureaux. The Dreamtime program can be viewed here.
For further information contact Deanna Varga. |
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Team Australia Mission toHong Kong and Shanghai 2008
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Team Australia Mission to Hong Kong and Shanghai
The Team Australia Mission to Hong Kong and Shanghai in late September saw seven of the Australian Convention Bureaux meet with 43 corporate buyers and 70 agents.
Tourism Australia’s business events team in Hong Kong presented an update on the business events sector, incorporating an overview of the aviation sector in both Hong Kong and Mainland China. In addition, presentations were provided from key industry representatives and corporate end users.
To read more, click here. |
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Aviation update
By: Karl Flowers, Tourism and Aviation Economist, Tourism Australia
Qantas A380 and Routes Forum promise a boost to Australia’s business event prospects
On 20 October 2008, Qantas launched its first A380 service from Melbourne to Los Angeles. A couple of days later (24 October) the airline launched its first A380 service from Sydney to Los Angeles and the airline plans to launch A380 London services (via Singapore) in January 2009.
The Qantas A380 has 450 seats (14 in First Class, 72 Business, 32 Premium Economy and 332 Economy) around 20% more seats than its existing B747 aircraft.
Qantas’ first A380 was delivered last month, with a further two delivered by the end of 2008. The airlines plans to have seven to eight A380s in service by the end of 2009 and all 20 A380 orders delivered by 2013.
To read more, click here. |
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Green case study – Alto Hotel on Bourke
Alto Hotel on Bourke opened in 2006 and is committed to becoming a leading “environmentally friendly” hotel. The hotel is Green Globe bronze benchmarked and one of the few Melbourne hotels to achieve a 4 Green Star rating (AAA Tourism).
This hotel also is an active member of Grow Me the Money, a Victorian state-wide sustainability program and Savings in the City, a City of Melbourne sustainability program.
The hotel’s environmental qualities are based on its construction as well as daily practices. To read more, click here. |
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Convention / conference statistics – July 2008
As part of Tourism Australia’s monthly updates on conference and convention visitor arrivals, the Business Events Arrivals - August 2008 Report is now available.
There were 199,600 convention or conference arrivals during the year ended 31 August 2008, an increase of 9 per cent year-on-year.
There were 64,800 convention or conference arrivals during the three months ended 31 August 2008, an increase of 26 per cent year-on-year.
For more information on business events visitation data contact Leah Fletcher. |
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