Joyce DiMascio
Head of Business Events Australia |
30 March 2009
Dear Industry Colleague,
Over the past few months, Tourism Australia has led a number of its biggest annual trade initiatives in key markets around the world. The most recent were Team Australia Business Events Educational held in Kuala Lumpur in March and the other was our expanded presence at AIME in Melbourne in February.
For our partners, these events provide are a crucial opportunity to sit across the table from qualified buyers to discuss real pieces of business or to discuss ideas about new meeting locations and ideas.
The current exchange rates will assist our clients in getting exceptional value on top of all the other traditional benefits of meeting here – inspiring destination, excellent event delivery experience, creativity and warm and friendly people. |
The value proposition of Australia must be communicated more strongly – “price and value” are very relevant now and Australia presents good value for money.
As a veteran of the industry, Martin Lewis, Managing Editor of CAT Publications remarked to me during AIME: Australia currently provides event organisers a value proposition as good as anywhere on the planet.
“I don’t know anywhere else in the world where I can have fresh sea bass with asparagus in an exhibition centre – you are more likely to get a sausage roll in some venues. The quality and current value here in Australia is exceptional.”
At both AIME and TABEE, it was clear that there is a lot of business being negotiated and strong interest in Australia. Our brand health still holds us in good stead despite a most challenging economic landscape.
While the current economic environment is demanding a new level of marketing fitness and agility – there is no doubt that Australia’s success will also come down to our capacity to sell. And the operators who will succeed most are those that will work the relationship and communicate the value Australia’s value proposition through the sales process.
There has never been a better time to bring a meeting to Australia or indeed to keep a meeting in Australia.
If our experience of recent trade events is an indication – the business is out there. We need to make Australia a compelling value proposition.
Best wishes,
Joyce DiMascio
Head of Business Events Australia
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Enhancements to businessevents.australia.com
Business Events Australia have been working with our regional teams and industry to develop a plan for ongoing website enhancements to support the major marketing initiatives.
The roll-out of the first series of enhancements to the site is planned for October 2009 and will deliver a more user-oriented, dynamic online experience for our international audience as well as continuity between all offline and online marketing communications. It will also fulfil the corporate responsibilities of Business Events Australia by making available up-to-date news, information and tools for key stakeholders.
The second phase of enhancements including additional functionality and multi-lingual versions of the site will be launched in 2010.
For further information, please contact Lara Wolski Business Events Marketing Manager. |
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Strong buyer interest in Australia at TABEE 2009
The 11th annual Team Australia Business Events Educational (TABEE) in Kuala Lumpur from 2 - 4 March 2009 has been a resounding success. Australian Convention Bureaux and business events operators met in one-on-one business appointments with corporate end users and incentive agent buyers from 11 key Asian markets.
Buyer numbers were strong despite global conditions and Australian sellers reported strong interest from these buyers. |
Each Australian seller had around 56 appointments over the two day program and this intense buyer/seller program is at the heart of TABEE's strength. In addition to the the business meetings, the event program also included a seminar program, media briefings, team building activities, a gala dinner and a VIP program.
To read this full story, click here.
To view the TABEE 2009 image gallery, click here. |
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Dreamtime 2009 dates announced
Australia’s premier incentive trade event, Dreamtime, will be held from 12 to 17 October 2009. This event is designed to help generate future business for Australia’s high yielding business events sector.
The five-day event is expected to attract around 100 business events decision makers (buyers) and international media from Australia’s key markets of Asia, Europe, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. |
The re-fashioned program includes a two day educational famil in any one of the five educational destinations - Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane / Sunshine Coast and the Northern Territory. Then a three day program of seminars, business appointments and gala events in the host city, Sydney.
For more information about how to get involved, please contact Jodie Oberg, Manager Dreamtime.
To view the Dreamtime 2009 program, click here. |
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Expanded Australia presence at IMEX in 2009 Business Events Australia will be out in force at this year’s IMEX trade show which takes place in Frankfurt from 26-28 May 2009.
With two more Australian seller companies than in 2008 and an established business event brand for the country, the Australia pavilion will be the place to be. |
Tourism Australia will have a robust PR program at this event where the Business Events Australia team will be updating media on the major initiatives for 2009/10.
Fifteen Australian partners will join the Australia pavilion, to view the list of stand partners, click here.
For more information on IMEX, please contact Lene Corgan, Business Events Manager UK/Europe or Lara Wolski, Business Events Marketing Manager. |
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Inaugural Team Australia Mission to India
Tourism Australia will kick off a Business Events Mission to India in November 2009. Planning for this event is well underway with strong interest from Convention Bureax across Australia.
The mission is designed to provide Australia Convention Bureaux with the opportunity to be introduced to the key players in the meetings market in India and to help build greater insight to the way this growing market works.
An initial expression of interest request will be distributed through the AACB towards the end of April 2009.
For more information please contact Tom Hill, Business Events Trade Programs Manager. |
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L-R Sue Wilkes and Barbara Howlett, BESydney; Giles Handford, MCVB; Lene Corgan, Tourism Australia
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Tourism Australia wins award at London Business Events Show
Tourism Australia exhibited at UK business events trade show Confex from the 24-26 February 2009 as part of the new long-haul initiative 'The World Village'.
Tourism Australia hosted a reception featuring an appearance from Kylie the Koala.
At the Confex Awards which are voted for by the visiting media, Tourism Australia won the award for 'Best International Destination'. The decision was made based on pre trade show media releases, promotional material at the show and feedback from visitors. |
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Convention / conference statistics – January 2008
As part of Tourism Australia’s monthly updates on conference and convention visitor arrivals, the Business Events Arrivals - January 2009 Report is now available.
During the year ended 31 January 2009, there were 185,200 convention or conference visitor arrivals, a decrease of 2 percent year-on-year.
For more information on business events visitation data contact Evelyn Karantonis. |
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