Business Events Tasmania
Marnie Craig
Boosting Winter Tourism Through Business Events With thanks to THA’s support, Business Events Tasmania (BET) successfully secured additional B2B marketing funds in last year’s state budget. These funds have enabled BET to ensure Tasmania is represented nationally and internationally in business event activities. Our latest results are evidence that this investment is critical in growing the business event pipeline and supporting the hospitality industry through low and shoulder seasons. I’m thrilled to share that we have already secured 3000 more delegates and 9000 more hotel room nights for this year’s winter period (April to October) than we held in that same period last year. With 27 conferences and 3000 delegates still pending, our team is in an active campaign to continue to increase Tasmania’s winter visitation. We’re also ahead of pace in our overall bidding activity for the current year. In the first quarter, we’ve secured 56 bids – bringing a total of 11,738 delegates to Tasmania and generating 33,775 room nights across the state into 2026 and beyond. That’s a 133 per cent increase in future room nights secured when compared to data measured at the same time last year. Importantly, these events are placed right across Tasmania, with events confirmed in the North, South, and West. Currently, business events contribute $199 million in direct expenditure to the Tasmanian economy per year. Every successful bid brings us closer to our goal of growing this figure to $300 million, and drives
more business to local suppliers, venues, and service providers.
BET is committed to utilising the power of business events to supplement Tasmania’s hospitality sector in periods with low expected visitation. By growing the value of business events in Tasmania, we also grow the stability of economic return for Tasmania’s hospitality industry. Of visiting delegates, 28 per cent of them bring at least one other person, they stay on average 4.7 nights, 20 per cent disperse into additional regions, and 89 per cent intend to return in three years. By focusing our efforts to attract and secure events over the winter period, we create promising opportunities for hospitality operators and ensure that the economic benefits of business events can be felt throughout the entire sector. We look forward to keeping you updated on our expanding event pipeline as we progress through this winter period together.
LAST YEAR’S BET, AMSA AND NZMSS JOINT CONFERENCE IN HOBART. PIC: PAUL REDDING
38
Tasmanian Hospitality Review Apr/May Edition
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online