Business Events Tasmania
Marnie Craig
Business meetings investment delivering for the state The Tasmanian Government’s Business Events Attraction Fund (BEAF), which Business Events Tasmania (BET) has been managing since 2021, has helped attract 20 conferences to Tasmania between April and June this year. BET chief executive officer Marnie Craig said the shoulder tourism season meetings would bring 3000 delegates, realising 8295 room nights over the three- month period. “These conferences – coming to Tasmania at a time when our local hotels, restaurants, wineries and bars need business support – represent a range of professions, industries and sectors,” she said. “Conferences of note include a Geriatric Emergency Medicine Seminar, Paramedics Primary Care Conference, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference and the Australian Specialist Cheesemakers Association Conference.
Ms Craig said the biggest influx of visitors – about 400 delegates – were expected to visit the state in the week commencing 13 May. “They will be here to attend the Real Estate Institute of Australia Centennial Congress, Auctioneering Championships and national awards dinner,” she said. The Tasmanian Government reinvested into the BEAF last year, allocating $1.8 million as part of its $12 million commitment to support the 2030 Visitor Economy Strategy.
Ms Craig said this is an important and vital contribution to converting business in Winter 2024.
“Prior to re-investment, just two business events bringing 240 delegates were scheduled for the same time period.”
“Business events and conferences are integral to the success of Tasmania’s visitor economy,” she said.
“Worth $199 million to the state’s economy, they bring in much-needed business to local hotels, restaurants, wineries and bars.”
“There is a 50 per cent split between corporate meetings / incentives and association groups.”
Ms Craig said business and events were not just about delegates visiting the state.
“Our research found that 28 per cent of delegates bring at least one other person with them when they travel to attend a meeting,” she said. “They stay on average 4.7 nights with 20 per cent dispersing to regional Tasmania, which is an obvious and important benefit for regional tourism. “In addition, nearly 90 per cent of delegates (coming from across the world and all parts of Australia) say they intend to return to Tasmania within the next three years.”
THIS YEAR’S AUSTRALIAN SPECIALIST CHEESEMAKERS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN TASMANIA AND INCLUDES AN OPTIONAL BUS TOUR TO THE HUON VALLEY
47 Tasmanian Hospitality Review April/May Edition
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator