Business Events Tasmania STUART NETTLEFOLD Business Events Tasmania CEO
As we approach Tasmania’s traditionally busy conferencing and business events months, our small state is punching well above its weight in terms of the size and calibre of event that we are attracting. With a variety of conference facilities and a reputation for business excellence and innovation, we have seen Tasmania become a highly desirable international business events destination. For the tourism and hospitality sector, the peak conferencing months of September, October and November are so important in driving demand in the lead up to the peak months of summer. The success of this year’s business events season can be attributed to the strong collaboration between Business Events Tasmania, our key industry partners, all levels of government and our all-important Tasmanian Ambassadors who have been extremely influential in the State’s bid for major business events. In the last eight months, Business Events Tasmania has been involved in acquiring ten international conferences for Tasmania, including four events as a direct result of our Tasmanian Ambassador Program. These 10 international conferences will generate more than $14.6 million to the Tasmanian economy and bring more than 3,700 visiting delegates to our shores, plus partners. At the end of August we announced that Tasmania had won the XXXVI Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Delegates Meeting and Open Science Conference 2020 and Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) AGM 2020. These Antarctic meetings alone will generate more than $6.4 million to the Tasmanian economy. The benefits to Tasmania in hosting international business events are far more reaching than just the economic boost. They provide us, as an industry, the opportunity to showcase our world-class tourism and hospitality products and services and importantly our state’s academic attributes and skills leading to improved trade relations, potential investment opportunities and intellectual capital. Upcoming business events September to December sees Hobart hosting a number of large events including a leading national bank conference (900 delegates), the Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) National Conference 2016, (700 delegates) and the Australian Neuroscience Society (ANS) Annual Meeting 2016 (850 delegates). In September, Launceston hosted the Australia's first Tri-Nut Conference and the Australian Forest Growers Conference 2016. The Tri-Nut conference is a combined event for the Australian chestnut, walnut and hazelnut industries and will bring high quality speakers from overseas, interstate and intrastate to present on topics of importance to all three industries. In November the city will host the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand 2016 Conference, the OzCHI National Conference 2016 and the International Cities, Towns & Communities (ICTC) Society Conference 2016. As our major cities embark on a busy time for business events, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank those in the tourism and hospitality industries that work with and support us at Business Events Tasmania to fill hotel rooms, restaurants and our world acclaimed services during this shoulder season. If you would like to know more about how you can be involved, our Membership Manager Michelle Gilroy-Webb can be contacted on (03) 6231 1366. Collaboration key to success
October 2016
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