Business Events Tasmania
Marnie Craig
Business events deliver multi-million-dollar benefit to Tasmania Delegates attending business events and conferences in Tasmania directly spend $199 million a year in Tasmania, Business Events Tasmania (BET) says. The economic contribution includes $31.6 million on food and beverages and $64.4 million on accommodation.
Ms Craig said the Business Events Attraction Fund (BEAF), which was established in 2019 and which BET took over the management of in September 2021, has been an important factor in attracting meetings and events to the state. “The BEAF allows BET to offer financial support to help secure new business at the critical bidding stage,” she said.
BET CEO Marnie Craig said Tasmania hosted 114 business events in 2023.
“This event and meeting business is critical to hotels, restaurants, wineries and bars, which directly benefit from this activity, particularly outside the peak tourism season,” she said.
“The funding was particularly important to convert business event opportunities into actual events post the Covid-19 pandemic.” In August this year (2023) the BEAF was granted $1.8 million by the Tasmanian Government as part of its $12 million commitment for the 2030 Visitor Economy Strategy.
BET’s priority has been to identify and secure business for Winter 2024.
“We also know that business event visitors to the state often come back to Tasmania with their families for a holiday, contributing even more to the visitor economy. “Eighty-nine per cent of visiting delegates say they intend to return to Tasmania within the next three years.”
Ms Craig said this significant piece of work has secured over an additional 5,500 delegates to the state over the quieter winter months.
49 Tasmanian Hospitality Review December/January Edition
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