Ferguson backs business events

Ferguson backs business events
By admin


a

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

Ferguson backs business events

Ferguson backs business events
By admin


Federal tourism minister Martin Ferguson has pledged his support for the business events industry, but insisted that new infrastructure is vital for Australia to rival “stiff competition” in Singapore.

Opening the inaugural Business Events Week at AIME on Monday, Ferguson revealed that business events attracted one in seven people to Australia in 2012, an 8% increase on the previous year.

Delegate spending also jumped 12% to $2.6 billion in 2012, with business events now contributing $12.5 billion to the overall tourism income.

With the economic value of business events up on previous years, Ferguson described the sector as a “critical” component of Australia’s tourism marketing strategy.

But he stressed infrastructure was an area of concern which may tarnish Australia’s reputation as a business events destination.

“We are now meeting demand for infrastructure, but we need to grow to meet up with stiff competition from Singapore,” Ferguson warned. “New facilities in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane are a vote of confidence, but they are long overdue.”

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre chief executive Peter King echoed Ferguson’s calls, noting that infrastructure limitations were forcing the centre to turn away approximately 30% of business.

“The challenge for us remains that we are using our facilities at 100% and we need more space,” he said.

“It’s the same story in Sydney. They’re building new facilities, which is great, but they have a compromised footprint and can’t expand,” he later told The Nibbler.

Melbourne Convention Bureau chief executive Karen Bolinger said more recognition was needed to build the profile of business events and help to rally more funding and investment.

“Business events is the least recognised industry and yet we bring in millions of dollars each year,” she said. “Events are big business not just for economic wealth, but for lasting opportunities.”

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

Latest News

  • Conferences

Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event announces Knowledge Program details for 2025

The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) has today announced details of its highly anticipated Knowledge Program for the 2025 event to be held at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) in Australia in February. The theme for 2025, “We Matter!” seeks to highlight and celebrate the global business events industry as a powerful […]

  • Hotels

IHG Hotels & Resorts launches exclusive Bledisloe Cup packages for rugby fans

IHG Hotels & Resorts is offering new “money-can’t-buy” packages on the IHG One Rewards Access platform as part of its new Major Partnership with Wallaroos women’s and Wallabies men’s national teams for 2024-25. The IHG Hotels & Resorts set of epic Bledisloe Cup unparalleled experiences are a rugby fan’s dream come true, and are part […]