A group of nine UK agency buyers are participating in Dreamtime 2013, which opened in Melbourne yesterday (9 December).
Dreamtime 2013 is Tourism Australia’s signature event showcasing the incentive experiences on offer throughout the country to 85 international business events buyers and 18 international media from 12 countries.
Buyers met sellers on Day 1 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) for a series of speed meetings.
The 230 industry professionals heard from speakers, including the MD of Tourism Australia Andrew McEvoy, that the country’s AUS$12.9bn business events sector is on track to grow to up to $16bn annually by 2020.
“Exceptional experiences and world-class destinations, with the backdrop of a pristine natural environment, are key reasons why Australia consistently ranks as a preferred business events destination for the international market,” said McEvoy.
Melbourne Convention Bureau Chief Executive Officer Karen Bolinger said hosting Dreamtime 2013 was a tremendous business opportunity to showcase Melbourne as an incentive travel destination.
“We are delighted to welcome international buyers and media to Melbourne for Dreamtime 2013,” she said.
Delegates also heard about the increased air capacity into Australia. This year Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines replaced Qantas as sponsors of Dreamtime, as Platinum and Gold sponsors respectively.
Chief Commercial Officer for Virgin Australia, Judith Crompton, pointed out that the airline had grown to service 46 destinations around Australia and more than 460 around the world.
The Dreamtime 2013 programme continues to 13 December, with networking events in Melbourne followed by three days of educational visits to Adelaide, Cairns, Gold Coast, Northern Territory and Sydney.
Karen Bolinger also announced the return of Business Events Week, to be held 17-21 February 2014.
The inaugural Business Events Week took place in February this year and featured a week-long programme of activities that illustrated the fundamental value of business events to the nation’s economy, knowledge base and tourism industry.
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