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The latest Tasmanian Visitor Survey (TVS), covering the 08/09 financial year, shows that visitors to the state for business events have increased by 33% from the same time last year, bucking the national trend through the Global Financial Crisis.
Business events consisting of conventions, exhibitions, conferences, seminars, corporate meetings and incentive group travel, are a significant contributor to the Tasmanian economy and social capital.
“Business events bring millions of dollars into the state each year, generate jobs for the local community and bring thousands of visiting delegates to Tasmania with new ideas and skills to share” said Tasmanian Convention Bureau CEO Denise Bradley.
“On average, a business event delegate will spend five times that of a leisure tourist each night in a destination. An incentive with 250 delegates staying 3 nights will contribute in excess of $400,000 in direct expenditure to the local economy – not to mention the flow on effects.”
The Tasmanian Convention Bureau is Tasmania’s peak marketing organisation for business events with the charter of promoting Tasmania nationally and internationally as a business events destination and securing business events for the state.
“The TVS statistics confirm the trends that the Bureau has indicated over the past twelve months” said Mrs Bradley.
“The Bureau achieved 183% of its target for the association market and very close to 100% of the corporate meeting and incentive target. This represents almost $28 million direct injection into the Tasmanian economy.
“Considering that the Global Financial Crisis has significantly impacted on the corporate meeting and incentive market, both nationally and internationally, this is an exceptional result.
“The Tasmanian Convention Bureau team has worked very hard to achieve this outcome. New strategies were employed to ensure business increased through the economic crisis rather than decreased and we can now see that these strategies are working.
“The Bureau also has a new team and has implemented new initiatives to secure business for the state.”
One such initiative is the ‘Local Host Development Program’. This is a program designed to encourage locals that are members of an association or corporation to bid for their national of international conference, meeting or incentive event to be hosted in Tasmania.
The Tasmanian Convention Bureau staff work with ‘local hosts’ to prepare the bid to win the rights to hold their national or international business event in Tasmania. Hosting an event raises the professional profile of the local person globally, by giving them exposure in a leadership role to their peers. Further, local hosts can feel satisfied in the knowledge that they are showcasing Tasmania to the world, boosting the local economy and creating jobs.
“Business events also provide an opportunity for Tasmania to showcase our strengths and abilities to the rest of the world.”
“Anyone that knows of a business event that could come to Tasmania and would like free assistance to bid for that business event should contact the Bureau.”
“Alternatively anyone who has an idea for an inaugural business event and would like some free assistance in getting the idea off the ground should also contact the Bureau.”
“Tasmania is an excellent business events destination – I believe there is a lot of opportunity for growth to come for Tasmania in this lucrative market, especially as we get the message out there and Tasmania has new infrastructure coming online.”
“The redevelopment of Princess Wharf Shed No.1 in Hobart should provide an offsite, waterfront dinner venue for up to 1500 delegates, which will complement current infrastructure, enabling the Bureau to win more lucrative business events.”
Tatiana is the news co-ordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes to monitor the hundrends of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skim the most important according to our strategy. She holds a Bachelor degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
