It is slowly getting back to business across the MICE industry, here in Australia and across the ditch in New Zealand. Here is the latest MICE news you need to know in small bite size chunks.
If you have any updates or news you want to share, please email kate@travelmonitor.com.au.
Trivia in the tropics wows business event planners
Australian conference and incentive organisers experienced the business events offering in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef with a fun new format, an online trivia game. The live online trivia game replaced the annual networking lunch and was an outstanding success with the fun and competitive format a winner in keeping everyone engaged with learning about the region’s business events offerings.
Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef General Manager Rosie Douglas said the challenge was to stand out from the succession of online meetings that the decision makers in the business events industry faced each week. “We had 29 enthusiastic members promoting 36 Cairns & Great Barrier Reef products via video presentations for Regional Showcase Connect 2020,” Rosie Douglas said.
Ms Douglas spoke to the meeting planners about the interest in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef as a regional destination where delegates could enjoy space and be assured that the industry was operating under COVID-safe guidelines. Work is well underway transforming the Cairns Convention Centre into a much larger adaptable events space with the opening scheduled for April 2021.
Melanie Bowie of Key Conference in Melbourne won a five-night holiday including return airfares to Cairns for two people plus activities including a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef, luxury day spa package, scenic helicopter flights, dining at award-winning venues, and numerous day trips around the region to explore Kuranda, Port Douglas and Mossman.
Business events a go ahead across New Zealand
The announcement by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern that Auckland has moved to Alert Level 1 is great news for the business events industry and will “give decision-makers confidence across the country” according to Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) Chief Executive, Lisa Hopkins.
“We have been given the green light to meet, with the country fully opened up to domestic groups, and Aucklanders again welcome to any region,” Lisa Hopkins says, adding that “Now is the time to rebuild the industry, and deliver confidence back to organisers who have been holding off planning and booking their events.”
“Our message is it is safe to hold a conference, seminar, workshop, or team recognition event. We want people to understand that business events are the safest type of event that can be held, backed up by the World Health Organisation itself.”
CINZ has opened registrations for BE Reconnected, a free industry exhibition and networking day in Auckland on 1 December aimed at the throwing the spotlight on this $5 billion sector and rekindling vital industry relationships.
Event Hospitality & Entertainment & Tank Stream Hotel partner
Event Hospitality & Entertainment Limited (EVENT) and the Tank Stream hotel in Sydney will join Event as part of its growing Affiliate Hotel network, coming online in late October. The Tank Steam hotel will continue to feature its own branding while being part of the extensive EVENT hotel network. Supported as an affiliate partner, The Tank Stream will benefit from access to EVENT’s established distribution network, sales and marketing platforms and inclusion in the extensive Priority Guest Rewards loyalty program.
Norman Arundel, Hospitality & Entertainment Director of Hotels and Resorts said, “We are committed to supporting the Australian travel and hospitality industry and are thrilled to forge this new partnership with The Tank Stream hotel. Working together, we will support The Tank Stream team to drive business and achieve the best results possible in the market, delivering the benefit of our robust systems and industry knowledge to extend their market reach, while maintaining their unique brand identity.”
Marriott International F&B insights post COVID19
Marriott International has released “Reimagining F&B: Insights from the Inside”, and industry report offering 10 observations into how the pandemic is reshaping asia’s food & beverage scene. While there are no easy and ready answers in an unprecedented crisis like this, the report provides informed observations into how the pandemic is impacting and transforming the food & beverage industry in the short- and mid-term, especially in Asia.
From eminent chef-owners Gaggan Anand, Emmanuel Stroobant and Vicky Cheng to talented bar entrepreneurs Agung Prabowo and Tom Egerton, 55 key opinion leaders from key food cities in the region – Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Perth, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Tokyo – shared their viewpoints, which formed the 10 emerging trends in the report. Prolific food consultants and editors as well as chefs from Marriott International hotels also contributed their perspectives to the report. For more insights in Reimagining F&B: Insights From The Inside by Marriott International, download the full report here.
