Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events are heating up in Australia, New Zealand and around the world as it gets back to business as usual.
This is the latest news in the MICE industry that we have wrapped up in one easy to read update.
Taylor Swift concerts at Accor Stadium boost hotel room bookings
The highly anticipated Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour concerts at Accor Stadium have created a frenzy among fans, not only for tickets but also for accommodation. The influx of visitors attending these spectacular events has significantly boosted interest in hotel room bookings across Greater Sydney, reports Accor – Australia’s largest hotel operator. Early booking demand across Accor’s Sydney hotels is up 180 per cent over the concert dates, when compared to the year prior.
Accor Stadium, known for its state-of-the-art facilities and capacity to host large-scale events, will be the ultimate destination for Taylor Swift enthusiasts. With four concerts now confirmed for Accor Stadium in February 2024, 12-time GRAMMY award winner Taylor Swift is set to captivate an anticipated audience of more than 300,000 fans with a series of mesmerising performances. Taylor will become the first artist to ever play four successive concerts at Accor Stadium on the one tour.
The announcement of Taylor Swift’s concerts at Accor Stadium has sparked a surge in travel plans, with fans from across the country, and even around the world, making arrangements to witness this unprecedented major event. As a result, hotels in the Greater Sydney region have experienced a significant increase in enquiries and bookings.
Rotorua to host Business Events Industry Aotearoa’s MEETINGS 2024
Rotorua has been named host city for New Zealand’s 28th national business events showcase, MEETINGS to be held at the Energy Events Centre on 19 and 20 June 2024. Following a record MEETINGS 2023 in Wellington last month, MEETINGS is heading to regional New Zealand to highlight the diverse experiences on offer outside the three main centres.
Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) Chief Executive, Lisa Hopkins says next year’s MEETINGS will feature another part of our country’s rich events tapestry, and the beating heart of New Zealand’s visitor economy. Andrew Wilson, Chief Executive of RotoruaNZ says the region is excited to be welcoming exhibitors and buyers from across New Zealand and the world to MEETINGS 2024 in June next year.
Vanessa Wallace, RotoruaNZ Business Events Manager says that MEETINGS offers an exceptional opportunity to showcase not only the destination, but the entire country, all under the one roof. MEETINGS was last held in Rotorua in 2011, and attracted 400 delegates from New Zealand, Australia, key international markets and over 170 exhibitors.
Destination Gold Coast’s new business events ambassador
Destination Gold Coast welcomes Screen Producers Australia (SPA) CEO Matthew Deaner as the newest addition to BE Connected Gold Coast, to help showcase the city as a hub for innovation and attract more events. Mr Deaner has been at the helm of SPA, the peak body for content producers for over a decade and has played a pivotal role in recently securing the Gold Coast as home for the premier screen industry event, SCREEN FOREVER for an additional three years.
Mr Deaner said he is excited to represent Destination Gold Coast Business Events and to continue to see the Gold Coast as the home for SCREEN FOREVER until 2026, an event that on average brings over 1,000 local, national and international screen industry professionals together, promoting and strengthening Australia’s screen industry. Destination Gold Coast Interim COO Rachel Hancock said the Gold Coast is a rising force in the global film and television industry and having Mr Deaner representing the city in the screen sector is a welcome addition to our business events ambassador program.
Cairns & Great Barrier Reef delegate numbers surge
Conferences are experiencing a surge in registrations recently with an average of 15 per cent more delegates registering for events than organisers anticipated. With fantastic new, refurbished and expanded facilities throughout the region, confidence is high and the trend will continue into the second half of 2023.
Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef (BECGBR) is a free service offering support to meeting planners wishing to bring a conference or outstanding event to our breathtaking location. We are committed to connecting you with the right venues, accommodations and activity ideas to meet your event requirements. You can search our extensive range of business events resources online or get in touch.
SOUL Announces Full Festival Programme for its Maldives Debut
SOUL has published its captivating festival programme of insightful talks, guided wellness sessions and hands-on treatments, featuring a global line-up of visionaries, thought leaders and wellness pioneers to the Maldives from September 29 to October 8, 2023. A partnership by pioneering hospitality brand Soneva and international wellness enterprise ORGANIC INDIA, the intimate festival will be an immersive exploration of health and wellness in all its forms, from personal to planetary, at the award-winning Soneva Fushi, located within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
The list of international speakers includes: award-winning screenwriter, activist and documentary maker of That Sugar Film and 2024, Damon Gameau; Goi Peace Award recipient Bruce Lipton; New York Times bestselling author Jo Marchant; Ayurvedic aromatherapy pioneer Farida Irani; bestselling author and founder of Bio Blends Dr Libby Weaver; lifestyle ambassador and champion for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Fit India Movement’ Luke Coutinho; award-winning cinematographer, director and producer Louie Schwartzberg; psychologist, scientist and social entrepreneur Shamini Jain; gastroenterologist and author of The Mind Gut Connection Dr Emeran Mayer; clinical psychologist and mindfulness expert Shauna Shapiro; renowned spiritual leaders Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati; actress and biohacking expert Davinia Taylor; the first Western Ayurvedic practitioner in India Dr Robert Svoboda; award-winning science journalist Gaia Vince; naturopathic doctor and doctor of Oriental medicine Dr Lilly-Marie Blecher; anxiety and mindfulness coach Amanda Huggins; Medical Director & Senior Vice President of Mazumdar Shaw Medical Centre Dr Paul Salins; orthotropics, orthodontics and Homeoblock specialised dentist Dr Timothy Doolin; author, inventor and founder of Conscious Breathing Anders Olsson; oncology specialist and author Dr Nasha Winters and family medicine specialist and co-medical director at Taos Whole Health Integrative Care Dr Joanna Hooper.
