Business travel and the MICE industry is starting to bounce back around the world. Virtual events are becoming the norm, while Australia and New Zealand take full advantage of the travel bubble for the MICE industry.
Here is the latest MICE news from Australia, New Zealand and around the world. If you have MICE news updates, we would love to hear from you.
Rendez-vous Canada+ a resounding success
The first-ever virtual Rendez-vous Canada+ (RVC+) was hailed a huge success, confirming its reputation as the leading international tourism marketplace for Destination Canada. Despite being unable to meeting in person, the event’s virtual platform delivered a successful format for this year’s event.
Participants were able to tour the provinces and territories’ sellers within the online Marketplace and watch on-demand videos spotlighting the RVC+ virtual host, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), each of the provinces and territories, and the RVC+ Gold Sponsor. Each seller booth was be adorned with images, videos and information, as well as a discussion board and the ability to hold video chats with the booth staff.
Destination Canada GSA Managing Director, Donna Campbell, said “The new virtual format of Rendez-vous Canada (RVC+) exceeded all expectations throughout the week, culminating in a face-to-face afternoon tea on Friday afternoon at the Canadian Consulate.”
“RVC+ is a powerful reminder for the Australian travel trade that Canada will be high on the wish-list of Australian consumers when the time is right to travel again, and it gives us the chance to update the industry on Canadian products, experiences and operators.”
“RVC+ is a valuable tool, now more than ever, providing critical connections that will support the recovery and resilience of the tourism sector in the months and years ahead, ensuring Australian tour operators are ready to sell Canada when the time is right,” Donna added.
Find out more at the RVC official website: https://www.rendezvouscanada.ca
See images of the event below
Gold Coast secures $11 mil in Business Events
This image was taken by Above Photography
Some 7,000 delegates will make their way to the Gold Coast over the next few weeks, with business events set to boost recovery for the local economy. The Gold Coast has seen a welcome return of domestic business events since capacity and social distancing restrictions were largely eased for venues, with a pipeline of conferences booked for the years to come.
Destination Gold Coast CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said the Gold Coast was looking forward to the return of these valued events after a challenging year. “We’re delighted to see the return of large-scale business events in an unquestionably clear sign that we are headed for a strong recovery of this vital industry. As momentum continues to build, the city is gearing up to host several large-scale domestic conferences in coming weeks, which is estimated to inject $11 million into the Gold Coast’s visitor economy,” Ms O’Callaghan said.
The Gold Coast is recognised as a leading destination in Australia for business events and pre-COVID, attracted almost half of all business events hosted in Queensland in 2019, injecting $570 million into the economy.
New Zealand business events industry hails return of Australian buyers
Leading Australian conference and incentive organisers are crossing the Tasman next week to meet with New Zealand’s business events industry at MEETINGS 2021. Returning for the first time in two years, 66 Australian hosted buyers and industry media from Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Perth will be in Auckland for MEETINGS on 2 and 3 June.
Organised by Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA), the two-day trade exhibition and networking event features 149 companies from 18 regions across New Zealand. They include everything from new convention venues, hotels, and luxury lodges, to activity providers, caterers, speakers, designers and production experts.
The Australians will be joined by over 100 hosted buyers and media from around New Zealand, as well as more than 300 local day buyers. Before and after the show, the hosted buyers will be given the opportunity to experience, firsthand, one of five regions – Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.
BEIA Chief Executive Lisa Hopkins says MEETINGS 2021 is a turning point for the industry, as buyers and suppliers get back together to meet in person, look to the future and transact significant business.
“Over the past year, domestic business has sustained the sector, using the opportunity to experience and explore New Zealand.”
Cancelled last year because of COVID, New Zealand’s flagship business events industry trade show delivered $62 million worth of business bookings on the show floor in 2019.
Sunshine Coast shines on domestic tourism roadshow blitz
More than 250 leading travel agents from across the country are ready to sell the Sunshine Coast to Australia following a domestic roadshow blitz. Visit Sunshine Coast (VSC) partnered with Tourism Noosa (TN) and 13 local tourism operators to showcase just what sets the Sunshine Coast apart at a series of targeted events across the country last week.
The roadshow included stops at Canberra, Adelaide, Sydney and Cairns – regions identified as leading domestic markets for the Sunshine Coast – where local tours, attractions and accommodation providers met with leading travel agencies and tourism industry partners.
Attendees at the events included representatives from companies such as Flight Centre, Helloworld, Goway Travel, Trip.com, Travel Associates, Travel Managers, Tourism Australia and a number of independent travel agencies.
VSC CEO Matt Stoeckel said as that the roadshow was a great way to let travel agents know what is new in the region as well as to provide agents with the confidence they need to sell the destination. “Ensuring travel agents are up-to-date on all things Sunshine Coast is incredibly important as it better equips them to sell the region to their customers,” Mr Stoeckel said.
Marriott International places mental health front and centre for MICE recovery in Australia
Marriott International has made a leading move in the MICE market to reinvent its face-to-face meeting offering as Australia emerges from the pandemic. Collaborating with leading psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, the research report found it has never been more important that society connects in person for our wellbeing, happiness and satisfaction.
Titled ‘Converge’, the framework examines the mental health impacts of the pandemic and reimagines Marriott International’s MICE offering centred on eight pillars of wellbeing so we can thrive in our day-to-day lives. The eight pillars of mindfulness are:
C Catch some Z’s
O Oxygenate the brain
N Nutrition
V Vision and purpose
E Engage mindfully
R Random acts of kindness
G Gratitude
E Experience something new
With the hotel industry severely impacted by the global health crisis, Dr Carr-Gregg worked with Marriott to develop the visionary new toolkit which promotes the positive impact of human connection. Adding true societal benefit to corporates meeting, the new research-led and evidence-based program is based on positive psychology and reflects Marriott’s philosophy of self-care for both staff and guests.
Dr Carr-Gregg’s research reveals the effects of remote working and lack of face-to-face meetings in the business world namely loneliness and isolation, which are significant risk factors for mental illness. “Australia may have handled the global health crisis well, but our next challenge will be coming together to help people rebound and develop psychological resilience. Human beings are social animals – we do better, together,” Dr Carr-Gregg said.
