Push to remove event promoters from EMDG

An Amendment Bill in relation to the Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) scheme is to be introduced to the House of Representatives, proposing to remove event promoters from the scheme. Association of Australian Convention Bureaux executive director Andrew Hiebl has warned against such a move, saying that now is not the time to reduce support “ for delegate boosting activities” when the industry faces global economic uncertainty and a high Australian dollar. “The proposed amendment will have significant impact resulting in fewer international delegates for Australia and therefore reduced export revenue, and a reduction in all of the indirect benefits brought to the economy by business events,” he said. 

Limburg to attend G20 Young Entrepreneurs Summit

Elisa Limburg, managing director of Sydney-based events and marketing company Elevents, has been selected to represent Australia at the 2013 G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance (YEA) Summit  in Moscow in June. Limburg will be joined at the G20 YEA Summit by 21 other young business leaders across sectors ranging from online retail to information technology and financial services. “Being part of the Australian delegation to the G20 YEA Summit is a real privilege and I’m excited to be given the opportunity to contribute to the discussion on improving and fostering entrepreneurship around the world,” she said. 

The Star Event Centre hosts VIP event

The Star in Sydney showcased its new Event Centre, the final piece of its $870 million transformation, to a VIP audience of business events organisers at a roving dinner event last night. High-profile events organiser David Grant, who is currently organising the 2013 Prix de Marie Claire Awards at the venue, said that “it’s a fantastic place to work” and “ticked every box for us”.

New SCEC logo represents ‘milestone’

The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre (SCEC) has unveiled a special logo featuring the tagline “25 Remarkable Years” to celebrate its 25th anniversary this year. Centre chief executive Ton van Amerongen said the logo would celebrate a milestone, not just for the Centre but for the entire Australian business events industry. “The opening of the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre put Australia on the world meetings stage and paved the way for the development of the nation’s events industry,” he said. The Centre will close in December this year to allow for the creation of a new Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct, scheduled to open in late 2016.

Auckland Conference, Incentive & Event Planner released

Auckland Convention Bureau has released its new 2013 Conference, Incentive & Event Planner. The comprehensive guide to venues, transport, activities, services and dining in Auckland has been designed to create the feeling of being on a famil, allowing readers to get a more in-depth understanding of the Auckland experience. “It is crucial that conference and incentive organisers are kept up to date with the huge array of products and experiences available in Auckland,” said Auckland Convention Bureau manager Anna Hayward. “There is so much here that can add real value to their events, and it just keeps growing.” 

Visitor data released by ACB

Sixty two per cent of business visitors to South Australia would not have otherwise visited the state, although 95 per cent said they thought South Australia made for a great holiday destination, according to data released by the Adelaide Convention Bureau (ACB) as part of their 2012 visitor survey. Data was sourced over a six-month period from delegates attending conferences in and around the city, with information broken down into national and international visitor profiles.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts NZ’s ‘Hotel Of The Year’ 

Hilton Hotels & Resorts has been named Hotel of the Year in New Zealand by Roy Morgan Research and ranked number one in customer satisfaction for travel and tourism companies. Throughout 2012, Roy Morgan Research surveyed more than 12,000 consumers across New Zealand, awarding the hotel with the highest proportion of satisfied customers monthly. Winning eight of the 12 months, Hilton led the pack in 2012. “The New Zealand Tourism Industry is a tough place to be, and customer satisfaction is a crucial measure for hotels looking at point of difference from their competitors”, said Pip  Elliott, general manager at Roy Morgan Research New Zealand. 

Staging Connections multiple finalists in 2012 MEA Awards

Staging Connections has been named a finalist in four states in the 2012 Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) Industry Awards. The company’s New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland offices will all contest the “Technical & Creative Production less than $5 million” category in their state, and if they win, will go head to head for the national title. It is the first time the Western Australia branch has entered the category.