Pacific Tourism Event Heads Down Under to Melbourne

After a successful inaugural South Pacific Tourism Exchange Event in Auckland in 2014 the organisers are now heading to Australia to sell the Pacific tourism market in June 2015.

Officially announcing the SPTE 2015 event today, South Pacific Tourism Organisation Chief Executive Ilisoni Vuidreketi said the positive feedback from buyers and sellers in New Zealand this year justified the second event this time in Australia.

“Apart from displaying the Pacific at our 2014 exhibition we received feedback from the participants that the networking was an opportunity never to be missed,” he said.

“This event will be staged in conjunction with the Australian Tourism Exchange 2015 event at the Melbourne Exhibition Convention Centre so we have the opportunity to also benefit from their own international and domestic networks.

“A number of participants in Auckland had asked for more time to conduct the event and such feedback has encouraged us as we plan the way forward for SPTE 2015.”

He said in terms of sales from the 2014 event, most participants (76 per cent) reported they were able to establish relations with a wholesaler with 18 per cent actually establishing new business with a wholesaler and the rest already enjoying some partnership but used the event as an opportunity to create and strengthen better contacts.

“We had a total of 1,300 business appointments during SPTE 2014 and anticipate an even higher response when we arrive in Australia for SPTE 2015,” he said.

Mr Vuidreketi said they were announcing the dates earlier as the lessons learned from the inaugural event meant they had to plan in advance to allow international buyers (wholesalers) time to prepare their business travel for the new year.

“As you can see the date is June 2015 so you must be asking why are we announcing the event so early,” he said.

“The reason is there is a lot of planning involved this year to enable us to realise the real cost and logistics involved in planning next year’s event as we are dealing with more than 50  Pacific tourism suppliers (sellers) from our region and about 60 international wholesalers (buyers), for SPTE 2015.

“While it may seem early to reveal our plans we hope to make SPTE 2015 much bigger than the 2014 event – learning from the valuable lessons we gained  this year.

“I urge all buyers and sellers intending to attend this event to please start planning now for SPTE 2015 as we try to enhance our position in the region.

The SPTO is currently consulting with tourism stakeholders including Tourism Australia to promote the SPTE which takes place from June 19-20 at the Melbourne Exhibition Convention Centre.

The Australian Tourism Exchange event takes place at the same venue from June 21.

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Strong International Theme at EEAA 2014 Conference

The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) has secured a top line-up of speakers for the EEAA 2014 Conference to be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre next month. 

EEAA Chief Executive, Joyce DiMascio, said the conference program will tackle three key themes: “Internationalising” events, products and services; the security landscape around events and what's driving consumer engagement.

“We are honoured to have the CEO of Austrade, Bruce Gosper, and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Director - Australia and New Zealand, Bonnie Shek head the line-up for the international theme,” Ms. DiMascio said. “Matt Jones, Director & Creative Strategist of Better Happy will deliver a wake-up call about customer communications and behaviour. 

In addition, a panel including Victorian Police will address the topical subject of event security. We always aim to deliver outstanding content and this year will be no exception. The program is intensive, strategic and challenging and directly aligned with issues that matter to the industry – right here, right now.”

2014 has marked the establishment of strengthening ties between EEAA Members and the Australian Government’s export agency, Austrade. So it is most fitting that EEAA should hear from Austrade CEO, Bruce Gosper. Mr. Gosper helped kick-start EEAA’s positive work now being undertaken with Trade Commissioners in the Austrade network across Asia.

In the Asia-Pacific region, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a leading player in the business events sector, launching highly successful partnerships with the exhibition industry. EEAA is honoured that the HKTDC is joining Association Members to talk about their successful initiatives.

Ms. DiMascio said, “The program also includes speakers from within the EEAA community. Our Members are always keen to hear from organisers of trade and consumer exhibitions so we’ll have an interesting panel discussion with Reed Exhibitions Executive Director, John Gorton; Gaming Technologies Association CEO, Ross Ferrar; Exhibitions & Trade Fairs MD, Gary Daly; National Media MD, Mark Harvey; and WALDRONSMITH Management MD, Kate Smith.”

The conference begins with a Welcome Reception at Cargo Hall, on Melbourne’s South Wharf Promenade on Wednesday, 19 November with the 2014 Conference and Awards for Excellence on Thursday, 20 November. The Awards night will honour the high achievers in the industry in the Melbourne Room at the MCEC.

“This year’s Conference encourages in-depth discussions with top-tier speakers, offers great networking and will be a rewarding experience for attendees. The industry has undergone many changes in 2014 following the closure of the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre – events have relocated to other venues and cities. 

New events have been launched. The conference, which coincides with the end of the 2014 event season, will provide an important opportunity to assess where the industry has landed,” Ms. DiMascio said.

To view the Preliminary Program, go towww.eeaa.com.au/pdfs/2014/EEAA_2014_Conference_Preliminary_Program_V1.pdf.

Register to attend the EEAA 2014 Conference and Awards for Excellence:http://www.eeaa.com.au/conference.php.

KEY DATES:
2 October - Registration opened
20 October - Early bird discount ends

KEY CONFERENCE DATES:
19 November - Welcome Reception
20 November - EEAA 2014 Conference

KEY AWARDS DATES:
Mid-October - Finalists announced
20 November - EEAA 2014 Awards for Excellence

About EEAA

The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) is the peak association for the exhibition and event industry, representing organisers, venues and suppliers. As a not-for-profit organisation, EEAA’s primary objective is to maintain high industry standards and ensure industry growth by promoting the professionalism of EEAA members and unique benefits offered by exhibitions. For more information, go to www.eeaa.com.au.

Contact:
rius@eeaa.com.au

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