Ancient Stories of Our Land by Jedess & David Hudson

CEO-Board Updates

CEO Column – 30 August 2017

Cairns & Great Barrier Reef will host up to 8,000 delegates for the Amway China Leadership Seminar in April 2019 injecting $50 million into the regional economy. This is the largest group incentive our region has ever hosted which sends a strong signal about our credibility as a business events destination.

In a vote of confidence, this will be the sixth time in 15 years that Amway China has selected Australia to host this prestigious event. However, it is the first time they have chosen a regional destination.

Amway China delegates are global travellers who seek experiences that motivate and excite. Our natural attractions, especially the Great Barrier Reef, and the ability to offer personalised experiences were a key advantage in securing this incentive program.

Incentives are about offering unique aspirational activities to delegates and we will be delivering just that with a range of different itineraries to be offered each day. The Amway delegates will travel in waves of 1000 people for five days and four nights in April 2019.

The itineraries will showcase our dual World Heritage areas, allowing delegates to experience the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest with their unique wildlife, as well as exotic tropical produce and the relaxed lifestyle of Cairns & Great Barrier Reef.

Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef led the Amway China bid with partners Tourism Australia, Tourism and Events Queensland, Cairns Regional Council and Cairns Airport.

The hard-working Business Events team has been developing this bid for almost two years and its announcement comes on the back of a solid 12 months with Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef doubling the number of business events secured in 2016-17 from 23 to 46.

Hosting events such as Amway China not only raise the profile of the region, but send a clear message globally that Cairns & Great Barrier Reef is a credible world-class business events destination with diverse experiences, excellent infrastructure and professional people ready to deliver a variety of events.

Interest in the region is escalating with Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef chasing 90 leads in 2016-17 compared to 67 the previous year. More than half of these were from international clients, mainly from China, North America and New Zealand.

TTNQ looks forward to welcoming Amway China to our destination knowing that they will leave as firm ambassadors for Cairns & Great Barrier Reef.

Cheers
Pip

Pip Close
TTNQ CEO