Business Events Conference
Working together to maximise business event opportunities in Tropical North Queensland.
TTNQ and Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef (BECGBR) hosted a full-day conference on 31 March 2023 at the Cairns Convention Centre. The event was full of future-focused ideas, panel discussions and interactive activities, that were delivered by industry professionals. The day explored how we will continue to position our region as a world-class business events destination and deliver on our brand promise, Connect Great, Create Great and Leave Greater.
Meeting and event planners shared their insights on what they are looking for from destinations, including the do’s and don’ts of conducting a site inspection, submitting a proposal and meeting delegate expectations.
Delegates learnt how to incorporate the destination brand into their marketing and event delivery and discover how important sustainability has become to delegates and planners.
After the sessions concluded, the was the opportunity to meet and network with the Tropical North Queensland business events industry, suppliers, speakers, and the team from Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef.
Delegates left feeling connected and inspired to take your business events efforts to the next level.
Sessions included
Session 1: Business Events Industry Update – Hear insights from industry professionals including Business Events Australia, BECGBR and the Cairns Convention Centre.
Session 2: Industry Panel Session – Ask those burning questions of the panel and gain insider tips on what buyers look for in a destination outside air access, how to submit a great proposal, and site inspections – the good and the bad and the pain points buyers experience bringing clients to a destination.
Session 3: Business Events Destination brand – How do we, as business events professionals, adopt the destination brand? Why is it important to have a consistent message? How do we incorporate sustainability and accessibility to give our region an edge? The session will look at the new destination partnership with Reforest and we will workshop “leave greater” moments participants have had in their business and how we can leverage these in the future.
What are Business Events?
A business event is a gathering of delegates attending a convention, congress, trade show and/or trade exhibition, incentive event or corporate/business meeting which is hosted by an organisation and held in a specific contracted venue. Business Events delegates spend twice as much as a leisure traveller and are a valuable driver of visitation into our shoulder and low seasons.
Who attended
Existing and/or new staff working in the business events space or who work directly with clients, professional conference organisers and meeting planners. We also invited businesses that are interested in knowing more about business events opportunities.
STAY TUNED FOR 2025!
Speakers and Panellists
Robin Mack
Executive General Manager, Commercial and Business Events Australia at Tourism Australia
Tourism Australia’s dedicated business events unit, Business Events Australia (BEA), delivers marketing communications, industry partnerships and a trade distribution program to raise international awareness and consideration of Australia as a business events destination.
Kelly Maynard
Head of Distribution Development and Partnerships – Business Events at Tourism Australia
Kelly Maynard has worked in the business events industry for over 23 years, and her experience ranges from corporate in-house event planning to some of the biggest agency names. Kelly has worked in several countries including China and the UK, and is highly experienced in strategy development, event creation and management as well as distribution development.
Paula Rowntree
Head of Events at Australian Psychological Society (APS)
Paula is a passionate advocate for the power of business events to create long term economic and sustainable impact. As a leader within the business event and not-for-profit sectors, with more than 30 years’ experience, Paula works with organisations to successfully design, develop and implement business event strategies that enhance the member experience, adapt to changing environments and best practice, diversify revenue streams and increase the value of the organisation.
Wayne Smith
Business Development Director, Cairns Convention Centre
Wayne Smith is a business events executive with over 30 years of extensive experience in management, operations and business development. The Cairns Convention Centre is a world-class venue that is ideal for business events with 300 – 2,500 delegates. The centre is owned by the Queensland Government and is proudly managed by ASM Global. ASM Global is the world’s leading venue management and services company.
Sonja Soderbom
Director Oceania, Ovation Global DMC
Sonja has successfully lead and managed multiple DMC organisations including the start up of Ovation Australia. Ovation Australia is the leading DMC who intimately understands the unique power of meetings, incentives, conferences and events.
Nicole Walker
Managing Director, Arinex Pty Ltd
Nicole provides leadership, management and vision to achieve the strategic objectives of both the company and its clients. In her nine years with Arinex, Nicole has gained an in-depth working knowledge of conference operations and has a strong focus on exceeding client outcomes. Arinex is the first event management company in Australia to be carbon neutral.
Rosie Douglas
General Manager – Partnership & Events, Tourism Tropical North Queensland
Tourism Tropical North Queensland is home to the region’s official convention bureau; Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef (BECGBR). BECGBR role is to market the destination to conferences and incentive programs to a global audience and provide impartial advice or information to assist meeting and event planners to make informed decisions.
Mark Olsen
Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ), is the Regional Tourism Organisation, that brings together the industry and the community to drive the value of the visitor economy through destination marketing. Mark Olsen and the team will discuss the destination brand, sustainability and accessibility.
Program
Cairns Convention Centre | 31 March 2023
9:00 | Arrival and registration
9:30 | Welcome & Session 1
Morning Tea
11:30 | Session 2
Lunch
1:30 | Session 3
3:30 | Networking
4:30 | Conclusion
[Please note the program is subject to change]
Cost
Members $75 per person*
Non-Members $150 per person*
*Includes morning tea, lunch and networking drinks
Registrations are now closed
Contact Kahlia Pepper, Marketing Specialist- Partnerships & Events for more information about this event.
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