Events academy launched to address skills shortage
A looming skills shortage in the events industry in Australia is behind a move by Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) to launch the Australian Events Academy.
The national initiative will be launched in Sydney with academies in all states and territories to follow.
Linda Gaunt, chief executive of MEA, said the looking skills shortage in the events industry was “a great concern to us all”.
She said there is a need to train more people “to make the industry more competitive on a global basis”.
News of the academy came as it was revealed by the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux that while convention bureaux around Australia made 611 bids for international conferences last year, an increase of 12.1% on the previous year, there was a 12.4% increase in the number of international bids lost – equating to some 162,000 delegates, 656,000 room nights and A$412m in lost in economic benefit.
Approximately 64% of all national bids and 78% of international tenders were successful. But the number of unsuccessful bids also increased, with 208 business events lost to other countries.
"We’re collecting data to determine why we lost these events, but it could be that the global economy and Australian dollar is having an impact.
“Competition in the Asia Pacific is also a possibility, where the government is putting serious money on the table," said AACB executive director Andrew Hiebl.’¨
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026