Forum to Tackle Challenges as Sydney Ramps up its Events Drive
One of the world’s leading business events experts will join some of Australia’s top events and tourism heads next month to address a special forum on Sydney’s place on the global meetings stage.
Bruce MacMillan, the President and CEO of the world’s largest meetings body, Meeting Professionals International (MPI), will deliver the keynote address at the luncheon “Competing Globally – Sydney Means Businessâ€, to be held at The Westin Sydney on April 1.
Mr MacMillan will be joined on stage by a panel of experts including the newly appointed CEO of Events NSW, Geoff Parmenter, the Managing Director of Tourism Australia, Geoff Buckley, and the Hotel/Tourism Portfolio Manager of The GPT Group, Bruce Morris.
The panel will examine current challenges facing the world’s business events industry and discuss how Sydney can build on its position as Australia’s leading meetings city to win more business globally.
Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau Managing Director Jon Hutchison said the event was very timely given the NSW Government’s recent establishment of Events NSW and Tourism Australia’s creation of a business events division.
“Sydney has again been voted the best city in the world in the annual Anholt City Brands Index.” “This event is an opportunity to analyse our strengths and our competition, and work out how we can boost our share of the world meetings market,†Mr Hutchison said.
He said Mr MacMillan, a former President and CEO of the Toronto Convention and Visitors Association, would look at the impact of the current economic climate on the industry.
Mr MacMillan’s address will also examine how Sydney can work in a competitive environment to attract a potentially shrinking market, drawing on his knowledge of the MPI, which represents more than 23,000 members across 65 countries.
“This is going to be a very thought-provoking and dynamic forum which will benefit anyone who works in the business events sector,†Mr Hutchison said.
The SCVB function will be held on Tuesday April 1, from 12pm-2.30pm at The Westin Sydney.
Cost: SCVB members $115; non-members $125; tables of 10 $1100.
RSVP March 19, [email protected] or call Julie Adams on 02 9332 5226.
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