Melbourne to host Dreamtime 2013
Melbourne will host Tourism Australia’s largest marketing event for the business events sector in December, Dreamtime 2013.
Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy said Dreamtime was part of a broader strategy to promote Australia as a business event destination internationally and deliver the economic benefits – currently worth about A$12 billion – to the sector.
"The format of the event provides an opportunity for the Australian industry to demonstrate their expertise in delivering bespoke corporate incentive experiences, as well as hosting large scale gala events," he said.
During Dreamtime 2013 on December 9-10 international business events buyers will be hosted in Melbourne where they will participate in a city showcase, business sessions with Australian industry and networking dinner events.
Melbourne Convention Bureau CEO Karen Bolinger said hosting Dreamtime 2013 was a great business opportunity for the city.
"Being the host city for Dreamtime is a major coup for Melbourne, as it will allow us to showcase the city’s corporate and incentive offering to key markets from across the globe," she said.
McEvoy said business events were key to the Tourism 2020 strategy to enhance growth and competitiveness in the tourism sector, with the aim to increase tourism spending to as much as A$140 billion by the end of the decade.
"The industry is making strong progress, with overnight expenditure by business events visitors in Australia increasing to A$12.5 billion in 2011, up from A$10.3 billion in 2010," McEvoy said.
McEvoy said the numbers of business event visitors to Australia in the year to December 2012 had grown by 11% compared to the previous 12 months. Visitors from India grew 33% (off a small base), while numbers from China lifted 23%. General tourism from the UK was down 3% but the number of business event visitors grew by 17%.
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 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025