Dream on! Sydney has been selected as the host city for Tourism Australia’s biennial premier incentive travel event, Dreamtime, which aims to generate future business for Australia’s high yielding business events sector. The seven day Dreamtime 2009 programme held from 10-18 October 2009, will see international buyers and media spend five days in the host city, Sydney, and two days at a second destination within Australia (either Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, the Northern Territory, or Sunshine Coast/Brisbane) for educational visits.
Tourism Australia Business Events Manager, UK & Europe, Lene Corgan said the event was expected to attract around 100 business events decision makers (buyers) and 20 international media from Australia’s key markets of the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, Japan, New Zealand and the United States of America.
“Australia has a proven reputation internationally as a country that stages world-class events and Dreamtime provides a tremendous opportunity to showcase the unique business events experiences on offer in Australia,” Ms Corgan said. Many businesses have long recognised the benefits in rewarding and motivating staff by hosting their business events in Australia because we offer outstanding experiences in remarkable locations. “The climate for the business events sector will be tough in 2009, however events such as Dreamtime are part of Australia’s long term commitment to build the country’s share of the global business events market.”
Dreamtime provides conference and incentive buyers with the opportunity to meet face-to-face with tourism businesses and experience Australia first-hand at one event. Ms Corgan said Australia had seen increased demand from international businesses to stage events which have a stronger social or environmental focus. “Increasingly, there is demand globally for events which have a greater commitment to sustainable practices,” Ms Corgan said. “Dreamtime will be an opportune time to highlight Australia’s credentials for staging sustainable events and follows Tourism Australia’s recent CSR Audit of the business events sector”. Sydney’s winning bid to host Dreamtime 2009 showed a strong focus on delivering a low carbon impact event with amazing first-hand experiences.
Mr Jon Hutchison AM, Chief Executive Officer of Business Events Sydney, said he was delighted that his organisation had been successful in securing the rights to host Dreamtime this year. “Together with our partners we are eager to host this prestigious event and are confident that Sydney will exceed expectations of buyers and sellers,” Mr Hutchison said. The innovative program will deliver experiences that are new and dynamic covering culture, arts, entertainment, the environment and indigenous culture.
“Business Events Sydney is committed to attracting incentive and corporate meeting business to the city and this is demonstrated by our active participation in Team Australia activities across the key markets of Asia, North America and UK/Europe. We are thrilled to be hosting Dreamtime this year and look forward to demonstrating why Sydney is one of the most desirable and motivational incentive destinations in the world,” Mr Hutchison said.
