Of the grand order of folio leviathans, the Sperm Whale and the Right Whale are by far the most noteworthy. They are the only whales regularly hunted by man. To the Nantucketer, they present the two extremes of all the known varieties of the whale. As the external difference between them is mainly observable in their heads; and as a head of each is this moment hanging from the Pequod's side.
Type and hit ENTER
Be Yourself. Be Happy.
Stay Positive. Always.
Of the grand order of folio leviathans, the Sperm Whale and the Right Whale are by far the most noteworthy. They are the only whales regularly hunted by man. To the Nantucketer, they present the two extremes of all the known varieties of the whale. As the external difference between them is mainly observable in their heads; and as a head of each is this moment hanging from the Pequod's side.
Gary Fitz-Roy
Gary Fitz-Roy is the convener of the National Events Alliance and MD of Expertise Events, one of Australia's largest family owned exhibition companies.
A few weeks ago, as tensions escalated into direct conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, I raised a familiar question—quietly …
March 25, 2026
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Rising exhibitor costs aren’t just squeezing businesses – they’re threatening the survival of entire shows. Without exhibitors, there is no show. …
June 27, 2025
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Could artificial intelligence — often seen as a threat to traditional industries — actually spark the next big boom for face-to-face …
June 24, 2025
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Under the re-emerging influence of Donald Trump and his tariff-heavy policies, doing business with or within the U.S. is increasingly being viewed as complex, unpredictable, and in some cases, prohibitively expensive. For international companies and associations seeking neutral, commercially viable ground, Australia’s geographic and economic profile suddenly looks more attractive.
April 17, 2025
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
The collapse of Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) has sent shockwaves through the industry, raising serious questions about the future of …
April 2, 2025
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Event organisers of AUSjet 24 are reeling at what they are calling an outrageous “rip-off” as Melbourne Showgrounds caterer Dean & …
December 19, 2024
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Gary FitzRoy looks at the price increases being foisted on expo organisers. In a concerning development for the exhibition industry, some …
October 17, 2023
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
In a turn of events that has left the exhibition industry reeling, the country’s largest annual event for the Wood and …
August 29, 2023
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
The monopolistic price gouging by certain suppliers and venues is poised to cause significant and lasting repercussions within the industry and …
August 22, 2023
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Gary FitzRoy shares his conceren about the future of the exhibition industry
August 15, 2023
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
The events industry has always been a dynamic and ever-evolving field, subject to various factors that shape its trajectory. As we …
July 25, 2023
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
A new report from the USA exhibition industry may support growing concern that the industry could face significant challenges and could …
June 14, 2023
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
All businesses are dependent on sales and they are currently facing unprecedented uncertainty and volatility in their day-to-day business. Expertise Events …
May 8, 2023
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
The winds of time are changing too quickly while we struggle to recover. The announcement this week of the sale of …
October 20, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
In three short years the world has seen more changes and impacts than most of us have seen in our lifetime! …
September 24, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
“Every success story is a tale of constant adaption, revision and change”. Sir Richard Branson The market has changed. What we …
September 2, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
It’s been interesting to see the Queensland and NSW governments played off against each other by NRL boss Peter V’landys. The …
August 23, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Readers are very aware I have been concerned about what I consider to be price gouging led by a couple of …
August 5, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Following the announcement from a ‘mainstream organiser’ that an event planned to run in the next month has been cancelled – …
July 26, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
There has been a lot of talk around suppliers walking away from shows with little notice even with long term relationships; …
July 15, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
I note of late that some of the major expo contractors are talking about how costs have risen due to staff …
June 22, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Recent announcements made by the MCEC and BCEC about changes to senior management opens the door to some interesting changes that …
June 15, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Last year ASE reported on the previous government’s Business Event Grants program, and the fact that there seems to be no …
June 7, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
My company has recently completed several events across three states and we have another in the next two weeks. I am …
June 2, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Gary Fitz-Roy is concerned that things are not as rosy as some are making out as events return – short staffed …
May 18, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
For some time I have pointed out that the industry will see changes this year that will impact us until 2024 …
April 21, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
EEAA recently ran a panel discussion in support of UFI Asia-Pacific Week entitled ‘The Bumpy Road to Recovery’. Gary FitzRoy has …
April 13, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
OK we need it on the recovery table. We can win the battle but loose the war and if the major …
March 10, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Two mice and two small people can probably help us, or can they? International borders have reopened, even WA is reconnecting …
March 4, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
It is envisaged that COVID variants will remain circulating around the world until at least the end of 2023. This means …
February 4, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Mark McGowan’s announcement last night should come as no surprise as it reflects his whole way of operating for the last …
January 21, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Victoria is the only state so far to launch an insurance package for the broader event industry. However there are numerous …
January 14, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
It sounds like Groundhog Day. The threat of covid spreading faster than a brush fire and again creating uncertainty and lack …
January 7, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
As we kick off 2022 the event industry has been delivered a new ball game and one that offers less certainty …
January 7, 2022
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
There is a saying that goes along these lines, “judge your friends during the tough times as this is when their …
November 30, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
While business events are not expected to return until March, Sydney Showground and the MCEC will be buzzing with costumed fans …
November 19, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
I love the line in Crocodile Dundee where Paul Hogan talks about a problem and he says to Linda Kozlowski, “I …
November 8, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
There is no doubt that the global COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world. It has changed the way people live their …
November 2, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
The hard work is only just starting and the reform being discussed falls way short to what we really need. I …
October 26, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
It seems we can’t take a trick, over the weekend it has been announced live performance theatre shows, music and arts …
October 18, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Federal Agriculture Minister, David Littleproud was in Brisbane on Tuesday to announce a second round of funding to support agricultural shows …
October 15, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
The resilience of exhibitions and events cannot be under estimated. It wasn’t so long ago the sector’s long term existence was …
October 11, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
The announcements by the new NSW Premier should put a skip in every event company step whether a venue, organiser or …
October 8, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
On the 28th I posted an article around Making every day count. In it I raised awards, not surprisingly I had …
October 1, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Gary Fitz-Roy on staffing, associations and the future. We all know that planning and preparation are the cornerstones to effective performance, …
September 28, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Isn’t it funny how we come to miss something only after we no longer have it? I raise the point because …
September 22, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
With the anticipation of the NSW road map announcement the events industry was waiting in the hope we may be able …
September 10, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Over the last week Info Salons have advised clients they are closing their Australian operation. Info Salons was founded by Jo-Anne …
September 8, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
It’s time for a reset. The one thing we have learnt with covid over the last 18 months is how quickly …
September 7, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
The industry have been so focused on various aspects of recovery, namely insurance and a road map to re-open. However, it’s …
August 30, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Up until late June, there seemed to be a path back for the events industry, but now uncertainty prevails again despite …
August 26, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
As founder of the National Events Alliance, Gary Fitz-Roy welcomes the recent meeting of BECA with Minister Tehan. Their language is …
August 20, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
There is a lot being written and reported about the vaccine rollout and how that will get us out of the …
August 10, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
In a move that has left many in the event industry questioning a double standard, Gary Fitz-Roy asks why the Federal …
August 3, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Gary FitzRoy has had plenty to say about the situation we find ourselves in as an industry. He went on to …
July 8, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
In March 2020 the events industry was the first to be shut down when the 500 pax limit was put on …
June 25, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
The latest Victorian outbreak has started to have real bite and again the exhibition and event industry is left in disarray, …
June 17, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
We all have memoires of the childhood story of the Little Engine That Could who pushed to get over the mountain …
May 28, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Yet again the exhibition and event industry has been left wondering what they have to do to get recognition and any …
May 18, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
The exhibition industry has been one of, if not the worst affected industries as a result of Covid. Unable to operate …
May 5, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
NEA Emerge Meet Up is not about feeling dwelling on negativity, it’s about putting in place positive actions to rebuild and …
April 21, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
The National Events Alliance (NEA) today has released its logo, vision, mission and objectives for the future. The National Events Alliance …
April 1, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
On the day Job Keeper is removed and Qld goes into lockdown again, we are already hearing about redundancies within our …
March 30, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
The Federal Government’s latest tourism package to support tourism and the flow onto restaurants, bars, taxis, supermarkets etc. is another on …
March 12, 2021
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
The Events and Exhibitions Industry identifies inconsistencies in the government’s definitions and calls for the persons limit to be changed in …
September 16, 2020
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Gary Fitz-Roy MD of Expertise Events asks what is the daily number of COVID cases within a State that allows us to resume events.
August 12, 2020
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Dormant, billion dollar white elephant venues, thousands out of work or on Jobkeeper, and hundreds of events being cancelled every week, …
June 24, 2020
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
The recent announcement of the $250 million support package for the arts community is wonderful news, but has again highlighted that …
June 2, 2020
Posted by Gary Fitz-Roy
Copyright Australasian Special Events 2000 - 2021
Gary Fitz-Roy, Author at Australasian Special Events
Thanks for subscribing!
Statistics – Time to keep it real!
However the report has drawn criticism for lacking contextual nuances, particularly when it comes to accounting for individual country conditions like inflation, it’s important to emphasize the limitations of such reports.