Can we just ignore the government and the nightly TV headlines and agree that events are back? Industry events are locked in – Get Local in Sydney in February and then in Melbourne, AIME (March) and MEA Evolve (June).
Corporates seem to be more cautious, but if our industry (and venues) can show the way and pull off safe, successful events then our clients will follow suit.
RATs enabling events, Get Local forging ahead in February
Get Local co-founders Donna Kessler and Gary Bender said the decision not to postpone was made after receiving encouraging positive feedback from the industry throughout January, and particularly registered buyers who have said they will be there.
MEA conference set to Evolve in June
MEA CEO Peter McDonald said “Despite having postponed from last year, we’re very excited to have reconfirmed former Disney Head of Innovation and Creativity Duncan Wardle as a keynote speaker for the event.”
The return of confidence in business events in Australia
CEO Talk2 Media & Events, Matt Pearce, shares his hope for the year ahead. The optimism of November and December and the sense that Business Events were bouncing back seemed to evaporate over the holiday break. Large numbers of Omicron cases dampened confidence and uncertainty set in.
International events showing the way
CEO of Arinex and President of EEAA Nicole Walker learnt so much in Barcelona last November exhibiting at IBTM World on the Tourism Australia stand. This was proof that large scale exhibitions can proceed in a COVID safe way.
The Australia Day Live concert was a joy to behold. And dancing – yes dancing! Despite the current NSW mandate that music festivals (unless you are Hillsong) are not to allow dancing.
Our big story this week has taken off – we would love to hear your experience.
Who benefited from the 2020 Business Events Grants Scheme?
We have done some digging. It turns out the top five recipient events shared over $19m of the $56m that was allocated to the scheme. Yes 34% of the funding went to just five expos, and only one of them actually went ahead in 2021.
In other news
What is in store for WA – how long will their lockout last and what happens when it ends?
Dr Norman Swan addressed this issue in the latest Coronacast – one possible outcome is that whenever WA re-joins Australia it could trigger an outbreak – so what is he waiting for?
The ‘Omicron wave’ was the catastrophic dumper that closed our Sunshine Coast restaurant forever – Teresa Russell in The Guardian
This story is about a restaurant but it also applies to an event business we know of on the Sunshine Coast that has similarly suffered due to “Poor planning by governments has defeated our beloved business. The economy collapses when citizens are too afraid to leave their homes.”
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