The Victorian events community closed the door on what has been a terrible 20 months for the Exhibition and Event industry as a result of the COVID19 pandemic.

At a gathering of key industry stakeholders, the Victorian Events community came together to reunite and reconnect with their peers, saying goodbye to almost two years of inactivity for the sector.

Industry leaders gathered at Harry the hirer’s Head Office in Richmond where Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, the Honorable Martin Pakula MP, addressed a room filled with Victoria’s key event stakeholders that represented Victoria’s major events and business events sectors.

Minister Pakula summed up the sentiment in the room; “It’s great to see so many key Melbourne organisations from the events industry in one room”. The Minister was positive about the future of the Victorian events industry with a focus on the strength of the event calendar into 2022; “We are coming back with an even bigger events program so watch this space for some future announcements.”

The Victorian events community was represented by industry bodies, such as Visit Victoria, the Melbourne Convention Bureau, Victoria Tourism Industry Council and the City of Melbourne, and major events including the AFL, The Spring Racing Carnival through MVRC, MRC and VRC, Tennis Australia and Grand Prix, as well as key venues, caterers and event organisers.

CEO of Harry the hirer, Gab Robinson welcomed industry peers, clients and industry officials to the gathering as he recognised a difficult 2 years for the sector; “Today is an opportunity to come together as a big team. To start smiling again, laughing again, working again. Encouraging each other, supporting each other to get moving and drive this industry forward once more”

Robinson recalled the moment the industry came to a grinding halt. “Overnight, every single event, exhibition, wedding and party was cancelled. That was the tragedy for us”.

But the message was positive, one of solidarity and looking forward to a brighter future, accepting the challenges that lie ahead.