Congratulations to two event industry figures named in the Australia Day honours list
Anthony BASTIC AM – For significant service to the special events industry and Gregory Kenneth BOWMAN OAM – For service to the tourism and hospitality industry.
A united voice for Business Events?
At the height of COVID lockdowns the entire event industry (not just business events) struggled to get a voice to government. One of the criticisms was that that there were too many voices trying to promote their sector. This brought about calls for the industry associations to amalgamate into one representative of business events. This week that process got underway with the boards of AACB, ACCG and EEAA voting to amalgamate. This leaves just two members of BECA outside this new association – MEA and PCOA.
MEA CEO Peter McDonald told ASE – Since 1975, Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) has existed to represent the individual and business owners and operators, venues and destinations, and suppliers of the Australian events industry. It is the longest operating and largest Australian events industry association. It aims to represent that community’s interests and to lead, empower, and connect its constituency in achieving their goals.
MEA is not currently considering merge with any other organisation or collective of organisations. MEA will continue with business as usual to service our members, represent their interests, and operate our Registered Training Organisation to educate the Australian events sector. As both a founding and current member of BECA, MEA supports a united voice to government. MEA will maintain its support of advocacy for business events whilst also continuing to champion the welfare and needs of the greater Australian events community.
So, if MEA (and event PCOA) were to join this new grouping then maybe BECA could move beyond business events and become a voice for the whole event industry – festivals (music and arts), major events, public events, weddings and private events, etc. i.e. the industry we are all part of and which was smashed the hardest in 2020-21
Just a thought…
Australian convention centres join the call for a united industry voice
The Australian Convention Centre Group (ACCG), comprising representatives from the nation’s leading convention and exhibition centres, have passed a resolution to support the amalgamation of relevant industry associations, in the interest of the broader event sector.
Australia’s Convention Bureaux unanimously vote for change
Today, the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) held a special general meeting of its members to vote on the future representation of Australia’s business events industry, and the result was unanimous.
AIME is coming up fast and there is still time to register to attend – I look forward to catching up.
Reflecting on 30 years of AIME
This year AIME celebrates 30 years and I reckon I have attended around 25 of them. At that time of the first AIME in 1993 I was working as a production manager and lighting designer on mostly corporate events and fashion parades.
Marvel Stadium to host AIME 30 Year Celebration
The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) team, in partnership with the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB), are delighted to announce that Marvel Stadium will play host to the much-loved AIME Welcome Event on Monday, 13 February 2023.
Longford Grand Prix Expo cancellation fallout
Tasmanian motorsport lovers are shocked at the news of the cancellation of the Longford Grand Prix Expo less than two months out from its debut. The event organiser DX Industries cited difficult economic conditions, including ongoing supply chain shortages, infrastructure costs and labour shortages. But who are DX Industries?
However, a new event has been set up (very quickly) to replace the Expo.
Longford Long Weekend Motor Show is on! – via Auto Action
Following the controversial collapse of the planned Longford Grand Prix Expo (GPX) in Tasmania, the remains of the government grant will be used to host a new event, The Long Weekend, on the second weekend of March.
This year I took the opportunity to catch a bunch of shows as part of the Sydney Festival – it was so good to be out and about again. However what I really missed was a festival hub. In previous years these hubs have been focussed around Circular Quay (a long time ago), Hyde Park Barracks (the 90s) and Hyde Park. Hopefully that aspect will return next year.
And my favourites – in no particular order because they were so different – Amadeus, Antarctica, Christie Whelan-Browne: Show People, Kairos and The Room. The only real dud was Holding Achilles.
‘There was so much joy’: Sydney Festival roars back after two lean years – The Age
After two years being buffeted by COVID-19 lockdowns, La Nina downpours and last year’s boycott over funding from the Israeli Embassy, the 2023 Sydney Festival has gone off mostly according to plan, with audiences showing signs of returning to pre-pandemic levels, according to festival director Olivia Ansell.
‘Exactly what theatre should be’: Sydney Festival 2023 climbs back towards its best – SMH
This was more like it: as well as smaller, quirkier shows, Sydney Festival was back to the extravaganzas only it could host.
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