The timing of the rescheduled Get Local turned out to be on the mark – just days before NSW, Victoria and ACT announced the end to most restrictions – especially those affecting events.

Get Local gets the industry back together

Over two days buyers and exhibitors gathered at the ICC Sydney – for some it was to showcase or check out products and services and for many it was a chance to catch up face to face.

Here is our report on the welcome function.

Also this week…

Peter Jones reflects on what makes an event memorable

“I’m often asked what elements make a truly memorable event for everyone who attends – Is it a superstar performer, amazing AV, great food and wine, a beautiful setting or lots of famous people”

Business Events Grants Program update

First – here are the answers provided by Austrade to a series of questions we put to them

Austrade response to questions regarding the Business Events Grants Program

And – representatives from Austrade appeared before Senate Estimates yesterday and provided these figures

• 355 events were approved
• 188 were completed
• 111 are now scheduled for 2022 and 3 for 2023
• 18 events were cancelled and 35 went to virtual only, for a total of 53 removed from the scheme
• $54,158,155 has been distributed to successful applicants
• Four grant recipients have repaid $81,531 (editor note: this seems quite small considering 15% of the approved events were removed from the scheme and this figure represents 0.15% of the total amount approved)
• 874 variations were approved as a result of changes (eg postponed events)
• 5 event owners received grants as an exhibitor
• If an applicant had applied for funding to attend multiple events and one was cancelled then the funding can be used for another event they were approved to attend.
• When questioned about whether returned grants would go back into the scheme the response was “that is up to government” (ASE understands that it will be returned to consolidated revenue)

ASE would love to hear of your experience of the scheme – good or bad.

In other news

NZ Business Events buoyed by new government support

Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) is welcoming news today of Government support for the business events industry, severely impacted by ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

Dr Leo Jago OAM appointed independent chair of BECA

Dr Jago has a strong research background in business events and the visitor economy. He is widely recognised for his leadership in the inaugural landmark National Business Events Study as Deputy CEO and Director for Research of the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism.

Today marks the end of most restrictions affecting events in NSW, ACT and Victoria

What are the new coronavirus rules for Victoria? The Age
Density quotients will be removed for hospitality venues, and dance floors will be allowed to reopen. Visitors to retail outlets, schools and workplaces will no longer have to scan a QR code to check-in. However, the codes will remain in place at restaurants and entertainment venues.

Perrottet declares early easing of COVID-19 restrictions – SMH

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced a raft of measures would be eased 10 days earlier than expected, with working from home orders ditched, one per two square metre limits removed in pubs and restaurants, singing and dancing to return and most check-in requirements dropped.

Canberra COVID restrictions changes to density limits, dancing, mask requirements Canberra Times

Density limits will be scrapped and dancing is allowed in Canberra venues as the ACT relaxes COVID restrictions in line with NSW and Victoria. The restrictions will be eased from 6pm on Friday night.

Scaled-back Mardi Gras a litmus test for Sydney’s life after Omicron – SMH

“Dialled up” from 2021 but still smaller than usual, this year’s festival is shaping up as a litmus test for Sydney’s capacity to move past the disruption and uncertainty of the pandemic and host major events.

Why the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is raising the bar sky-high – AFR

It’s a question that has been keeping Pat Nourse awake at night. “As the creative director of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival (MFWF) at a time when the offering has become so elevated, I’m led to ponder: Where does the true luxury lie when it comes to plating up?”

Games can deliver gold for Victoria’s economy – The Age

The Gold Coast Commonwealth Games four years ago were a long-term success story for Queensland largely because the sporting and other infrastructure built for the Games continued to attract users long after the main event was over, a local economist told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.