Is there light at the end of the COVID tunnel?

Positive news reports this week from the Chief Health Officer and the Minister for Health.

On RN this morning the Federal Health Minister, Mark Butler told Patricia Karvelas

“We’ve been watching these data for a few days now. They’ve been dropping off for a little while and really importantly, the hospital numbers have been dropping off for a number of days now. They’re several hundred below the peak that we saw a couple of weeks ago. But still there are close to 5000 Australians in hospital with COVID. That’s close to one in 12 public hospital beds.”

Hopefully this news will provide more confidence for the overall event sector.

Tourism Australia certainly thinks so:

New research indicates a positive shift for domestic business events  

With 84 per cent of business decision makers now planning events within the next 6 to 12 months (up 13 percent from February 2022), the confidence of Australia’s domestic business events sector is the highest it has been since the pandemic began.  

But as events are returning businesses are struggling to keep up with cost increases – especially labour and fuel which has Gary Fitz-Roy asking…

Should suppliers be colluding on price?

Readers are very aware I have been concerned about what I consider to be price gouging led by a couple of the main contractors in the expo supply chain.  I have become aware that one company has been encouraging other contractors to increase their pricing to a common price point – which I thought is illegal!

And he takes a look at event organisers who are using COVID as an excuse to cancel rather than a challenge to be confronted…

The ramifications of “COVID cancellations”

Following the announcement from a ‘mainstream organiser’ that an event planned to run in the next month has been cancelled – under the guise of ‘COVID concerns’ – I feel we should all be angry. 

Readers know that ASE is a place for expressing opinion and observations and I’m delighted to welcome Tim Jack Adams to the platform with his take on the future of business events…

Why business events are changing forever 

I was listening to an interesting podcast between Joe Rogan and Silicon Valley Billionaire Marc Andreessen, founder of Netscape and now Duolingo, the largest language platform on the planet.

Regional news

The warm welcome that could win you an award

It is the first thing visitors see upon arrival, creating an inviting vibe and setting the scene for a great stay – and now you can showcase it on the national stage. The Best Entrance Art promotes the special place that many gateway sculptures, murals and artworks hold in the hearts of their communities.

Laservision’s ‘Aurora’ light show a tourism hit in Albury

After an extremely popular showing, the inaugural Luna Light Journey, AURORA, wrapped up on Saturday, July 23 after a 4-week run over the school holidays.

And from NZ..

Auckland Showgrounds: High Court victory means Hollywood may miss out on lease

In a last-ditch attempt to stop the historic showgrounds from effectively closing to the multi-million-dollar events and exhibitions industry, Brent Spillane, managing director of XPO Exhibitions, launched a High Court challenge against the Cornwall Park Trust Board.

He argued the trust’s intention to lease the showgrounds to Auckland’s Xytech Studio Management, which in turn planned to lease it to an overseas film and television production studio, would prevent the use of the showgrounds for major events such as the New Zealand Boat Show, the Auckland Food Show, the Auckland Home Show, the Baby Show, Pet Expo and the Royal Easter Show.

Jobs Board

Events are back and businesses are recruiting so I’ve introduced a jobs board with an introductory offer of $70 per listing.  Your listing will appear on the ASE site for 30 days (or until the job is filled) and will be promoted via the weekly update. And since you are about to ask – the ASE email posts currently go to 3666 recipients (mostly in Australia).  Lodge your listing here

Buy the way – I usually write a review of sorts about Olympics and Comm Games ceremonies – if anyone know how to find last week’s opening ceremony on 7+ can you let me know. I can find the sport but no ceremony!