Tough love
I’ve been a big critic of Tourism Australia in the past but I have to say that what I’m hearing of late is good news for the business events industry. After conducting interviews with the Federal Minister for Tourism Fran Bailey and the acting managing director of Tourism Australia at this time Geoff Buckley (see page 12) I have to say that there does appear to be plenty going on in the hallowed halls of power. Dreamtime coming up next month (November) is undoubtedly one of the best targeted business events in the world. What other country in the world does an incentive-style event like this on such a grand scale? With close to 120 hosted international buyers from all corners of the globe in attendance it is a great event and one that should be applauded by the industry.
The constant talk of research Tourism Australia undertakes is in fact being done, and we should be seeing the results on the length and breadth of the Australian incentive industry this month.
And finally, the business events industry is getting its own international direct mail campaign which will be targeting buyers around the world. It would be nice to see the campaign run in print as well as direct mail, but no doubt the marketing people have done their homework and believe that direct mail is the way to go.
Everything and anything Tourism Australia does is going to come under a great deal of criticism. It’s the nature of the industry segment. Everyone has an opinion on how their country should be marketed to the rest of the world. All I can say on that score is that it’s good to see that Tourism Australia is doing something!
Deepest condolences
mice.net was saddened to hear of the passing of long-time industry stalwart, Shelley Bowring, who lost her battle with motor neurone disease in September. She was diagnosed with the disease in October 2005 and had requested no medical intervention to prolong her life. She died peacefully with her husband Peter Gray and her sister at her bedside.
At her request she donated her organs to be used for further research of the disease.
In 1985 she originated and organised Melbourne Meeting Mart for the MTA/MCB. Initially a trade show for Victorian tourism, convention and incentive product, this grew to attract an international attendance and became AIME.
Shelley and Peter ran MCi International before retiring to run her own event company in 2001. Shelley was heavily involved in the Australian Incentive Association and was the conference chair at the AIA annual conference in Thailand. Our condolences to Peter Gray, Shelley’s family, and friends.
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