 To the 300 plus people who responded to mice.net magazine’s online survey on the value of industry exhibitions. We received some great feedback and the organisers of the shows we highlighted – MEETINGS in New Zealand, RSVP, Sydney on Sale, and AIME – have said they are taking all feedback on board in preparation for next year’s events.
 Delegates at a Federal Government-sponsored conference on climate change in Canberra were reportedly not amused at the gala dinner entertainment provided by Miss Kitka’s House of Burlesque, with some of the female attendees apparently walking out. Conference organisers were reported to have said: “The intent was lighthearted entertainment. In retrospect the choice of entertainment was inappropriate for the occasion.” The planned 45-minute performance was stopped after about 10 minutes.
Good to see that “ordinary Aussie women” still have a place on the catwalk thanks to designer Leesa Fogarty, who told organisers of Rosemount Australian Fashion Week in Melbourne that she would be using models that better represented the type of women who would buy their product range. IMG Fashion Asia Pacific MD, Simon Lock, was reported to have suggested that she use professional models because organisers were a little bit concerned about the way these new models were walking, posing and with some of their antics. Ms Fogarty ignored the concerns and used her models to much applause and plenty of post-event publicity.
A disappointing result for Australia and particularly New South Wales in the latest tourism figures with visitor numbers falling by 25,000 in NSW. Tourism Australia’s International Visitor Survey found total visitors to Australia in the year ending June 30, 2006, increased by just one per cent to 5.37 million. Business tourism for the year increased by just one per cent.
Great to hear that Tourism Australia is putting the finishing touches to its dedicated business events campaign (see story page 12). This has been a long time coming for the industry and will hopefully be well worth the wait.
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