I have just returned from my monthly visit to Hobart for the Tasmanian Convention Bureau board meeting and the conference local committee meeting.
Plans are certainly moving along at a pace. Since Kathie McGrath joined us nearly two months ago she has been on a rollercoaster ride visiting many prospective sponsors in and outside Tasmania and gaining support for what is planned to be a fantastic conference. The Tasmania membership of MEA is growing through the marketing of the conference as well.
Our accommodation houses are now all in place, our social venues locked in, the conference website has been developed by Kathie, entertainment is confirmed, and just wait until you experience the Club MEA each evening – this is certainly going to provide fun for all!
The speaker program committee is working solidly, and at present we have exceptional keynote speakers locked in, national experts locked in, and a balanced and informative program guaranteeing to reach all experience levels. The program will provide something for all MEA delegates – from first-timers to MEA, to middle management, to ‘master classes’ for some of our more experienced members. The program business breakouts will totally absorb our theme - an Island in a Sea of Change – the island, the sea, the change, and what must follow, – the future. I hope many of you will be starting to think about your award submissions as our MEA National Awards Night is certainly going to be something very special and one of the highlights of the conference.
By now, all of Hobart is aware of our forthcoming conference and there is a buzz around the town.
Delegate social nights and pre and post tour options are planned for your delight, accommodation properties are receiving bookings, the speaker programme is exciting, and all other logistics are being planned for your education and entertainment.
Registration has commenced and early-bird registration fees will be available to all until the end of January 2007. Save valuable dollars by registering early.
As I write this article, I am delighted to acknowledge our current list of confirmed MEA Conference supporters (in alphabetical order): • Celebrity Speakers Australia • Corporate Travel Management • Event Pix • Hobart City Council • Hotel Grand Chancellor • mice.net magazine • Ovations Speakers Bureau • Tasmanian Convention Bureau • Tassie Link – Tigerline travel and • Wrest Point Hotel & Casino. We truly need our national members’ support and without a doubt, this is the event of the year in which to showcase your services or product.
The latest delegate flight booking details can be accessed at www.travelctm.com/bookings. Alternatively, contact Corporate Travel Management (CTM) 1800 630 866. Remember to quote your code MEA07.
Lastly think ‘Island of Rejuvenation’ and holiday plans as well. Visit www.discovertasmania.com and
www.tasmaniaconventions.com.
Kathie McGrath - national conference manager
As the end of the year fast approaches (where did it go!) it seems apt to reflect on some of our industry colleagues who have helped shape our reputation and have made a difference – some of it is happy and some of it is sad, but that’s life I suppose.
Like our CEO Linda Gaunt, I have just returned from the ICCA Annual Conference in Greece and there was a strong contingent of Aussies to act as the official cheer squad for Leigh Harry who was sworn in as president at the closing ceremony. The local audio visual guys somehow managed to find a copy of Men at Work’s `I Come from a Land DownUnder’ which they played as Leigh walked on stage, and we all felt very proud.
For an international organisation that has its roots firmly and squarely in Europe and has a history of electing European presidents, this is a huge accolade and vote of confidence in the business events sector in Australia and in our people.
To keep Leigh company on the board is new Aussie Alec Gilbert from the Adelaide Convention Centre so we certainly are in good hands and MEA looks forward to perhaps forging stronger links with ICCA in the near future.
It was easy to spot the Aussies at the ICCA Conference – they were the ones clutching the bananas from the breakfast buffet – gazing at them like a long lost friend and almost salivating at the memory of the taste and texture – you had to be there! Sandra Passaro, or the face of Gold Coast Tourism for most of us, has called it a day after a most respectable innings of 17 years. Sandra has always been a staunch supporter of MEA in Queensland and was very much an innovator and a trailblazer in Asia in the early days when incentive travel to Australia from this region was in its infancy. She then went on to assist in shaping TABEE to become a viable and effective trade show in Asia under the auspices of Tourism Australia and was always willing to share her knowledge for the benefit of the industry as a whole. Sandra, after you have had a good lie down we hope you will pop up somewhere in our midst as MEA and the industry would be all the poorer without your input, your passion and your good humour.
The sad bit is for me to comment on the passing of Shelley Bowring who many of you will remember as a stalwart at the Melbourne Convention Bureau in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Shelley passed away in October, bravely and with dignity I am told after losing her battle with Motor Neurone Disease.
I sat on the Board of the Australian Incentive Association with Shelley and she chaired the AIA annual conference when it was in Melbourne in 1991 which was an outstanding success and gave many of us our first insights into themed events and dazzling opening ceremonies. I have an enduring memory of Shelley dressed as Cleopatra in slinky robe, jet black wig and full eye makeup (a la Elizabeth Taylor) gliding up Collins Street to the (then) Regent Hotel whose ballroom was decked out in full bedouin tent with cushion seating. I hope that some of our Melbourne MEA fraternity were able to attend the recent Saturday sojourn in the countryside that was  planed to celebrate Shelley’s life in the manner that she would have approved of (with champagne).
It just leaves me to wish each and everyone of you a safe and happy Xmas and holiday season and as much R&R as you can muster as before we know it, it will be AIME, then MEA in Hobart, then the SCVB Events Expo then… If you need me I’ll be on the sofa.
As I write this update I have just returned from ICCA (International Congress & Convention Association) hosted this year in Rhodes. Along with a record number of delegates, well in excess of 800, and a huge contingent of Australian delegates, it was with immense pride that I witnessed MEA member and past president Leigh Harry, the CEO of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre become President of the association. Congratulations to Leigh! Attending this congress enabled me to measure MEA’s corporate governance against that of this global association as well as experience many high-quality education sessions. I have returned to Sydney with further enthusiasm to provide a top educational program at MEA’s national conference in Hobart in April 2007. I can also say that in many ways I am very proud of how we manage our conferences and that we should also be proud to share with our overseas counterparts our conference management abilities. To me that’s what it’s all about: the ability to share experience, skills and knowledge. My thanks to Emirates airlines for assisting to make this trip possible for me.
MEA National Conference 2008
After receiving three highly competitive bids I am pleased to announce that the MEA National Conference 2008 will be hosted in Alice Springs. On behalf of the MEA Board of Directors I thank each bid group for the time and effort required during the bid process. I also thank our bid panel being MEA Chair of the Board, Annabel Davis, MEA national conference chair 2007 Ruth Lilian, and MEA national conference chair 2006 Suzie Jones for their time and effort in reviewing bid documentation and the interview process.
To Lynn Fairbrass and Scott Lovett and all involved in the Alice Springs bid, we look forward to working with you on the conference in the future.
MEA NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2007 - HOBART
Our national conference manager Kathie McGrath, conference chair Ruth Lilian and committees are working hard on staging an outstanding conference in Hobart 2007. For further information visit www.meetingsevents.com.au.
MEA NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2009
The bid process for MEA 2009 is underway. If you would like to bid for this conference please download a copy of the bid criteria from our website. By MEA enabling more time for the bid process it will allow more time for destinations to consider their bids and win the opportunity to host this lucrative national conference in their destination.
MEA CHRISTMAS FUNCTIONS
Vsit our MEA website to book in for your christmas function. These fun-filled functions will allow you to network with your industry counterparts in a relaxed environment offering much Christmas cheer. To those of you attending the NSW event, I look forward to seeing you there!
PD OPPORTUNITY FOR QLD MEMBERS
If you are living and working in Queensland, and have worked within the business events industry, but have no formal industry qualifications and think you would benefit from a Diploma in Event Management, I urge you to contact MEA’s national training manager, Fiona Kelly to discuss your options. We are working on a number of co-provider initiatives with Tafe institutes around the country that in the future, MEA members will be able to benefit from. Our pilot programme with Brisbane North Institute of Tafe is really taking off, and we encourage your participation. Further details of other state initiatives will be provided as they become available.
In line with MEA’s vision of increasing the professionalism of the industry via continued professional development and training, we have been working hard to finalise the national training calendar for the first half of 2007.
While we continue to work towards becoming a registered training organisation (RTO) by early 2007, we have included in our calendar a number of sessions which we plan to roll-out as articulated subjects – meaning they are nationally recognised subjects which form part of a national qualification such as the Diploma of Event Management. Upon the RTO accreditation being finalised, these sessions will be offered to members and non-members in two formats – assessed and non-assessed. What this would mean is that those attending the session can elect to either use the registration as an opportunity to learn from industry experts and further their industry knowledge (the standard PD MEA has always delivered) gaining a Statement of Attendance, or they can elect to also complete an assessment on that subject to obtain a Statement of Attainment and therefore a credit towards a national qualification.
This national calendar is available from mid-December via the MEA website for both members and non-members and reflects the on-going work by MEA to produce relevant industry topics to assist in the career path planning of those within the industry. The curriculum reflects the areas identified by the industry as those most significant for the development of meetings and events industry personnel and is designed to be used in conjunction with identified career paths. The curriculum has been enhanced to ensure that topics encompass all levels of industry experience. The topics chosen by each state depend on the size and needs of that state and will continue to incorporate branch professional development activities and targeted presentations identified as appropriate for that individual branch.
Sessions on the on-line calendar can be selected in order of date, state or type and will contain information on session content, targeted experience level, PD point allocation for accreditation and/or associate-fellow status, time, venue and more. With just a click of a mouse you can plan career path progression, formulate a PD budget, calculate accreditation points, and search for sessions in other states corresponding with business travel.
The national training calendar is a living document and will continue to be reviewed throughout the year. Certainly with the potential status as an RTO, we would expect that the calendar will be an exciting document to watch as it grows in value and depth as the year progresses. Additional sessions may be placed into the calendar in response to member demand.
Members are most welcome to contact their branch office with feedback on scheduled or suggested additional sessions. Visit the MEA website www.meetingsevents.com.au or contact Fiona Kelly in the MEA national office on (02) 9929 5400 or fkelly@mea.org.au for further information.
Don’t miss the opportunity to have more supporters at your state’s award function by having your award submission uploaded onto the MEA website by the early bird deadline of 4pm on
December 14, 2006.
 Your early bird reward is a three-for-two offer at your state’s award function which will be taking place in February or March next year. For every two people you register to attend your state event, a third person can come absolutely free! This means that you will have more people cheering you on to become the state winner in your chosen category.
 Your state branch will keep you informed of the date scheduled for your state award function and you should also find this information on the 2007 calendar of events on the MEA website.
The closing date for all awards submissions is 4pm on January 22, 2007. If you have any questions about dates and times, please don’t hesitate to contact Fiona Kelly at the MEA National Office on (02) 9929 5400 or email fkelly@mea.org.au. Good Luck!
The following members have recently attained MEA Associate-Fellow status:
AFMEA
Anne Gowlett Insignia Management Pty Ltd
Gillian Mercer Mercer Management Consulting Services
Mary-Anne Sterling MAS Entertainment
Vera Stojanovic Tour Hosts Conference & Exhibition
Organisers
Fraser Bayne Expo Hire (Aust) Pty Ltd
Natalie Skubris Conrad Jupiters
The following members have recently attained Accredited Meetings Manager status:
AMM
Felicity Kent Tour Hosts Conference & Exhibition Organisers
Pauline Lamb Tour Hosts Conference & Exhibition Organisers
Caryn Morgan Cayrn Morgan & Associates
AIME returns to its usual time of February in 2007 and for anyone involved in organising meetings, conferences, incentives or special events, AIME is a must.
Organisers, Reed Travel Exhibitions, report that exhibitors from across the globe have increased their presence at AIME.
“We have had a strong response to the move back to February and there is a real positive energy about the event for next year,” said Rosemarie Sama, AIME event director.
“Hong Kong will be the largest exhibitor from Asia, while exhibitors such as Visit Britain, Hawaii, Canada, China, Dubai, Oman and Indonesia have also taken more space,” she said. After making a major splash at AIME 2006 under its Incredible India banner, the Indian Pavilion will be back on a 90 square metre stand as well as on Café 4.
Not to be outdone, Australian exhibitors are also locking in larger stands.
“The Gold Coast has increased its space, Tasmania has doubled its stand and the Northern Territory is also expected to have a larger stand. Melbourne has expanded its presence again with Victorian exhibitors covering the largest space at AIME – an enormous 337.5 square metres,” Ms Sama said.
Hosted buyer program
 There is still time to apply for the AIME hosted buyer program or to register for AIME 2007. This can be done by visiting the AIME website at www.aime.com.au.
The AIME website also has details of AIME 2007’s professional development seminars and business events forum, featuring international industry speakers. Make sure you register for the MEA seminar at AIME – Choosing the Right Venue; Getting the Right Price. There are also some great practical seminars on organising incentives and special events. And if you are thinking of taking your event offshore, you won’t want to miss the seminar on Emerging Destinations.
AIME 2007, February 13 and 14, will mark the 15th staging of the event which has grown to include more than 850 exhibitors from 50 countries.
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