Prominent South Australians are being recruited to spearhead South Australia’s push to win more international conferences as part of a
Prominent South Australians are being recruited to spearhead South Australia’s push to win more international conferences as part of a new Conventions Adelaide campaign.
University academics and industry leaders with links to convention opportunities gathered in Adelaide this month to support the campaign.
Tourism Minister and Conventions Adelaide supporter Jane Lomax-Smith says the State has grown into a world-class destination for business events, however there is room for further growth.
“We’ve recently experienced boom times for conventions, thanks to the work of the Adelaide Convention Tourism Authority, together with industry partners,” Dr Lomax-Smith says.
“In 2006-07, ACTA won the right to host 44 conferences in Adelaide, including 12 international conference wins, with a combined economic impact of $95.5 million.
“Adelaide has been ranked 3rd in Australasia and 56th globally in regards to attracting successful bids and in 2006 held more international conferences than Frankfurt, Los Angeles and New York.
“With the assistance of active key industry leaders, we hope to have even more influence in being chosen a future conference destination by international conference committees.
“The business events sector is extremely high yielding, with international conference delegates spending up to 5.6 times more per day than the leisure visitor, and nearly 1.5 times as much per trip.
“The industry is worth some $1.5 billion to South Australia annually.
“Business events also attract high profile speakers and industry leaders, providing an unmatched opportunity for South Australia to showcase our capabilities to the world.
“They offer a chance to exchange ideas, forge strong business networks and research links, and enhance the State’s profile overseas.
“Adelaide has a great deal to offer as a conference host city – from a brilliant line-up of major events to popular tourist destinations.
“This new Conventions Adelaide campaign is set to harness Adelaide’s potential to bring even more international conferences to our State.
“Prominent South Australians will become ‘champions’ to help us to secure more international conference bid opportunities and to be the face of our bidding process,” she says.