This year’s AIME programme saw the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) share key findings of a report by auditors Deloitte that measures the economic value brought in by international business events to Australia’s convention bureaux, with North Asian investment highlighted as a key to the industry.
The report found that international business events delegates spend an average 21 per cent more than other international visitors to Australia and 77 per cent more every day. Thirty per cent of Australia’s international business events delegates come from within Asia, where growth prospects are greatest.
Executive Director of the AACB Andrew Hiebl said, “We have an important responsibility to raise the profile of the sector, as through our members, we represent more than 1600 industry operators across the business events spectrum.”
China is a major source of expenditure in Australia, and long-term opportunities aligned with North Asia are being pursued by the AACB to continue this growth. Partnerships with the federal government were cited as integral support to convention bids, which the AACB announced had enjoyed stronger relations since the report’s release. Read the report here.
The AACB announced that it has won 390 host convention bids since October 2014.
