PERTH welcomed 120 international business events planners and media at Dreamtime 2019, Tourism Australia’s business events incentive showcase, to reveal the Western Australia capital’s recent revitalisation.
Business events planners and media from Greater China, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, South Korea, Japan, the USA, UK and New Zealand had the opportunity to meet with 87 of Australia’s leading business events product during the event and were also able to experience the destination first-hand.
Representatives from all levels of government took the opportunity to address the guests at official functions hosted by both Tourism Australia and Perth Convention Bureau.
Dreamtime’s two days in Perth culminated on December 3 with a spectacular dinner for 280 guests hosted in the gardens of Government House where guests had the opportunity to experience Australia’s outdoor dining lifestyle in the gardens to while enjoying canapes, oysters from the live shucking station and cocktails using locally-produced West Winds Gin.
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As the sun began to set, guests transitioned to the dining area where they discovered long tables under Sperry Tents and an open kitchen where chefs were preparing the dinner. The menu consisted of Western Australian produce, including local favourite marron, peppered with Indigenous ingredients including wattle seed, finger lime and salt bush.
The dinner concluded with a collaboration between local orchestral group, Dolce Ensemble, and the Wadumbah Aboriginal Dance Group. As the performance drew to a close, a specially created pyrotechnic display burst into the sky lighting up the dessert table and a procession of waiters with flaming trays of dessert made their way across the lawn while bartenders served Perth whiskey, Whipper Snapper, at the bar.
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On Wednesday, the incentive planners and media begin a further three days of educational visits in Australian destinations including Canberra, the Gold Coast, the Margaret River, Sydney and The Whitsundays. Two groups also undertook educational visits in Brisbane and Melbourne ahead of the Perth program.
Penny Lion, Executive General Manager Events at Tourism Australia reiterated the importance of giving guests an opportunity to experience Australia.
“Perth has changed considerably in recent years and has so much to offer so it was the right time to bring international incentive planners here who may not have visited recently or have never been before to show them the breadth and quality of the region’s business events offering.
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“Now they will go on to experience other destinations across the country which they can promote to their customers who are always looking for unique, inspiring and rewarding incentive experiences,” said Ms Lion.
She went on to say that proof of Dreamtime’s success will follow as Tourism Australia gathers feedback from international guests and the Australian industry.
“The history of the event shows us that Australia is set to gain from new business leads and ultimately, an increase in international planners selecting the country for their next incentive program,” she said.
Gareth Martin, Chief Executive Officer at Perth Convention Bureau echoed Lion’s comments saying the event gave them a timely opportunity to showcase the city and surrounds following record levels of new infrastructure and development.
“The calibre of event planners and media taking part in Dreamtime 2019 has been phenomenal. Together with Tourism Australia, we successfully shone a light on Perth and the city’s latest precincts, hotels and experiences,” said Martin.
