First EDGE Seminar resounding success

First EDGE Seminar resounding success

“It was with some trepidation that I agreed to host the first EDGE Seminar” commented Jan Tonkin, MD of The Conference Company, “as New Zealand is often perceived to be a faraway destination, possibly even on the edge of the world. With a new educational offering, I felt this might be a challenge. I was delighted therefore to well exceed our target numbers, with participants travelling from Zimbabwe and Australia to take part in this innovative environment. The support I received from Tourism New Zealand Business Events and the Auckland Convention Bureau was a major contributing factor to the success of this seminar“.

Michel Neijmann, Figur, Istanbul; Mathias Posch, ICS, Vancouver and Jan Tonkin comprised the international faculty, sharing their extensive experience. Listening to presentations, however, formed only a small part of the programme: interactive and conversational discussion, sharing experiences, deep dive sessions on topics such as Bidding and Serving the Clients of the Future played a key part allowing participants to engage with the themes and bring away insights and strategies that have an immediate impact on the way they work in today’s fast pace environment. Over 40 participants took part, representing an even split between PCOs, Convention Bureaux and venues, engaging in a programme that was intensely focused on the future of the meetings industry and the rapidly changing realities of life as a PCO. Participants took an in-depth look at a range of issues preoccupying the meetings world right now including delegate engagement and experiences, hybrid meetings and managing project finances.

While time to showcase Auckland was limited, the group dined on two occasions at offsite venues and enjoyed great views of the city’s harbour on one side and a park on the other from the daylit meeting room on the top floor of the Pullman Hotel.

“EDGE lived up to its name” commented Jan, “this truly was dynamic global education, and I am proud that New Zealand lived up to its reputation as a first-class destination and that IAPCO is continuing its remit of providing expert education for meetings industry professionals”.

GOOD NEWS FOR IBTM INDIA

GOOD NEWS FOR IBTM INDIA
Visitors from 43 countries can now get their visa for India online

Both international exhibitors and Hosted Buyers attending ibtm india 2015 will benefit from the recent news that tourists travelling to India from 43 countries including the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Germany and Japan will no longer have to queue at their local consulates to obtain visas. Following the announcement, individuals may now apply online for their tourist visa-on-arrival, entitling them to a 30-day stay in the India.

The new visa-on-arrival rules will benefit 43 countries including Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kingdom of Tongo, Laos, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Niue, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Papua & New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea (i.e. South Korea), Republic of Marshall Islands, Republic of Nauru, Republic of Palau, Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tuvalu, UAE, Ukraine, USA, Vietnam and Vanuatu.

“This is very good news for our international exhibitors and Hosted Buyers attending ibtm india 2015 which will take place in Jaipur, from 1-3 September. These new visa rules will also help to unleash the huge potential of the country’s growing MICE industry,” said Shinu Pillai, Exhibition Manager ibtm india and ibtm africa, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

Hosted Buyers registration for ibtm india 2015 will go live in May.

For further information on ibtm india 2015, please visit www.ibtmindia.com

 

ICC Sydney attracts the world’s best and brightest

ICC Sydney attracts the world’s best and brightest

Business Events Sydney (BESydney) has secured another four sought-after events for the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney, bringing the total economic impact (EI) of international events for the centre to more than $55 million.

Opening in late 2016, the sophisticated new facilities are on schedule to welcome a host of international shining lights to Sydney.

Business Events Sydney CEO, Lyn Lewis-Smith, said “Business Events Sydney has now secured eleven events for ICC Sydney, nine of which fall within the NSW Government’s priority sectors. These events will attract industry leaders from sectors as broad as professional services, ICT, international education and research, and medicine to Australia’s leading state.

“Business events and their legacies help to further NSW’s expertise and growth and we are excited by the redevelopment of Sydney’s Darling Harbour precinct and the new ICC Sydney. These facilities will be key to continuing growth, fostering collaboration and furthering our global connections to fuel productivity.”

The four new international events that will take place in ICC Sydney are:
The IEEE Semiannual Vehicular Technology Conference in 2017, which is expected to attract 650 delegates over four days and generate an EI of $2.2 million
The World Self-Medication Industry (WSMI) Asia Pacific Regional Conference and General Assembly in 2017, which is expected to attract 450 delegates over two days and generate an EI of $1 million
The International Council of Commercial Arbitration Congress in 2018, which is expected to attract 800 delegates over four days and generate an EI of $3 million
International Congress of Behavioural Optometry (ICBO) in 2018, which is expected to attract 600 delegates over four days and generate an EI of $2.2 million.
“We’re thrilled with our global clients’ reponse to ICC Sydney. To have 11 events secured, about 2.5 years out from opening is such a strong sign of confidence and trust in Sydney’s ability to deliver world-class events and infrastructure,” said Ms Lewis-Smith.

“Conferences such as these have a massive impact on Sydney’s knowledge economy and Australia’s place on the global stage. Collaboration in the fields of research and best practice are simply more effective with the meeting of minds in one city. And there’s no better place to meet than in Sydney. It’s where people want to be.”

NSW accounts for just under half of Australia’s total professional, scientific and technical exports and in the past decade, professional services has been the third largest industry for the State. These factors, among others, helped BESydney to win the International Council of Commercial Arbitration Congress.

The International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) accepted a joint bid by Australia and New Zealand for its 2018 Congress to be held in Sydney, with an add-on event in Queenstown, New Zealand. The announcement was made at the association’s latest meeting in Miami, which attracted over 1,000 arbitrators and arbitration practitioners.

Ms Lewis-Smith said Sydney was an Asia-Pacific hub for professional services firms and talent.

“This win is a coup for Sydney that simultaneously recognises our leadership and strengthens our position in this vital sector.”

NSW is also home to the largest ICT industry in the country, with over 60 per cent of Australia’s ICT regional headquarters and operations centres based in Sydney. The IEEE Semi-annual Vehicular Technology Conference is a biannual conference, last held in Australia in 2006.

The IEEE Vehicular Technology Society concerns itself with land, airborne and maritime mobile services; portable commercial and citizens’ communications services; vehicular electrotechnology, equipment and systems of the automotive industry; traction power, signals, communications and control systems for mass transit and railroads.

Manufacturing makes an enormous direct and indirect contribution to the State’s economy, generating around $34 billion in GDP. Sydney last hosted the WSMI Asia Pacific Regional Conference and General Assembly in 2000. The WSMI is a federation of over 50 member associations representing manufacturers and distributors of non-prescription medicines and other self-care products categories on all continents. WSMI requires member associations to develop voluntary codes of advertising practice and encourages consumer-friendly labelling.

The International Congress of Behavioural Optometry (ICBO) is organised by the Optometric Extension Program Foundation, which is dedicated to the advancement of optometry through the gathering and dissemination of information and research on vision and the visual process. The NSW Government’s annual investment in health and medical research now exceeds $200 million, and the State is recognised internationally for the quality of its education and training, as well as its strong community of behavioural optometrists, which is one of the reasons the ICBO is being held in Sydney in 2018.

NSW has the largest research sector in Australia with the country ranked seventh in the world for the quality of its research institutions by the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2012-13.

“Sydney’s selection as host for these four heavy-weight conferences further demonstrates the global interest in the city’s stunning new convention and exhibition facilities. ICC Sydney will open in late 2016 and will be a hub for the world’s best and brightest to connect, collaborate and innovate,” added Ms Lewis-Smith.

A full list of international events BESydney has secured for ICC Sydney is below.
International Bar Association Annual Conference for 2017, which is expected to attract 4,000 delegates and generate an EI of $18 million
AIPPI World Intellectual Property Congress for 2017, which is expected to attract 2,000 delegates and generate an EI of $7.3 million
International Association of Restructuring Insolvency Bankruptcy Professionals World Quadrennial Congress for 2017, which is expected to attract 800 delegates and generate an EI of over $2.1 million
International Conference of the Institute of Internal Auditors for 2017, which is expected to attract 1,600 delegates and generate an EI of $6.8 million
The IEEE Semiannual Vehicular Technology Conference in 2017, which is expected to attract 650 delegates over four days and generate an EI of $2.2 million
The World Self-Medication Industry Asia Pacific Regional Conference and General Assembly in 2017, which is expected to attract 450 delegates over two days and generate an EI of $1 million
The International Council of Commercial Arbitration Congress in 2018, which is expected to attract 800 delegates over four days and generate an EI of $3 million
Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors Congress for 2018, which will attract 500 delegates and generate an EI of $2.2 million
International Congress of Behavioural Optometry in 2018, which is expected to attract 600 delegates over four days and generate an EI of $2.2 million
20th International Congress of Cytology for 2019, which will attract 1,200 delegates and generate an EI of $4.8 million
Confidential international meeting for 2022, which will attract 1,500 delegates and generate an EI of $6 million.

For further information, images or to request an interview with CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith:
Aliena Conciatore, Head of Marketing
aconciatore@besydney.com.au
Tel: +61 2 9332 5246
Mob: +61 427 576 933