Australia To Showcase $3.7 Billion Investment

19 August, 2008

Australia To Showcase $3.7 Billion Investment In Business Events Infrastructure At Paice

A record number of 45 Australian exhibitors have descended on Auckland to attend the Pacific Area Incentives and Conferences Expo (PAICE), commencing today. Stretching over half the exhibition floor, the ‘Australia Pavilion’ will create maximum impact for Australia’s sales mission.

Tourism Australia’s Managing Director, Mr Geoff Buckley said, “PAICE is an opportunity for Australia to showcase the $3.7 billion dollars of new investment in business events infrastructure around the country. “Conference and incentive infrastructure is expanding at an impressive rate. From convention centres to hotels, resorts and unique attractions, Australia is investing in new facilities across the country to meet the needs of this market.

“There are strong motivating factors for New Zealanders to choose Australia as their conference and incentive destination. Virgin Blue’s significant expansion of capacity across the Tasman, Australia’s wide selection of Green Globe accredited meeting and conference facilities and the publicity around Baz Luhrmann’s Australia is just the start. New Zealanders know better than anyone the impact a major motion picture can have on tourism and it’s with great anticipation that we look forward to the movie’s launch,” he said.

Head of Business Events Australia, Joyce DiMascio said, “The exhibitors attending PAICE demonstrate the range of quality business events products and services available in Australia.

New Zealand is a crucial market to Australia’s business events sector and is our largest international market for business events in Australia, making up 25% of the inbound business events market.

“Our presence at PAICE is vital in keeping Australia front of mind for conference and incentive decision makers. Keeping conference organisers updated on the array of new facilities, exciting products, bespoke programs and fresh ideas Australia’s business events community are creating, will ensure New Zealand business travellers have attractive reasons to return.” This year, 30% of the Australian exhibitors are new to PAICE. They include a diverse range of business events suppliers, including convention and visitor bureaux, hotels, resorts, convention centres, venues, team building options, attractions and transport operators. “PAICE is the ideal event to showcase to the New Zealand market the array of business events options Australia offers. According to Tourism Research Australia’s data, in 2007/08 there were 46,900 New Zealand tourists who visited Australia for a business event, up 3% compared to the previous year. It’s our aim to keep this figure rising,” Ms DiMascio said.

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