Sydney Harbour Federation Trust has released its draft concept vision for the World Heritage-listed Cockatoo Island, setting out a potential way forward for the largest of the islands in the Harbour, a current event venue catering to major and smaller events.

Community consultation in 2019 revealed a desire for the island to deliver “more diverse experiences for more diverse audiences” and to recognise its historical and continuing importance for First Nations people as a sacred women’s place. Read more

Both ICC Sydney and Canberra Convention Bureau have been busy promoting from within.

ICC Sydney has made a swathe of promotions in its kitchen, including promoting Dylan Sanding to Executive Chef, while the Canberra bureau has promoted two of its staff to senior sales and marketing roles. Read more

Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) has wasted no time in taking advantage of the opening of a reciprocal Australia-New Zealand travel bubble, confirming yesterday that 60 Australian hosted buyers will join the association’s signature event MEETINGS in Auckland at the start of next month. Read more

InterContinental Adelaide will undergo a $32 million renovation between late 2021 and early 2023.

The major renewal works for the 367-room luxury hotel include upgrades to the property’s meeting and event spaces, the largest of which can host 480 theatre-style, and a redesign of all the hotel's rooms.

The hotel will remain open throughout the renovation.

In part two of an in-depth interview, the head of Business Events Australia discusses continuing international interest in Australia as an event destination, the success of the Business Events Bid Fund Program, the likely impact of the New Zealand travel bubble and sheds light on how the Business Events Grants Program is really tracking. Read more

The business events industry has lost one of its own with the news of the sudden death of industry stalwart Michelle Papas on the weekend.

Michelle passed away following an unexpected coronary episode.

Michelle’s (also known as Paps) career is steeped in the business events and destination marketing sectors representing products and experiences across Australia. Read more

A little-known knock-on effect of COVID-19 is hampering the efforts of major city hotels to return to normal trading in 2021 with most being badly impacted by a lack of housekeeping staff.

Prior to COVID, many employed their own housekeeping staff, but as part of reducing direct costs as the pandemic hurt occupancy rates of both leisure and business hotels, there was a move to outsource most or all of these services to dedicated agencies. Read more

The local chapter of the global Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) is the latest organisation to partner with Get Local.

SITE ANZ will present an education session on the business case for incentive programs, which will focus on why incentive travel works and the justification for incentive travel to achieving business goals.

“Recognition for achievement and reaching business goals has never been more important than now and incentive travel can play a major part in that,” said Get Local co-founder Donna Kessler.