July 11, 2022 | By Bronwen Largier | Image: Koala avatars sampling the new Beyond Skyway experience at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains as part of BESydney’s new online game
Business Events Sydney is encouraging its incentive clients from India, Malaysia and Singapore to cruise around an animated digital version of Sydney as a koala to learn more about the incentive offering in Australia’s largest city.
The online game, launched on Friday, sees players collecting points by visiting incentive experiences and event venues around Sydney and answering questions and riddles about the city. Information about incentive products is woven throughout the game’s landscape.
Sydney’s event bidding agency is offering cash prizes for those highest on the game’s leader board by August 22.
“Tourism is a highly experiential industry and gamification is an ideal way to allow users to experience the destinations for themselves,” says BESydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith.
“Sydney has changed so much while international visitors have been away, and this gamified selling tool is a fun and engaging way to show these new visitor experiences off: brand new facilities, refurbished hotels and venues and new and updated attractions along with exciting new precincts and revitalised neighbourhoods.”
“As international markets return, we are facing tougher competition than ever before, and we are confident this initiative will stand Sydney out from the crowd, highlighting the quirky and playful side of the big city experience in Sydney that international visitors know and love, but also giving them the reassurance that the city delivers event delivery expertise, world class business event infrastructure, [a] safe and secure destination, stellar attractions, [an] appealing climate and rejuvenating natural environs,” said Lewis-Smith.
With BESydney’s research showing more than half of Asian incentives include a regional element, the game also showcases experiences available in destinations surrounding Sydney, including in the Blue Mountains, the Hunter Valley, Port Stephens and the Central Coast.
Sydney based products featured include Taronga Zoo, Luna Park, the Sydney Opera House, Barangaroo, Watersedge at Campbell’s Stores, ICC Sydney and the new WINX Stand at Royal Randwick.
The game was created with support from Tourism Australia’s Advance Program, a partnership marketing initiative between Business Events Australia and the Australian industry delivering projects designed to attract more international business events and delegates to Australia.