There was a strong focus on Australia’s quality food and wine experiences at the 2013 Dreamtime event organised by Tourism Australia’s business events division, with around 100 buyers of incentive travel product and key media being served up meals by Guy Gross, Tony Panetta, Shannon Bennet and Luke Mangan.
Host city Melbourne ensured that delegates were well watered and fed throughout the two-day program.
Delegates enjoyed perfectly poached 63-degree organic eggs cooked by Melbourne restaurateur and celebrity chef Guy Grossi and Tony Panetta (Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre), and Shannon Bennet prepared tree smoked salmon pearls, emu jerky and salt cured wallaby at Vue De Monde to showcase the local delicacies of Australia. Luke Mangan, consulting chef for the Dreamtime Dinner, served up a three course menu featuring the very best salmon from Tasmania and beef from Victoria.
While in Melbourne delegates had the opportunity to experience a destination showcase of Melbourne and regional Victoria including the Great Ocean Road, a behind the scenes tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with Australian cricketing legend, Merv Hughes, a coffee art class and a millenary course where they were given the opportunity to see and hold the 2014 Melbourne Cup in its first ever outing.
Many delegates then took off to experience other Australian destinations including Sydney, the Northern Territory, and Cairns. To coincide with the Adelaide Ashes Test, Indian delegates participated in a tour of South Australia prior to the Melbourne component of Dreamtime to allow them a day at the cricket.
Full details of Dreamtime 2013 will appear in the February 2014 edition of micenet AUSTRALIA magazine.