The annual Darwin Showcase, delivered by the Northern Territory’s convention bureau in collaboration with local industry took place in August, coinciding with Darwin Festival, which includes Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, the National Indigenous Music Awards and the National Indigenous Fashion Awards.
Director of Northern Territory Business Events, Rebecca McCaig, said the 2023 showcase demonstrated how public festivals and business events can intersect.
“This year’s Darwin Showcase program highlighted the many ways in which events and festivals can enhance a business event held in the NT,” she said.
“We’re fortunate to experience these distinctive events first-hand and have an opportunity to enrich our business events visitors’ experience and their connection to the land, the people and the ancient culture.”
During the showcase for corporate organisers, PCOs, event agencies and association organisers, participants visited Darwin Convention Centre while the art fair was in progress at the venue, offering a peek inside the largest iteration of the event on record, which took up the centre’s full 4,000m2 of exhibition space and concourse areas.
Famil delegates also got an update on the planned redevelopment of the Darwin Waterfront, including the construction of a new hotel next door to the convention centre.
With the showcase taking place during Darwin’s dry season, much was made of the tropical outdoors, with delegates having a picnic lunch in the 42-hectare George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens and dinner under the stars on the lawns of the Mindil Beach Casino Resort. The group also visited Crocosaurus Cove and Mindil Beach Sunset Market, took a cruise on Darwin Harbour and had a gin-blending experience with local Territory botanicals.
“Darwin is a great conference destination for any size group,” said Amanda Sullivan, senior account manager with Impact Events.
“This was my first time to Darwin and I was seriously impressed with the quality of conference facilities, food and felt immersed in the culture.”
