Two significant industry acquisitions drew clicks this year – The Appointment Group’s takeover of CCM Travel and Joyn’s acquisition of Arinex.
The industry’s associations also came out near the top of the list, including the announcement of winners in Meetings and Events Australia’s national awards program and MEA’s new chair and board members. There was plenty of interest in the new Australian Business Events Association, with the first and second announcements of its board members, announcements of leaders for its state chapters, sector pillars and special interest groups and the release of its prospectus all up there.
On the hotels front, the opening of Kimpton Margot Sydney’s rooftop bar drew lots of clicks, as did the opening of W Sydney, new hotels in Geelong and the indefinite closure of Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley, which remains closed.
Our exclusive chat with Dean Jones, vice president of commercial for Australasia, Japan and the Pacific for IHG Hotels and Resorts was also widely read.
Big incentive wins for Brisbane and Melbourne caught the eye of the industry as did the major announcements from the wrap-up of Tourism Australia’s signature incentive showcase Dreamtime – henceforth to be known as Australia Next.
Singapore’s sustainability guidelines for the business events industry had people reading, reflecting the increasing importance of impact.
And of course, Victoria’s withdrawal from hosting duties for the 2026 Commonwealth Games was well-read.
