Perth enjoys record MICE figures
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A record breaking first quarter has seen the Perth Convention Bureau secure convention and incentive business worth an estimated $34.37 million in direct delegate expenditure.
This represents more than 42 per cent of the Bureau’s annual sales target of $81 million with nine months of the financial year remaining.
PCB Managing Director Christine McLean said a total of 36 national and international conferences had been secured, representing more than 17,000 delegates. The first quarter result was an outstanding achievement which could be attributed to a new business model that the Bureau had implemented towards the end of the previous financial year.
“The new operational structure is now settled and initiatives we put in place are starting to bear fruit,” she added. “We have a focused and energetic team that has a very clear direction about where we are heading.”
Ms McLean said the launch of the business events brand, the expansion of the association scholarship program and an increased focus on the State’s areas of excellence had all contributed to the first quarter performance.
Other initiatives including the removal of restrictions on accessing Government funding for bidding activities, the offering of incentives to help delegate materialisation at conferences and the creation of a value added destination package would enable the Bureau to maintain its sales momentum.
“We are working closely with our members - particularly our hotels - to ensure that we remain competitive and limit the impact of the global financial crisis. By taking a whole of industry approach we have been able to market Western Australia more effectively and the unprecedented industry support is reflected in our results,” Ms Mclean added.
“Given the great start to the year that we have enjoyed, it would appear that the association conference sector in particular remains resilient in spite of the economic downturn and the outlook is extremely encouraging.”
Large international conferences the Bureau has secured include the 7th International Symposium on Digital Earth which is expected to attract 1,100 delegates in 2011 and the International Desalination Association Conference on Desalination and Water Re-use, also in 2011 and anticipating 900 delegates.
National conferences include the Australia Pacific Autism Conference (900 delegates) and the 14th National Historical Machinery Association Annual General Meeting (1,450 delegates), both to be staged in 2011.
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