EventConnect celebrates first 12 months

EventConnect – the online enquiry system for planners searching for venues – is celebrating its first full 12 months of operation, recording strong growth for each quarter. Managing director Steve Coombes says a full 12 months planning prior to launch has ensured the system remains simple and effective. What it means to buyers is a comprehensive database with the benefit of dealing directly with venues and services, thereby avoiding large commissions sometimes charged by venue finding agencies. “Since our launch into the New Zealand market we have continued to see strong growth and are constantly surprised at the feedback we are receiving,” Mr Coombes says.

Some of the latest comments by users include:
“…all the venues I put my query out to got back to me very quickly…” - Cheryl Van Wamelen of Commonwealth Bank Australia
“This service provides me with just what I need at my fingertips.” - Lauren E. Bourne of Commonwealth Bank Australia
“Fast and friendly. I’ll use it every time I’m organising a function.” - Anita Kilkenny of AKA Virtual PA Pty. Ltd.
“This has made researching locations and suppliers for our company events easier than I ever thought possible.” - Kelly McKenzie of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

Mr Coombes suggests that next time meeting and event planners need to source quotes and check availability from venues or services in Australia or New Zealand they should try www.eventconnect.com.au and save time and money.

The Australian based Travel Research Centre (TRC) is offering its latest research into business travel for AUD$500 per market plus GST, a $100 saving if purchased prior to March 31. Annually either 300 or 400 travellers are interviewed per market, with markets including Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Germany, the UK and the US. In the Australian report it found that 30 per cent of international business travellers fly overseas for a conference – in particular an internal company conference, meeting or incentive trip. Email trc@ travelresearchcentre.com for further details.

Air New Zealand has suspended its nonstop Christchurch – Los Angeles twice-weekly service during the off-season period from April 3 to October 28, 2006. Group general manager marketing, network and sales, Norm Thompson, said passenger numbers during this period were insufficient to sustain the direct service. “Our Christchurch customers will be able to connect with our double daily service to Los Angeles from Auckland and they will travel at no extra cost than the direct service from Christchurch,” he said.

Eventionz, one of New Zealand’s most creative and personalised destination management companies has appointed Destination Marketing Services as their Australian sales office. From the adventure capital of Queenstown to the exquisite Waiheke Island off Auckland, the team at Eventionz can find the perfect location and venue, and produce themed activity days and dinners, audio-visual presentations, pre or post-event tours, conference hospitality and more. Senior product manager at Group Event Travel in Sydney, Michael Walker, says he has enjoyed a mutually rewarding relationship with Suzanne Baker of Eventionz for a number of years now. “The importance of consistently delivering flawless, exceptional and creative programmes is of utmost priority to Suzanne and her staff. I have absolutely no hesitation in highly recommending Eventionz to any organisation.” For details contact Sue Gaddes at Destination Marketing Services on (+612) 9368 1811, email Sue.Gaddes@destinationmarketing.com.au or visit www.destinationmarketing.com.au.

Exhibitor numbers are expected to rise at AIME 2006 following an extremely positive response to the Exhibitor Prospectus, distributed in early October. Around 80 per cent of previous exhibitors were expected to quickly confirm their stands. This year, AIME will be held for the first time on June 6 and 7. AIME 2006 is expected to attract a record 850 exhibitors and cover a total of 12,500 square metres of space, making it the largest AIME to date. “A number of exhibitors have increased their stand size for AIME 2006,” says AIME event director, Rosemarie Sama. “Thailand has taken a larger site, as has Dubai, Malaysia, Abu Dhabi and India. New Zealand cities Queenstown and Wellington have also increased their space.”

New Caledonia Tourism.South has announced it will open a dedicated Auckland office and appoint two new full-time managers as part of a major marketing boost in New Zealand (understood to be effective from February 2006). Advertising budgets for 2006 have been increased by 90 per cent over last year, while overall spending on consumer and trade promotion will increase by 57 per cent. New Caledonia Tourism.South general manager Patrick Moisan said the initiatives were part of an increased commitment to the New Zealand market. “New Zealand has always been one of New Caledonia’s most important tourism markets and we believe much greater potential can be unlocked by increasing our activity here,” Mr Moisan said. “From February, the travel trade will begin to see a much stronger presence from New Caledonia, while consumers will see an extensive new advertising campaign on television and in newspapers and magazines.” Meanwhile, long-serving New Zealand manager, Julie Cassin, has decided to move to Nouméa with her family from the end of February. “There’s no greater endorsement for our destination than to have Julie move there to live,” Mr Moisan said. “We’re very grateful for the excellent work Julie has done representing us and we’re delighted she plans to continue her involvement in tourism when she moves to New Caledonia.”

The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre delivered RM322 million (USD$86 million) to the local economy in its first six months of operation. Since its opening in mid-June 2005 through to December 2005, the centre has been the venue of choice for 225 events attended by more than 790,000 people. These events were 76 banquets, 24 conventions, 26 exhibitions, 96 meetings and seminars and three entertainment events. Of these, 13 were international gatherings, attended by 13,017 delegates and 33 regional events attended by 164,123 delegates, which in total represented 20 per cent of the centre’s foreign business.

IT&CMA DELIVERS
IT&CMA, Asia’s version of EIBTM and AIME, found a comfortable home in Thailand in October, with strong delegate numbers and exhibitors.

With more than 1400 registered delegates and 301 exhibiting companies from 29 countries, IT&CMA, held in Pattaya, attracted strong business activity. The largest country pavilion at the event belonged to host country Thailand, totalling 252sqm, while Taiwan, which has been actively promoting its domestic MICE industry, doubled its country pavilion size. Hong Kong, with its new tourism campaign “2006 Discover Hong Kong Year” and the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland, resulted in an increased country pavilion. Meanwhile, Cambodia was a new face at the 2005 event. Australia had the fourth largest contingency of participating companies with 15 – sure-fire evidence that Australian venue operators and suppliers are focused firmly on Asia for business growth. The opening ceremony and dinner certainly got the event off to a positive start. Hosted by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), it was held at Alangkam, a 2000-seat Thai modern-style theatre complete with outdoor restaurant. The grand finale was the annual “TTG Travel Awards 2005”. This prestigious gala event was held for the 16th time in 2005 and recognises the Asia-Pacific travel industry’s most outstanding organisations for their achievements and contributions.