The Alice Springs Desert Park (ASDP) will be featured at this year’s Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME) in Melbourne next week.

ASDP Product Development Coordinator Estelle Marshall said the Park is hoping to improve on last year’s 50 per cent increase in Event visitors by attending AIME 2015, further promoting the Park as an events and conference venue.

“Alice Springs is a great place to visit throughout the year and here at the Desert Park we have a great range of events and conference facilities,” Ms Marshall said.

“So not only are we home to a wide range of unique plants and animals that many people already know about, we also have a versatile outdoor theatre, courtyard, Madigans Function Room and 137 seat cinema which are  stunning desert locations for presentations, conferences, forums, workshops, exhibitions, and outdoor events.

“AIME is an annual two-day event held in Melbourne which sees over 3,000 visitors to the trade event, wanting inspiration for their next business event.

“I will be representing ASDP at AIME to increase the Park’s brand presence so  potential events and conference visitors have us front of mind when considering a suitable venue.

“My focus will be to increase awareness and sales of the Desert Park as a business tourism venue which can accommodate associations, government corporate and high end incentive groups.

“We already host many conference dinners for 10 to 500 guests and work closely with the Alice Springs Convention Centre, NT Convention Bureau and other NT stakeholders to bring these key events to town.

“And with the recent commencement of Virgin airlines into Alice Springs we are anticipating an increase in the overall visitor numbers to the Desert Park, which went from 56,978 in 2013 to 61,897 in 2014.

“The recent drop in the Aussie dollar is also set to help and we anticipate increased International visitation this year.”

Ms Marshall will be joining the NT Convention Bureau on the NT destination stand alongside Alice Springs Telegraph Station and 15 other NT exhibitors at AIME 2015, which is held from 24-25 February at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Ends

Media Note – for more information contact Estelle Marshall on 89518707

Issued: 10am Tuesday, 17 January 2015