Outback Wrangler and crocodile hunter, Matt Wright, will swap the swamp for the corporate world this week as part of a bold bid by the Northern Territory Government to capture a greater slice of the lucrative business events market.
Wright will spearhead the Northern Territory stand at the Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) in Melbourne, the largest international trade event for the Business Events sector in Australia.
“Matt will help the NT stand out from the crowd which will help attract more conferences, meetings, exhibitions and incentive travel to the Territory,” said Department of Tourism and Culture CEO, Alastair Shields.
“Business events and conferences inject millions of dollars into the Northern Territory economy each year so it’s vital we are doing everything we can to ensure the sector continues to grow.
“As a local tourism operator, Matt is a fantastic advocate for the Northern Territory whose star is well and truly on the rise through his global television show, ‘Outback Wrangler’ and recent national and international media appearances.
“The business events sector is fiercely competitive and Matt’s presence at AIME will give the Northern Territory a huge advantage to prospective buyers and event bookers attending the Expo.”
This year’s AIME is expected to attract 4,500 industry professionals, 450 exhibitors and more than 11,000 face-to-face meetings.
The Darwin Convention Centre, Alice Springs Convention Centre, Fusion Exhibition and Hire Services, Hilton and DoubleTree Hotels and Oaks Elan Darwin will represent the Northern Territory at the Exhibition along with Voyages Resorts.
“The Northern Territory offers an exciting and unconventional opportunity for business event planners and our team will be working hard to show off Darwin, Alice Springs and Uluru; our hotels, restaurants, event spaces and unique attractions,” said Mr Shields.
Wright will showcase his tourism experience, Outback Floatplanes, at the NT stand during the Expo which is of interest to incentive travel buyers especially those from USA, China and India; as well as conference organisers looking for a pre or post conference or meeting tour.
“We do things differently in the Northern Territory and there are plenty of ‘wow’ moments for businesses to include in their events to attract more delegates,” said Wright.
“Whether it’s flying over the tropical landscapes of the Top End, adrenaline-pumping airboat rides seeing a croc in the wild, taking in Darwin’s laidback lifestyle or a quirky event in Alice Springs – the NT is not a place where you stay inside the four walls of a conference room, it’s a place where you get outside and get involved.”
AIME 2017 will be held from 21 – 22 February at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.
For more information on NT business events go to: http://www.ntconventions.com.au
ENDS
Media Contact: Lisa Andrews, Corporate Media and Communications Manager +61 401 115 634