The NT Convention Bureau’s inaugural Unconventional Darwin Showcase 2017, a four day mega-familiarisation program that ran from Thursday 10 August to Sunday 13 August, has attracted more than 20 business event planners from across Australia.

Department of Tourism and Culture CEO Alastair Shields said the Unconventional Darwin Showcase was the first in a series of mega-familiarisations, with similar events to follow in Uluru in mid-October and Alice Springs in early May next year.

“The familiarisation programs target event planners, professional conference organisers (PCO’s), destination management companies (DMC’s) and incentive organisers with approximately 20 planners hosted in each NT destination,” Mr Shields said.

“The Showcases are scheduled to coincide with major events and festivals taking place in the NT, with the inaugural Unconventional Darwin Showcase coinciding with the start of the Darwin Festival.

“Renowned for pearls and crocodile skin products, Darwin also boasts multi-cultural cuisine, fantastic local markets, cruising and fishing on the expansive harbour, all enhanced by a relaxed and friendly lifestyle, which are fantastic attractions for event planners.”

In addition to viewing venues and infrastructure, including a sampling of the accommodation portfolio offering over 4,200 rooms, Unconventional Darwin Showcase participants saw what makes Darwin tick with a Sea Darwin tour of our harbour, a sunset visit to the Mindil Beach Markets and an up close experience with the Territory’s iconic saltwater crocodiles at Crocosaurus Cove.

The showcase program also included an ‘NT Meets the Market’ business session at the Darwin Convention Centre, enabling planners to meet with multiple Darwin suppliers in one-on-one appointments.

Darwin is an energy centre of global significance and other specialty sectors such as tropical and remote health, critical and emergency health care, mining, aquaculture and agribusiness are features of the broader NT industry strength landscape.  These sectors not only showcase the famous NT entrepreneurial spirit but also provide access to expert local speakers.

Bespoke tours of specific relevance to showcase participants were also on the program, with the Darwin participants visiting one of Darwin’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity providers, the not-for-profit Helping People Achieve. They also visited the renowned National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre for a technical tour of their facilities.

Another highlight was the Pudakul Aboriginal Cultural Tour, an educational experience which was delivered by the local people of the Adelaide and Mary River Region.

For more information on the Northern Territory Convention Bureau, Showcases and programs, visit www.ntconventions.com.au

Media Contact – Department of Tourism and Culture – 0428 052 647