A group of 18 industry partners from across the Territory have joined the Department of Tourism and Culture’s Northern Territory Convention Bureau (NTCB) at the 2018 Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME), to promote the Territory’s exceptional business events products and services.
The Territory’s attendance at AIME 2018 proved successful, with the Northern Territory stand being announced Best Stand over 36 square metres today, taking the win over more than 30 stands attending this year’s convention.
Held annually at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, AIME 2018 commenced on 19 February with an official welcome reception and culminates today, 21 February.
Department of Tourism and Culture Deputy CEO, Andrew Hopper, said AIME is the largest international business events expo in Australia uniting a community of more than 4,000 suppliers and business events decision makers in the one location.
“Hosted by the Department of Tourism and Culture’s NTCB, the group are exhibiting an NT themed stand to promote the Territory’s unique and vibrant business events offering from the Top End through to the Red Centre,” Mr Hopper said.
"Attending AIME 2018 is an exciting opportunity for Territory business events industry partners to meet with important decision makers from across the globe to encourage them to consider the NT for their next business event.
“The domestic and international business events sector is a vital part of the Department of Tourism and Culture’s strategic direction to help grow the Northern Territory’s tourism industry.
“As the largest international business events exhibition in Australia, AIME is a powerful opportunity for the Northern Territory Convention Bureau’s industry partners and business events decision makers to connect in person to do business, and develop strong and lasting relationships.”
The Northern Territory Convention Bureau has participated at AIME for the past 11 years, with NT industry participation at the 2018 expo one of the largest contingents in recent years.
Exhibitors include the NT convention centres in Darwin and Alice Springs, hotels, meeting venues, off-site dining venues, attractions, specialist service providers, event planners, tour, activity and transport providers including:
Accor Hotels
Alice Event Management & Consultancy
Alice Springs Convention Centre
Crocosaurus Cove
Darwin Convention Centre
Darwin Harbour Cruises
Fusion Exhibition and Hire Services
Hilton& DoubleTree Hotels, Northern Territory
Maruku Arts
Matt Wright – Wild Australia Series
Mindil Beach Sunset Market
Nautilus Aviation
Oaks Elan Darwin
Ooraminna Station Homestead
SEIT Outback Australia
SKYCITY Darwin
Tourism Top End
Wharf One, The Precinct & Il Lido
The delegation attending AIME 2018 is especially timely, coinciding with the launch of the new Northern Territory Business Events Support Fund (NTBESF).
“The Northern Territory Business Events Support fund will allow the NT to more aggressively compete for lucrative business events that deliver significant benefits to the economy, and will be promoted to the business events marketplace at AIME,” Mr Hopper added.
The Northern Territory Business Events Support Fund provides financial assistance to qualified business events which are at the consideration or bidding stage, and offers A$100 per delegate up to a maximum of A$50,000 per event.
Funding will focus on events which align with NT priority industry strengths including the health, agribusiness, land management, mining, renewable energy, education and defence sectors. There is also a requirement for the majority of event attendees to travel to the NT from interstate and beyond.
“Securing just one additional 500 delegate business event for the Territory will deliver over $2 million in incremental visitor spend; demonstrating the value of this sector. We are continuing to pursue business events both domestically and from Asia,” Mr Hopper added.
The Department of Tourism and Culture’s attendance to AIME 2018 coincides with the launch of the Northern Territory Government’s unprecedented stimulus package – Turbocharging Tourism.
The immediate $103 million tourism stimulus package is set to deliver more visitors, create more local jobs and put more money into the pockets of Territorians through a number of key initiatives aimed at increasing and strengthening the NT’s tourism industry.
Tourism is a cornerstone of the NT economy, supporting over a thousand small to medium size businesses and 17,000 direct and indirect jobs across a range of sectors including tourism, hospitality, retail, arts and culture, and transport.
For more information on NT business events and AIME 2018 visit www.ntconventions.com.au.
Media contact: Department of Tourism and Culture 0428 052 647
