Business Events connects with key decision makers at Americas Roadshow

Tourism Australia’s specialist unit, Business Events Australia (BEA) held an inaugural USA Roadshow with events in Washington DC, New York, and Chicago from 16-18 July. Seven partners from the Australian business events industry each had the opportunity to meet and do business with 70 qualified association, corporate meeting and incentive planners across the three cities. As part of its business events distribution strategy, BEA raised awareness and consideration of Australia’s business events offering in the US, which is Australia's largest inbound market for the sector in terms of expenditure.

Conversations with Queensland Industry

Registration is open for Tourism & Events Queensland's Conversations with Industry event in Brisbane on Friday 2 August. Tourism Australia is taking part in the series providing updates on its international marketing activities and consumer insights.

Western Australia promoted in Japan

Tourism Australia, Tourism Western Australia and Asahi Digital & Travel have produced a content partnership campaign featuring Western Australia. Asahi Digital & Travel is the second largest publisher in Japan based on circulation and following a recent International Media Hosting Program trip to Perth, Rottnest Island, Fremantle, Swan Valley, Margaret River and Esperance three articles have been released via the publication. The latest article, published last week titled ‘Nature trip in Western Australia' features unique wildlife and flowers including quokkas, black swans, kangaroos and sea lions in Esperance. The article also promotes ANA’s new direct flight service to Perth to be launched in September as well as other available current air services through a comprehensive route map.

Training event held for Arizona Travel Advisors

Over 225 advisors attended ‘Fiesta in the Desert’ in Scottsdale last week. The training event was held by the Arizona Chapter of American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), the world's largest association of travel professionals. Roundtable sessions and a trade show focused on educating advisors on selling Australia and utilising the Aussie Specialist Program. Advisors received updates on air capacity and routes and expressed strong interest in the new non-stop service for their Midwest clients traveling from Chicago to Brisbane.

Rain Room to launch at Jackalope Pavilion in Melbourne, VIC

Having captivated over half a million people worldwide, Random International’s monumental artwork, Rain Room, will make its Southern Hemisphere debut in St Kilda, Melbourne. A permanent addition to the Jackalope Art Collection, the 100 square metre field of continuous rainfall allows visitors to be fully immersed within millions of water droplets while simultaneously protected from it. Responding to movement, guests can walk throughout the exhibition with rain ceasing to fall whenever they are detected by the sensors. Housed in the purpose-built ‘Jackalope Pavilion’ in St Kilda, Rain Room tickets are now available for showings between 9 August – 30 September.

Maybe Sammy, crowned the world’s best new international cocktail bar, NSW

Sydney cocktail bar Maybe Sammy was awarded Best New International Cocktail Bar at the 13th annual Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards held in New Orleans this week. The award recognises the recently opened international cocktail bar that has made an immediate impact on cocktail culture and set new high standards for the industry. With considerations including creativity, décor, service and execution of drinks, Maybe Sammy triumphed over an array of prestigious new cocktail bars from around the world. Where the cocktails are as equally creative as entertaining, the theatrical venue Maybe Sammy opened earlier this year at The Rocks, Sydney.

WILDfest returns to the Southern Highlands, NSW

Australia’s first and only wild nature festival WILDfest will return to New South Wales’ Southern Highlands with an exciting program of events from 4 – 27 October. The 23-day festival will celebrate Australia’s unique natural environment through a program of events featuring premium local produce, culinary artisans and award-winning regional beverages. Experience fire at the Wild Harvest Feast lead by Firedoor’s Chef Lennox Hastie, water at the Astro Photography course on Lake Yarrunga, earth at a forest bathing session and air at the Highland Wilderness glamping retreat. Located an hour’s drive from Sydney, stimulate your senses and enjoy nature as the earth intended. Tickets are on sale now.

Heart Island offers a Great Barrier Reef experience like no other, QLD

Hamilton Island guests can now experience unprecedented access to the iconic Heart Reef pontoon with the launch of ‘Heart Island'. Departing daily, the three-hour Heart Island experience includes a return scenic flight, exclusive use of the pontoon with a maximum of six guests, glass-bottom boar tour of Heart Reef lagoon, all snorkelling equipment, light catering and beverages. Hamilton Island is located off the coast of Queensland in Australia, within the Whitsunday Islands at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. A short flight from Australia’s major cities on the East Coast, guests are invited to experience the natural landscapes, calm turquoise waters and fascinating coral reefs of Heart Reef.

Australia Marketplace China 2019

Seller applications for Australia Marketplace China 2019 close this Friday 26 July, formerly known as the Greater China Travel Mission (GCTM). The event will be held in Chengdu from 11 to 15 November and includes pre-scheduled appointments between buyers and sellers, and opportunities to network at the official event functions. Australia Marketplace China is an opportunity for the Australian tourism industry to establish business relationships with key qualified travel agencies and tour operators from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. AMC19 will be followed by the Australia Premium Showcase China for which applications will be by invitation only.

IBTM World 2019

IBTM World runs from 19 to 21 November 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. Applications to join the Australia stand close this Friday 26 July. IBTM is a key business events exhibition where international planners from the conference, convention and corporate events industries gather to do business. IBTM World gives exhibitors the opportunity to meet international buyers responsible for organising corporate meetings, incentive travel programs and association events.

The NT Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture is expanding visitor offerings on the Territory Arts Trail, a tourism initiative raising awareness of the Territory as a premier global destination to visit for distinctive art and culture experiences.

The Japan Tourism Agency is hosting a G20 Tourism Pitch alongside the G20 Tourism Ministers' Meeting in Kutchan Town, Hokkaido, Japan (25 - 26 October 2019) aiming to find outstanding technologies and services that contribute to sustainable tourism. Entries close 29 August.

Recognising a career that has helped push Australia’s tourism industry to new highs, Tourism Australia Chairman, Bob East, was awarded the Australia First Award at one of Australia’s leading hotel industry conferences, HICAP ANZ, last week in Sydney.

Registration is open for the 2019 WA Regional Tourism Conference from 16 to 18 September in Karratha.

Authorities in the USA have formally granted approval to the joint business agreement between Qantas and American Airlines, allowing the carriers to coordinate operations "to deliver new routes, more destinations, reduced travel time, lower fares, and additional benefits for frequent flyers".

Registration is open for the DestinationQ 2019 Events Conference, which is a free event aimed at developing and enhancing events throughout Queensland.

Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) and the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) is conducting the third Australian Workplace Skills Survey for the events industry. You can take the survey here.

The first Brisbane Women in Tourism event will take place on Thursday 8 August. The theme of the Leadership Lunch is Adapting to Change: insights on adjusting and thriving through changes in family, career and life.