Meetings & Events Australia says a lack of funding and sponsorship has contributed to its demise.
Meetings & Events Australia (MEA), the Australian event industry’s largest professional organisation, has gone into voluntary administration, 50 years after it was founded.
A statement released last week by the MEA Board said: “It is with deep sadness and a profound sense of gratitude that we share with you the news that Meetings & Events Australia will be closing after 50 years of service to the Australian events industry.
“Despite increased member engagement, growing ticket sales, strong award entries, and the introduction of exciting new education offerings, MEA is no longer in a financial position to continue operations. The Board has therefore made the difficult but necessary decision to appoint an administrator.”
The statement outlined how the organisation had been unable to secure the significant cash sponsorship required to sustain MEA’s activities and that in recent years, funding and sponsorship from state and federal government agencies and bureaus have been withdrawn.
“The emergence of new industry bodies, such as the Australian Business Events Association (ABEA), has also led some traditional supporters, including convention centres and government agencies, to redirect funding away from MEA,” the statement said.
A message on MEA’s Facebook page said: “Goodbye, and farewell to the meetings and events industry! We have loved every minute of our 50 years serving you, supporting you, and being there for you. We wish every member, supplier, diploma graduate, AFMEA and AMM accredited professional, mentee, mentor, and partner in the business events, and live events ecosystem every success for the next 50 years, and beyond. What an incredible time we have experienced together.”
Last November, the industry body posted a statement on its website saying it was looking forward to celebrating its 50th anniversary. It had also recently announced partnerships for its national conference and mentor programme.