Business Events Perth chief executive, Gareth Martin: "A drawcard for the Western Australian business events industry is the state's world-leading response to COVID-19, that has seen Western Australia maintain consistently low numbers of cases." Credit: Business Events Perth
PERTH - Business Events Perth, the new name for Perth Convention Bureau, is gearing up to welcome MICE business back with renewed confidence due to Western Australia's relative isolation and limited COVID-19 community transmission.
Said its chief executive, Mr Gareth Martin: "A drawcard for the Western Australian business events industry is the state's world-leading response to COVID-19, that has seen Western Australia maintain consistently low numbers of cases."
Western Australia has, at press time, recorded nine deaths related to COVID-19. The Western Australian State Government has announced a phased approach to restarting the state's economy, and the team at Business Events Perth is working with clients to postpone and reschedule conferences and business events, rather than cancel.
Added Mr Martin: "Our member venues and services are being flexible with their cancellation policies and working hard to fit the postponed events into next year's calendar.
"To ensure we are best placed for the recovery, we are working with the local business events industry and our national industry bodies to ensure Perth and Western Australia will be able to accommodate business events in the 'new normal'."
The local industry is developing hybrid meetings to include virtual presence for conference speakers and attendees.
Perth skyline: Business Events Perth aims to support global partners in the meetings and events industry by working together to ensure the industry can adapt and thrive. Credit: Business Events Perth
Business Events Perth will be launching new B2B marketing initiatives in the coming months, promoting Perth as a safe and high-quality business events destination, "with a huge amount of new products, to position Western Australia's industry for a strong recovery".
In the short term, demand will be locally focussed within the State, with a phased approach to national conferences.
Prior to the pandemic in January 2020, Perth welcomed more than 300 delegates for the AIA Singapore Go Clubbers Incentive Trip.
Delegates were hosted at Crown Metropol and Crown Promenade and a major highlight of the trip for delegates was the Go Clubbers Dinner, held at Sandalford Winery, one of Western Australia's oldest and most distinguished producers of premium wine.
Following the incentive trip, many delegates extended their stay and visited Margaret River and the Swan Valley, injecting A$1 million (US$646,000) into the local economy.