A group of Australian business event planners from the corporate, association and incentive markets are in the Top End to take part in the Darwin Showcase. The familiarisation, which runs from 2-5 May, is being hosted by the NT Business Events and its industry partners.

Similar showcases held in 2017 and 2018 resulted in confirmed business events that will generate an estimated delegate spend of $6.1 million, with 2,225 delegates travelling to the Territory. This is in addition to the 38 business events and conferences that will be held in the Territory as a result of Turbocharging Tourism.

During the Darwin Showcase, delegates will experience the Territory’s impressive capacity and capability to deliver exceptional, memorable conventions and conferences. They will visit key business event sites, including a sample of Darwin’s 4,200 hotel rooms, and gain an insight into the Territory’s ancient Aboriginal culture.

Darwin Convention Centre General Manager, Peter Savoff said “Darwin Showcase is an ideal platform for national event planners to experience first-hand what the Top End of Australia has to offer.

“We find that giving event planners the opportunity to visit the Top End is the best way to secure new business, because many have not been to Darwin before and are positively surprised by our world-class facilities, team approach and unique experiences.

“Event planners are immersed in the tropical Darwin experience over four days and can see how their national and international delegates, accompanying partners and speakers could benefit from attending a major conference at the Darwin Convention Centre,” said Savoff

The recently announced $62.8 million TURBO2 initiative will continue to build on this success, with $7 million allocated over two years towards attracting more national and international business events to the NT.

“Increasing the number of domestic and international business events in the Territory is an important part of our strategy for growing tourism in the NT,” said Andrew Hopper, Deputy CEO, Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture.

“Turbocharging Tourism has confirmed that focusing on the business events sector provides real results for the tourism industry and our economy.

“Through Turbocharging Tourism’s Northern Territory Business Events Support Fund we have attracted 38 business events and conferences to the NT, which will bring 12,000 delegates and inject approximately $29 million to our economy. TURBO2 continues the NT Government’s investment in the sector,” continued Hopper.