Enterprise tourism sector braces for extra monetary ache

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Business tourism, which draws visitors to exhibitions and conferences, has previously been a reliable source of income for the regional economy outside of the main holiday periods, she said.

Late last month, Ms. Mariani said the business events sector was “on its knees” with limited resources to withstand “constant setbacks”.

“Business events are a really big contributor to our downtime in regional Victoria,” she said.

“The regional centers of Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat really rely on business events traveling to these areas.”

The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event, Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, and Arnold Sports Festival are just a few of the larger events that were canceled in March.

Regional venues have reported that the conference business has declined significantly compared to 2019.

The Geelong regional center has been hard hit by the cancellation of business tourism events. Recognition:Justin McManus

Ms. Mariani said the sudden closure of state borders during the summer break shook the confidence of many companies that would normally send employees to events across Australia.

Cancellations have far-reaching consequences for other companies that supply goods and services to the sector.

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Harry, the renter’s general manager Gab Robinson, said his event equipment rental company had 1,200 employees prior to the pandemic, but that has now fallen to around 50.

“It’s heartbreaking. They work tirelessly for you. They are the most loyal and dedicated people, but unfortunately there was no other option, ”he said.

In addition to weddings, major events and other events, the company relies heavily on conferences and exhibitions.

JobKeeper’s impending phasing out, which is expected to end in March, poses a major challenge to the sector. Some companies are forced to survive on almost no income beyond government support.

“JobKeeper was designed for a 30 percent loss of revenue. It was certainly not designed for a 100 percent loss of sales, ”said Robinson.

Many parts of the economy have benefited tremendously from business events, he said.

Crowds at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.Recognition:Eddie Jim

“It fills the hotels and bars. It drives visits to the regions. “

Mr Robinson said some businesses that are dependent on corporate events may not survive the coming months.

“It’s going to be pretty dangerous.”

Mark Day, director of the Business Geelong Convention Bureau, said the closing of state borders is having a huge impact on national business events.

He said the business events sector contributed $ 173 million in direct spending in Greater Geelong during the 2018-19 period, including 897,000 delegates who stayed 457,000 overnight stays and accounted for 16 percent of visits to the region.

Mr Day said major national business events are unlikely to resume until 2022, making it critical for the state government to provide urgent support to the sector.

“The effects of COVID-19 are being felt across the supply chain as some of the largest conference hotels in the Victoria area still have limited capacity,” he said.

Terry Karamaloudis, tourism and major events manager for the city of Greater Bendigo, said business travel was the most profitable of all categories of visitors.

Business events had been a major source of income for Bendigo prior to the pandemic. Recognition:Paul Oak

“Greater Bendigo has seen a significant decline in all event categories, including the very important and lucrative business events sector, simply because such events were banned in 2020,” he said.

Iain Gunn, executive director of the Mercure Ballarat hotel and convention center, said business was still about 70 percent down on the years before the pandemic.

“If we could end the year with more than half what we would normally do, it would be a win,” he said.

The congress center can accommodate approx. 800 conference participants and can accommodate approx. 200 people.

But Mr Gunn said competition from venues in Melbourne had become a new threat.

“We will be under pressure from major city venues whose international conferences are suspended.”

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Benjamin is the regional editor for The Age. Previously, he was a reporter for State Rounds and has also covered education for The Age.

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