AACB partnered with MEA and EEAA to produce a skills shortage survey of the business events industry and the results are out!

With a significant survey response rate of 39%, one in two respondents reported that the current skills shortage affects their organisation’s ability to recruit high calibre events professionals. Additionally, this is primarily driven by a lack of candidate experience, high salary expectations and an overall shortage of candidates...<Find Out More>

The annual Industry Summit is an opportunity for industry and the Department to have a conversation about strategic travel, trade and migration issues. 

Industry representatives will hear from the Department’s leaders, including the Secretary of the Department and Commissioner of the Australian Border Force, about our strategic direction and priorities for the future. By participating in the Industry Summit workshops, industry representatives can influence the Department’s plans to continue improving our processes, policies and programmes. 

Austrade has sought input from key organisations across the tourism industry to better understand data gaps for industry and how alternative data sources may augment the International Visitor Survey and National Visitor Survey. Additional data sources include administrative and digital data. Through this process, the AACB is actively engaged in consultation with Tourism Research Australia through CSIRO Data61 (Australia's leading data innovation group) to add strategic insight on the data needs of the business events industry.

Picture: Adriana Perabo, Canberra Convention Bureau and Chris Gardner, author of Pursuit of Happyness

We had the chance to catch up with Adriana Perabo from Canberra Convention Bureau after her return from attending the Destinations International Convention in Montreal earlier this month. 

Her highlights? The countless connections she made through networking opportunities, especially by being part of the 30 under 30 program, allowing her to learn from other young industry professionals. She also got to meet Chris Gardner, author of the Pursuit of Happyness who challenged everyone to meet their full potential. Adriana will be presenting on her experience at the AACB Annual Conference.

Adriana won Destinations International Prize sponsored by DI and Qantas.

Watch last year's Innovation X Presentations at the AACB Annual Conference

Applications for the Innovation X Award are now open! The Award recognises new innovations which represent a significant transformation to bureau operations, technology and/or to the product pipeline. AACB members will be battling it out for the perpetual Innovation Shield and $1000 cash. Closes 25 August.

Don't forget, applications for the AACB Staff Scholarship close 11 August! <Apply Now>

Australian Bureau of Statistics - Year-on-year comparison of visitors arriving to attend a convention/conference for the 12 months to May 2017 shows an overall increase of 6.8%. There were a total of 16,700 arrivals in May 2017 whose main purpose of coming to Australia was a convention/conference. This translates to a 19.4% increase from the May 2016 (19,100). ABS Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia, May 2017

The AACB Annual Conference is fast approaching, due to take place in Hobart, Tasmania from 6 - 8 September.

The program committee has been hard at work to secure a lineup of a-list speakers, including John O'Sullivan from Tourism Australia, Martin Enault from C2, and Tasmanian speakers, Mark Wilsdon from MONA, and Rob Pennicott from Pennicott Wilderness Journeys...<Find Out More>

Unconventional Northern Territory Showcase, Darwin
10 - 13 August 2017

Alice Stampede, Alice Springs
21 - 24 September 2017

Regional Victoria Showcase, Sydney
17 August 2017

AACB Staff Conference,
Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart
6 - 8 September 2017

Head of Research & Insights, Melbourne Convention Bureau

Reporting to the General Manager - Insights, Inaugurals and Government, we are looking for a highly motivated Research and Insights professional to help us maintain our innovative edge. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing thorough research, insights and strategy recommendations to the CEO and Leadership Team for the overall benefit of MCB and stakeholders...<Find Out More>

Senior Business Development Manager, Melbourne Convention Bureau

Reporting directly to the Director of Business Development, Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) is looking for a highly driven individual to come and support the business in a sales research and convention bid development capacity to source and qualify business events leads to ensure organisational targets are met...<Find Out More>