June 2008 - Issue 55

We’re proud to announce that Sydney is leading the nation as a global business events destination, according to the latest rankings of the International Congress and Convention Association.

Meanwhile, Asia’s economic growth is helping to psychologically reduce the travel distance to Australia from the northern hemisphere.

In Industry Insiders, we get Oz Ribeiro of BLUE Sydney, A Taj Hotel, talking about the magic of food, while David Grant of DGSE reveals his dream job. Movie director or President of the United States, anyone?

Finally, our heartfelt congratulations go to the winners of the MEA National Awards for Excellence, presented at the MEA national conference in Alice Springs last month. View the list of winners, selected from the State and Territory winners announced earlier this year.

Features this Month:

The 'Power of Proximity'

In 1993, Australia was the most preferred travel destination by the US market, but we failed to convert this desirability into actual visits. Long-haul travel wore the blame. Today, more flights, comfortable planes and Asia’s growth combine to ease Sydney’s ‘tyranny of distance’.

Sustainable Sydney: City of Dreams?

The City of Sydney council has unveiled an ambitious 20-year vision for Sydney that it says will transform the city into a “green, global, connected” city by 2030. But if you’re an event planner in the city, what could this mean for you? SCVB quizzed the experts to find out.

Regular Items:

Promotion of the Month

Promote your event and create a ‘sense of arrival’ for your guests with banner advertising across tourist and heritage precincts Darling Harbour and The Rocks.

Industry News

Energy-efficient tourism and Novotel’s quest for Green Globes are in the news this month, alongside the opera at the movies, new premises for Decorative Events, and a foray into MySpace.

Industry Insiders

From trapeze artists to account managers, SCVB tracks down your industry insiders and finds out just what they do at work and what they think about business tourism. This month, meet David Grant from David Grant Special Events, and Oswin Ribeiro from BLUE Sydney, A Taj Hotel.

Win Great Prizes

This month, win a $300 dinner at the historic Italian Village Restaurant, The Rocks.

Events Calendar

Why not plan your conference or incentive around the time of a major event? This month in Sydney, head across to Opera Australia for a new production of My Fair Lady, and stock up on popcorn for the 55th annual Sydney Film Festival.

Job Opportunities

Craving a change? Find out about the best jobs in the business events industry.