WANGARATTA in north-east Victoria is looking to lure more business events to the city and its surroundings, having launched its first Conference and Event Planner Guide four months ago.

Detailing venues, accommodation options, activities, attractions, dining and catering solutions and event support services, the book is a dedicated planner guide to drum up interest for the city – which sits two-and-a-half hours from Melbourne by car – as well as its neighbouring regions of Milawa Gourmet Region, King Valley, Glenrowan, Boorahman and El Dorado.

To showcase the area’s offerings, the city participated in AIME 2013 and was one of the featured destinations for AIME 2013’s pre-show familiarisation tours. While Wangaratta did not have its own dedicated booth at AIME, it was represented by Tourism Victoria.

Emma Keith, business events & tourism development coordinator with the Rural City of Wangaratta, told TTGmice e-Weekly that the destination was last featured at AIME in 2009 when they had “no destination materials for MICE”.

Annalee Humphry, managing director of Nolan Media and Events Australia, said: “I see great potential in Wangaratta (and its surroundings) as a destination for business events, as it is an easy drive from Melbourne and there is available infrastructure for meetings and incentives.

“This region is great for food and wine, and is loved for its pristine environment. Clients can leverage Wangaratta’s nature to enhance the event’s experience.”

Katrina Pizzini, who runs the Pizzini Wines vineyard and A Travola cooking school in the King Valley with her family, is also hoping to draw more corporate bookings.

“We have been popular with family events for a while now, but we would like to see more corporate clients. Perhaps with the new planner guide we may start to see more corporate interest,” she said.

– Read more about the incentive options in Wangaratta and its surroundings in TTGmice April issue

THE International Maritime Exposition (Pacific), held every year at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, will remain in the Australian city even when the venue is shut for major redevelopment of the Darling Harbour precinct (TTGmice e-Weekly, September 27, 2012).

Ian Honnery, board member and chief executive of Maritime Australia, the organisation behind Pacific, told TTGmice e-Weekly: “It is my understanding the interim Glebe Island Expo will be a waterfront site, which is just perfect for Pacific.

“Therefore we will not be moving out of Sydney when the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre closes for those few years.”

Glebe Island Expo is expected to be up and ready by the time the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and the Sydney Entertainment Centre close for construction of the new facilities in December.

Meanwhile, Honnery said Pacific, which typically occurs in February, would be postponed to October 7 to 8 this year to coincide with centenary celebrations of the Royal Australian Navy fleet’s first entry into Sydney.

“Pacific 2013 will tie in with Royal Australian Navy International Fleet Review, which will be spectacular,” he explained.

The Navy International Fleet Review will include formation fly-pasts, naval gun salutes, military band performances, naval demonstrations and a fireworks display in the evening.