3rd April 2017
business events news
business events news
FLIGHT CENTRE WORLD DMC PLAN
RETAIL travel giant Flight
Centre has announced
plans to create a worldwide
Destination Management
Company (DMC) offering a
range of tourism services
including hosting for
conferences and events.
Under the plan, Flight
Centre will form a joint
venture with the Thien Minh
Group in which a series of
DMC businesses among
the two companies will be
combined with Vietnam-
based operator Buffalo Tours
(pictured).
Flight Centre will increase
its equity in the new venture
and plans to acquire or
launch similar businesses
in other key regions to create a
worldwide DMC network.
The managing director of
Flight Centre Travel Group
Graham Turner said the deal
represented the first major step
towards creating a global DMC.
We believe there are huge
opportunities in the in-
destination sector and it has
become one of our key strategic
growth areas for the future,
Turner said on Fri.
Todays agreement will fast-
track our growth in this sector
and establish the foundations
for a global DMC that will
deliver essential and valued
services to travellers when they
arrive at their destinations.
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Todays issue of BEN
Business Events News today
has three pages of news.
Sofitels AV
AVPartners has appointed
Mitch Tucker as managing
partner at Sofitel Gold Coast
Broadbeach in Queensland.
Tucker will be responsible
for delivering creative
conferences, corporate
events and meetings at the
luxury hotel.
He was previously
AVPartners sales manager
at RACV Royal Pines Resort,
also on the Gold Coast.
SOS for CWT Meetings & Events
CWT Meetings & Events has announced it will offer the services
of International SOS to its clients.
The Carlson Wagonlit Travel division said it was the first time a
global corporate meetings and events service had included the
product as part of its core offering.
This is a groundbreaking safety and security offering which
in todays changeable times is of paramount importance to
everyone, wherever they are, said Cindy Fisher, senior vice
president and global head, CWT Meetings & Events.
By collaborating with International SOS, we have created a
new gold standard for the rest of the industry to aim at.
Under the scheme, CWT M&E customers can now access pre-
travel advice and integrate further International SOS Services
such as Event Medical Support Plan into their program.
The agreement also allows customers to subscribe to medical
and security alerts and use a travel risk assessment tool.
This is
MAY 25 - 27
GOLD COAST
BUSINESS EXCHANGE
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business events news April issue of travelBulletin.

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3rd April 2017

TIE LINE-UP REVEALED Hilton expands with Saudi venue

THE Travel Industry
HILTON has opened
Exhibition &
the largest conference
Conference has
facilities in the city of
revealed details of
Makkah, Saudi Arabia,
the new two-day
featuring a grand
seminar added
ballroom capable of
to its format this
hosting events for up to
year, offering a
1,600 people.
range of Australian
The Hilton Makkah
and international
Convention Hotel is the
speakers under the
groups 12th property in Saudi Arabia and overlooks the citys
theme Agents of
sacred mosque, Al Masjid al Haram.
Change.
It features eight multi-purpose meeting rooms and
Sydneys Luna Park
boardrooms, plus three restaurants.
will play host to the event on grow their online communities.
The hotel offers 764 guest rooms, including 16 suites.
20-21 Jul before it moves to David Paterson, event director
the Melbourne Convention and with Exhibitions and Trade Fairs,
Exhibition Centre on 25-26 Jul. said the event was a unique
In both cities the conference opportunity for Australias travel
will be opened by Zelda la agent community. Alice addition
Grange, who will share her As Australias trade only
experiences from 19 years as an travel event, conference ACCORHOTELS will add
aide to the late South African delegates will be inspired to the Chifley Alice Springs
President Nelson Mandela. shift their current thinking, Resort to its network in Jul,
NEW Zealanders have been
Top Australian professional recognise their brand value and rebranding it as the Mercure
left wondering whether
Instagramer Lauren Bath has find insight into how they can Alice Springs Resort.
Scotlands Loch Ness
also been added to the line-up increase their customer base. The 139-room resort is
Monster has made a guest
of speakers. The free exhibition held undergoing a $2 million
appearance in Wellington
The chef turned photographer alongside the conference will upgrade of its rooms and
this week as part of a new
will share insights into her give visitors an opportunity to facilities, and is in the final
exhibition in the capital.
Instagram success along with view products from airlines, stages designing an outdoor
Visitors to Wellington
what travel agencies and other hotels, destinations and more. amphitheatre which will
Botanic Gardens were doing
businesses need to know to CLICK HERE for more info. pose as a multipurpose
double-takes after a model
venue for conferences and
plesiosaur was installed in
other events.
a pond in the lead-up to the
The hotels in-house
Blueprint for Australian events Indigenous workshops and
Age of Dinosaurs exhibition,
the Dominion Post reports.
cultural sessions for event
LONDON-BASED communications and events agency Blueprint delegates will also be run
has expanded its global footprint, with the opening of a new from this space.
office in Melbourne to be headed up by David Ducker. Mercure Alice Springs
With offices in the UK, Dubai and now Melbourne, Blueprints Resort will join Mercure
client base includes international automotive manufacturers, Darwin Airport Resort
retail networks, technology businesses and entertainment and the Mercure Kakadu
distributors. The Nessie lookalike will
Crocodile Hotel among 12
The company delivers marketing communications, live events, soon be joined by other
AccorHotels properties in
video, VR and digital systems, with existing clientele in other dinosaurs including a T-Rex
the Northern Territory.
markets including Porsche, VW, Audi, Sony and Lend Lease. and a velociraptor.

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3rd April 2017 Events News as it comes to hand

Brisbane Airport events venue

Events BEN ON
Calendar BEN
WELCOME to the
BEN events calendar. Each month Business Manager
If you have an upcoming event for inPlace Recruitment, Ben
youd like us to feature, email Carnegie, writes his observations
info@businesseventsnews.com.au from the recruiters perspective
30 APR - 2 MAY to help job hunters find the
MEA Conference; perfect job. Ben has over 15
International Convention years working in five-star hotels
Centre Sydney (ICC); for and the MICE industry and has
more info see: www. worked on some of Australias
meetingsevents.com.au biggest events.
14 - 18 MAY
ATE 2017; International The importance of
Convention Centre Sydney
(ICC); details at: www. mentoring
tradeevents.australia.com
I CANNOT stress to you how
24-25 MAY much benefit there is having
This is Gold Coast PCO PULLMAN and ibis Brisbane years ago the city had been
a mentor external to your
Famil; Gold Coast; for Airport hotels are on track forced to forgo 120,000 visitors
more info visit: www. place of employment. I will
to open in Oct, along with an due to a lack of accommodation.
visitgoldcoast.com be graduating from the TIME
adjoining 300-seat pillarless However, hotels such as the
25 - 27 MAY program (Travel Industry
ballroom (BEN 27 Aug 15). Pullman Brisbane Airport and ibis
This is Gold Coast Business Mentor Experience) this
The project will feature 1,735m2 Brisbane Airport hotels will help
Exchange; Gold Coast; apply month. Not the first of these
of conference, meeting and event address this shortage and allow
here: www.visitgoldcoast. programs I have done either.
com space and will be capable of the city to attract world-class
Having a mentor gives you
hosting up to 600 delegates. events, Quirk said.
31 MAY - 1 JUN accountability to someone
CINZ Meetings 2017; ASB Facilities include eight The development will be owned
outside your manager but
Showgrounds, Auckland NZ; conference and meeting rooms, by Anthony and Scott Flynns
not just for your job, but for
for more info visit: www. boardrooms and a business Flynn Property Group, the owner
your life! Ive found that
meetings.co.nz centre, within walking distance of of the Novotel Brisbane Airport.
having someone to challenge
20 - 21 JUL the domestic terminal. The Pullman and ibis hotels,
your way of thinking both
The Travel Industry Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham pictured, will begin accepting
personally & professionally
Exhibition & Conference; Quirk said as recently as three bookings from next month.
Luna Park Sydney; register helps you to achieve more out
here: travelindustryexpo. of each and every day. Mentors
com.au help you discover for yourself
25 - 26 JUL
The Travel Industry
Geelong shows mysterious side what you think is important to
you and guide you on how to
Exhibition & Conference; BUSINESS Events Geelong (BEG) last month treated more than get there. Not doing the work
MCEC Melbourne; register 80 guests to an inaugural Mystery Dinner. for you but bringing the best
here: travelindustryexpo. Hosted at Clyde Park Vineyard in Bannockburn, the themed of you to the surface. Whether
com.au a formalised program such
evening highlighted some of the regions top event suppliers.
28 JUL We wanted to create excitement around the event and keep as TIME or just someone you
Get Global Where the meet with regularly for career
World Meets; International
our guests guessing, said BEGs Mark Day.
The evening was designed to break down perceptions that advise, its all good. A big thank
Convention Centre Sydney
(ICC); read more: www. the region is remote because in reality, its under an hours drive you to SKAL Sydney North for
getglobal.com.au from Melbourne CBD, he said. the Skalarship too!

Business Events News is Australias newest online publication dedicated to Publisher/Editor in Chief: Bruce Piper
the vibrant meetings, incentives, conferences and events sector. Managing Editor: Jon Murrie info@businesseventsnews.com.au
Sign up for a free subscription at www.businesseventsnews.com.au. Contributors: Bruce Piper, Guy Dundas, Matt Bell, Rebecca Le Bas, Jasmine ODonoghue
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Business Events News is a publication of Business Events News Pty Ltd ABN 80 153 775 449. All content is fully protected by copyright. Please obtain written permission to reproduce any material. While every care has been taken
in preparation of the newsletter no liability can be accepted for errors or omissions. BEN takes no responsibility for the opinions of its contributors/columnists. Information is published in good faith to stimulate independent
investigation of the matters canvassed. Responsibility for editorial comment is taken by Bruce Piper.

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