International Conference Organisers Visit Port Stephens to Scope Area for Future Business Events

Port Stephens’ growing status as a major conference and events destination is set to grow with a group of 20 international convention organisers visiting the region from February 20-23 to see what the area has to offer corporate visitors keen to work and play by the seaside.

The high-level visit organised by local body, MICE Port Stephens, is one of the only familiarisation tours for event organisers to follow the huge AIME (Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo) conference in Melbourne this week. Drawing 3500 people from around the world and Australia, including representatives from MICE Port Stephens and two local properties, Shoal Bay Resort & Spa and The Anchorage, AIME is the biggest international business expo in Australia, allowing Port Stephens to promote its appeal to the lucrative meeting, incentive, convention and events (MICE) market. 

The 20 business events organisers will fly direct from Melbourne to Newcastle Airport in Port Stephens after the AIME convention on Thursday, February 20, 2014, to begin a four-day tour of the region that will see them experience sandboarding and quadbiking on the biggest sand dunes in the southern hemisphere as well as enjoy local craft beer and the blue, dolphin-filled waters of Port Stephens itself.

MICE Port Stephens Manager, Rebecca Morley, who is attending AIME in Melbourne this week, said the 20 convention and incentive organisers who would tour Port Stephens this week came from China, Hong Kong, The Netherlands, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, India, New Zealand and also Australia.

“To be one of the only destinations that AIME delegates will visit after the convention in Melbourne is very exciting and is testament to Port Stephens’ growth as a compelling destination for business events and the hard work we have invested into growing this high-yield market for the region,” said Ms Morley, who added that business visitors spent a lot more in Port Stephens than leisure visitors.

“While Port Stephens has long been a popular beach destination for leisure travellers, our work in the business events sector is helping to attract new visitor income to the region throughout the year,” she said. “This important visit by events organisers will showcase our ability to host small or large groups in spectacular seaside settings with lots of exciting activities available for delegates and we’re confident it will see Port Stephens hosting more major corporate events in the future.”

During their MICE Port Stephens visit, the 20 group event organisers will stay at The Anchorage and Shoal Bay Resort & Spa and be hosted by Newcastle Airport, Quad Bike King, Murray’s Brewery, Vues on the Bay restaurant, Moonshadow Cruises, Port Stephens 4WD, Imagine Cruises, and also operators in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley.