22 September, 2015

AACB sets future direction

The Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) held its Annual General Meeting last week, outlining its grand plans for the next three years.

Business Events Sydney’s CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith was re-elected as President of the AACB with the full support of the board, and she thanked the AACB board and management for their efforts and ongoing commitment to the business events industry over the past 12 months.

“The AACB has had an extremely productive year. Our activities, strongly aligned to the Association’s strategic direction, have resulted in some great wins and progress on a number fronts,” she said.

Lyn Lewis-Smith

“Importantly, the AACB has been a unified and powerful voice for its 16 members on the key issues for the business events industry.”

The next 12 months will focus on the implantation of the AACB’s recently updated and renewed Strategic Action Plan, including:

Continued leadership in raising the profile of the business events industry by promoting the economic contribution and social impact of business events to Australia
Delivery of an industry-wide advocacy campaign that unites the sector
influence and leverage our partnership with the Australian Government to drive policy and investment decisions for the business events sector
Leverage the Federal Government’s framework, Attracting Business Events to Australia: The Role of Government Agencies
Ensure sustainability and relevance through stakeholder engagement and delivery of an industry-wide advocacy agenda and strategy.

“The business events industry offers high and strong yielding results for the Australian economy,” Lewis-Smith added.

“The AACB will continue to lead and offer a strong voice to help raise the profile of business events, influence government and remain relevant to its members and key stakeholders.”

The AACB also announced Newcastle Convention Bureau through Altogether Perfect as the winner of AACB’s Innovation Award for 2014/15. The award was announced during the AIME Gala Dinner at Tempus Two, Hunter Valley.

The award recognises new innovations that represent a significant transformation to bureau operations, technology and/or to the product pipeline.

AACB Executive Director Andrew Hiebl said, “We had four bureaux compete for this year’s award. I congratulate Newcastle on their win and the successful Altogether Perfect collaboration. Innovation plays an important role in helping Australia remain competitive in the national and global marketplace. AACB is pleased to recognise and celebrate new innovations and bureaux leadership.”

The ‘Altogether Perfect’ campaign was launched in 2014 as a collaborative marketing effort undertaken by regional partners in the broader Hunter Region to attract and secure business events tourism.

Vibhor Pandey, Manager of Market Research and Lead Generation at Brisbane Convention Bureau, was also awarded with the prestigious AACB Staff Scholarship for 2015/16.

The scholarship, co-sponsored by Tourism Australia and Qantas, is designed to offer middle to senior level bureau staff an opportunity to demonstrate their professional commitment to the business events sector by delivering a project that highlights innovation and excellence.

As the winner, Pandey will attend the next ICCA Research, Sales and Marketing Program event in Dubai in 2016 which is specifically designed for meeting industry professionals who work with associations meetings research, new lead generation, marketing and sales.

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AACB Association of Australian Convention Bureaux lyn lewis-smith