Annual Report 2019-2020 Business Events Tasmania Annual Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 BUSINESS EVENTS TASMANIA ANNUAL REPORT Tasmanian Convention Bureau Limited REGISTERED OFFICE (Trading as Business Events Tasmania) Level 5, 39 Murray Street 31st Annual Report 2019 - 2020 HOBART TAS 7000 Presented at 03 6231 1366 Blundstone Arena [email protected] 15 October 2020 betasmania.com.au COMPANY SECRETARY Marnie Craig Level 5, 39 Murray Street HOBART TAS 7000 AUDITOR Mr D J McCarthy (Partner) Wise Lord & Ferguson 160 Collins Street HOBART TAS 7000 BANK Commonwealth Bank 81 Elizabeth Street HOBART TAS 7000 ABN: 33 009 589 584 ACN: 009 589 584 Paul Redding Photography Cover: Australian Tourism Awards, Cataract Gorge Launceston Business Events Tasmania | Annual Report | 2019 - 2020 3 BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT 30 JUNE 2020 Mark Kelleher Ralph Freckelton Professor Dominic Geraghty Chair Director Director Stephen Farquer* Paula Leishman Nathan Darke Deputy Chair Director Board Observer Dominic Baker* Sarah Thomas Director Director John Fitzgerald* Maria Lurighi Director Director *Governance Risk Audit Committee (Chair – Stephen Farquer) OUR STAFF AT 30 JUNE 2020 Marnie Craig Meredith Farrer Elise Devereux Chief Executive Officer Marketing & Marketing Coordinator Communications Manager Krystal James Helen Benson Manager Trade & Laura Curtain Office Manager Strategic Alliances Business Development Manager Kerri-Ann Struzaker Leah Muir Taryn Reid Administration Assistant Sales Manager Business Development Manager Michelle Gilroy-Webb Iola Mauderer Membership Manager Research Coordinator Food & Beverage Collective 4 Business Events Tasmania | Annual Report | 2019 - 2020 CHAIR REPORT talent and provide social benefits and engages industry leaders to Government’s financial contribution to achievements in a challenging year. that continue to enrich local champion the state and work with BET in 2020FY was $790,000. On top Their dedication to seeing BET communities well after events BET in identifying new opportunities of this, is the provision of the business achieve objectives is commendable. have gone. for conferencing in Tasmania and, events attraction fund that allows through their networks, create BET to offer financial support at the I would also like to thank our funding Business events delegates are the opportunity for BET to bid for critical event bidding stage and keeps partners as mentioned above, and high yielding, spending on average business events to be held in the Tasmania competitive in securing our all‑important member partners twice as much as a leisure visitor. State. The resulting business events strategic conferences that align with who work closely with us and 25 per cent of delegates bring at create a platform for investment, Tasmania’s key industry sectors. continue to support BET in offering least one other person with them trade and research collaboration the best Tasmanian product to the when travelling for a business event while showcasing Tasmanian talent I would also like to thank the City World. I can assure you that we and stay for 2‑3 days before or after and innovation to the world. of Hobart, the City of Launceston remain focused on securing national the event. and the West Tamar Council for and international business events to Since the establishment of BET’s their financial contribution last year. Tasmania and to your businesses. Conferencing activity was looking Ambassador Program in 2016 Importantly, the support of our strong for the 2020FY with over we have seen significant growth industry members and other Finally, I would personally like On behalf of the Board of Directors, 120 business events scheduled to in national and international key partners enables BET to to thank my fellow Directors for I am pleased to present the 2020 take place throughout the year, conferences that align with key continually deliver significant their time and commitment to the annual report as Chairman of along with increasing interest from Tasmanian industry sectors. benefits for Tasmania. organisation during the last year. Business Events Tasmania (BET). the corporate and incentive travel market. Despite restrictions making A strategic focus on attracting BOARD & CORPORATE After a good start, the final months traditional face‑to‑face conferencing business events to Tasmania’s GOVERNANCE of our 2020 financial year (2020FY) unavailable after March; it is pleasing regions has successfully delivered were overshadowed by the to note than many of the business regional dispersal within the business In August 2019, we welcomed COVID‑19 pandemic, the effects events that couldn’t take place as a events sector in the North and North Professor Dom Geraghty to the of which will continue to be felt result of COVID‑19 have rescheduled West. This includes two significant BET Board. Professor Geraghty holds Mark Kelleher for some time in the business for future years. events held in 2019: The Australian the position of Pro Vice‑Chancellor Chair events industry. Regional Tourism Convention in (Launceston) at the University of October 2020 The organisation continues to Devonport in October and Tasmania, driving delivery of the As an organisation we are acutely review our strategic plan in light Ecological Society of Australia Northern Transformation’s vision aware that for our 160+ member of disruptions and changing National Conference in Launceston and strategic objectives for the city partners sitting right at the coal market conditions brought about in November. Pre and post and region. As BET works closely face of the business events, tourism by COVID‑19. This will include conference field trips for these with UTAS on many strategic bids, and hospitality industry, 2020 has reassessment of our key target events visited the Cradle Coast, a UTAS presence on the Board is brought uncertainty, disruption, markets with the emergence of new Northern Midlands, Lake Mackenzie vital and Professor Geraghty brings a stress and economic pressure market opportunities, and refinement and Ben Lomond. wealth of experience to the position. on an unprecedented scale. of our processes to best meet our customers’ needs. The review will Over the coming year we will BET’s Governance Risk Audit BET is committed to rebuilding consider the significant changes and continue to build on the success Committee meets regularly business events, an industry that restrictions placed on our industry of the Tasmanian Ambassador to review BET’s financial delivers so much to Tasmania. Not that will result in an even more Program to deliver measurable performance, governance only do business events contribute competitive operating environment. benefit to Tasmania. procedures and risk register. a direct economic annual return of close to $150 million to the TASMANIAN FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Tasmanian economy and bring over AMBASSADOR I would like to thank the Premier In closing, on behalf of the Board, 36,000 delegates to the State, but PROGRAM conference connections create and his Government for their I would like to thank the small but opportunities for trade, investment, BET’s Tasmanian Ambassador ongoing support of the business very competent and hardworking and innovation, attract global Program was launched in 2016 events industry. The Tasmanian BET staff, including CEO Marnie Craig, for their ongoing efforts and 6 Business Events Tasmania | Annual Report | 2019 - 2020 Business Events Tasmania | Annual Report | 2019 - 2020 7 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT To this point, BET has been working informed decision making around more collaboratively with the future sales and marketing activity. Tasmanian tourism industry on a joint approach to recovery through As part of this process, we have the Visitor Economy Strategy Group. recently launched a fantastic new BET’s inclusion in this group has website. The website now offers been invaluable in ensuring that a more user‑friendly experience, business events is included in the curated content, and helpful tools future tourism agenda. for conference and event planners to get a true feel for the Tasmanian BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT business events experience. The site provides a distinctly visual Despite the challenging experience through the use of circumstances in the second half high‑quality imagery, video and RESPONDING TO A of the financial year, I am happy intuitive design, allowing us to to report that BET was still able to better engage with our customers, CHALLENGING YEAR Josef Chromy Wines exceed bidding activity KPIs as set particularly those in the corporate To say that FY2020 was a in our Tasmanian Government and incentive travel market. What challenging year for our industry funding Activity Plan. started out as a major project to would be an understatement. overhaul our online presence and In late 2019, BET hosted a improve the way we showcase our successful famil for a large group While COVID‑19 caused many events member product, soon morphed of association and corporate to not go ahead at their scheduled into a body of work with much I am proud of the way in which within the business events market contribution that essentially clients, and professional conference times, the number one priority of greater significance throughout staff have adapted to the changed as borders gradually reopen. makes up the Tasmanian organisers. The 3‑day program the Business Events Tasmania team the COVID‑19 crisis. operating environment, including Restrictions on international travel, business events industry. was to secure the postponement allowed attendees to experience time spent working