Premier announces initiative to attract big spending convention delegates

2/3/03
Premier Geoff Gallop today announced a $300,000 initiative designed to lure high spending convention delegates to Western Australia.
The initiative - jointly funded by the State Government and private sector contributors - aims to attract more than 5,400 out-of-State delegates, generating nearly $23.5million in economic impact for the State.
The Premier said the marketing program aimed to target at least six 1,200-plus delegate conventions.
The WA Tourism Commission and the Department of Housing and Works have each contributed $100,000 to the program, known as the Convention Attraction Support Team (CAST).
The remaining $100,000 has been raised from three private sector partners - the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Burswood International Resort Casino and Westralia Airports Corporation.
'This is an excellent example of the Government partnering with the private sector for the benefit of WA," Dr Gallop said.
The Premier said the CAST program was being co-ordinated by the Perth Convention Bureau, the peak industry organisation contracted by the Western Australian Tourism Commission to market WA as a convention, exhibition and incentive travel destination.
"Because of the enormous foreign exchange earnings which delegates generate, it is very competitive among destinations to attract conventions, particularly those in the 1,000-plus delegate category," he said.
"Many destinations offer enormous incentives to win these conventions. If we are to be in the running to win this business, we need to be able to offer attractive incentives.
"Under the CAST program, bid development funding packages of up to $40,000 will be made available to secure selected high profile and high yield conferences.
"Preference will be given to conferences that can be held in the off-peak season, a move which I know will be welcomed by the hotel sector in particular and the tourism industry in general."
The $40,000 funding packages are open to Australian registered non-profit professional and industry associations wishing to host a national or international conference in WA.
"A stringent set of selection criteria has been drawn up to ensure that WA receives the maximum benefit from this program," Dr Gallop said.
"Other than meeting the minimum criterion of 900 fee-paying delegates from interstate or overseas, relevance to the State's trade and industry development priorities will also rate highly.
"And the opportunities to gain international and national exposure and to profile WA will also be important considerations when assessing submissions."
The Premier announced that one local association, which had already qualified for CAST program assistance, had been successful in bidding for Perth to host its national conference.
The WA branch of the Australian Biotechnology Association had received $15,000 to support its bid to host the AusBiotech National Conference in 2005.
"Up to 1,400 delegates are expected at the conference, generating $4.32million in economic impact," he said.
"These types of conferences are important in helping us to develop a knowledge based economy."
Dr Gallop stressed that the CAST program would generate across-the-board business for the whole of the destination and not just the private sector partners.
"A convention delegate spends between five and eight times more than the average tourist, dispersing around $600 per day into the local economy," he said.
"These dollars reach the retail shopping sector, restaurants, cinemas and theatres, sporting and cultural events, bars and nightclubs, tourist attractions, taxis and public transport.
"Importantly, dollars also flow into regional WA as delegates and their partners undertake pre and post convention touring."
The Premier said that with the development of the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre and the expansion and upgrading of existing facilities at Burswood and other hotel properties, WA's prospects had never been brighter.
"The Perth Convention Bureau has been doing an excellent job marketing the State and last year won the International Congress and Convention Association's prestigious Best Marketing Award," he said.
"The bureau is committed to positioning WA as the dominant convention, exhibition and incentive travel destination in the Asia Pacific region."
Premier's office: 9222 9475