Mildura’s popularity as a destination for conferences and business events is continuing to flourish with another major four day event secured for the city in April 2012.
The Rotary International District 9520 Conference is expected to bring between 500 and 700 people to the region next year, who are expected spend more than $1 million in accommodation, shopping, eating and touring the district.
Mildura was announced as the location for the 26 to 29 April 2012 conference last month, at this year’s event, which was held in Bendigo.
Council’s Conferencing Facilitator Julie Jewell said confirmation that Rotary had selected Mildura for their next key gathering was an exciting occasion that came after more than ten months of planning and preparation.
“We have been working tirelessly behind the scenes in conjunction with Rotary to put Mildura at the top of the organisation’s list for conference destinations,” she said.
“We can not underestimate the impact that such big business events like this can have on our community. Although delegates may come for the event, they are also here as tourists and are often enticed to return.”
Earlier this year more than 1,400 people converged on Mildura for the 2010 Lions Australia National Convention, spending more than $2.1 million in the region.
“The success of the Lions event was due to the enormous contribution, dedication and hard work of many people and the fact that local organisations, businesses and Council worked together and because our community showed the visiting delegates such warm hospitality,” Julie Jewell said.
“I am sure that the Rotary conference in 2012 will be just as successful and our local economy and community will reap the rewards.”
One of the key drivers in the city’s recent success in securing major attractions and events has been the development of the Mildura Business Events Planners Guide.
This comprehensive resource outlines all the details and information anyone could want if they were considering holding a conference or business event in Mildura.
From details on accommodation and venue options, through to transport, catering and post conference options, the Guide has proved to be a valuable tool when pitching Mildura to those in the business and conferencing industry.
It proved vital when Council was represented at the Asia-pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME) in February where some of the biggest players in the conferencing and business events industry meet.
After seeing what Mildura had on offer via the Business Events Planners Guide, companies from interstate and overseas were lining up to book in events here.
A second edition of the Guide is set to be released soon and is expected to help enhance Mildura’s profile as a conference destination even more.
The region’s appeal to the conferencing and business events industry has grown dramatically in recent years, increasing from $750,000 in 2007/08 to $5 million in 2009/10.
