Luring even more business

BUSINESS events are big money and the region has punched well above its weight to secure double the number this financial year.

Business Events Cairns and Great Barrier Reef has snared 46 corporate and association business events compared to 23 in the previous financial year.

It is estimated the business, attracting thousands of delegates, will inject $45 million into the economy over the next three years.

The conferences and the meetings will be held through to 2020.

The marketing team chased 90 leads in 2016-17, 23 more than in the previous 12 months.

Many will be held at the city’s convention centre to undergo a large expansion in the future.

Nearly half of the ventures are from overseas and it is clear the easy access to the region via hubs such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul and Japan have helped draw the events to Cairns.

The competitive Australia dollar has assisted as well as the region’s key attractions of the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropic rainforests.

The climate and special off-site event spaces, sophisticated business infrastructure, top class hotels and key experts are other reasons.

Our rich Indigenous culture, unique wildlife and exotic produce are further inducements.

The events include Asian incentive trips, medical association and corporate meetings.

Many of the delegates will make the journeys a holiday as well, bringing their partners and arriving before and/or staying after to enjoy the Far North.

It proves we are more than just a leisure holiday destination. Nick Dalton nick.dalton@news.com.au