South Australia’s key event showcase, Destination SA 2023, has made a strong comeback after COVID-19, with three association and corporate business events already won as a direct result of the event.
Hosted by Business Events Adelaide 22-25 March, the exhibition saw 1,000 meetings take place at Adelaide Convention Centre. The three day event welcomed 40 highly-qualified national and international event organisers, as well as industry media, while more than 50 Business Events Adelaide members were involved in the famil program and exhibition day.
Business Events Adelaide chief executive officer Damien Kitto said it was exciting to showcase how much Adelaide and South Australia had developed and evolved over the last three years.
“We have had an impressive and sophisticated range of new hotels and venues – from affordable to luxury – for our guests to view; and importantly an energised economy with precincts dedicated to future industries such as Biomed, Machine Learning, Space, Defence, AI, Agtech, and more,” Kitto said.
Kitto said it was clear that event organisers understood the benefit of holding business events in Adelaide which is unashamedly targeting business events that leave an economic tail potential, aligning with State Government targeted sectors.
“For the first time, we introduced visits to Adelaide innovation districts such as Tonsley and Lot 14 to our key decision makers program, and they were a definite hit. We know that event organisers are well aware that delegates want to return to their organisations with a value add from their time spent at a business event, just as we seek an economic advantage.”
Event organisers also visited the regions where new and modernised venues were on show and Adelaide’s, as well as the State’s reputation for high-quality food and wine was often remarked upon.
“We do punch well above our weight across the board here. It is a seamless ‘Team Adelaide’ business event destination from arrival to departure. That is not lost on event organisers, who must know they can choose Adelaide with confidence for their business events.”
Mr. Kitto said three association and corporate business events had already been won out of 2023’s Destination SA.
Expressions of interest for Destination SA 2024 celebrating the 20th year of Showcasing South Australia to important decision-makers of business events will be released in May.
