Business Events Victoria (BEV) welcomes Tuesday’s (May 1) State Budget announcement of $800,000 over two years for regional business events.

To be delivered by BEV, the funding continues the successful delivery of the Regional Victoria Business Events Program that has generated more than 620 business leads to regional Victoria over the past four years, worth an estimated $44 million.

BEV Executive Officer Chris Porter said regional Victoria for a long time has been the benchmark nationally for its state wide approach to regional business events, cooperatively marketing the destination and collaboratively working together to promote regional Victoria business events as a whole.

“Other states are starting to invest heavily in regional business events and the support of the Victorian State Government is crucial to ensure that regional Victoria remains at the forefront.

“This investment will help increase visitation, expenditure and employment in our regions, it will maintain regional Victoria’s competitive advantage, help maximise new and existing infrastructure and offset seasonality and mid-week vacancies,” he said.

BEV is also pleased to see the State Government continue to support regional business events infrastructure development with funding for the Geelong Conference Centre, as part of the Geelong City Deal.

“The Geelong Conference Centre is a real game changer for regional Victoria. It will help put regional Victoria business events on the map internationally.

“The State Government should be congratulated for these announcements today and their continued support of this important sector of the visitor economy,” said Porter.