Business Events Sunshine Coast (BESC) hosted their second ‘Sunshine Safari’ for 12 professional conference and incentive organisers. The group spent three days familiarising themselves with the region on a tour specifically developed to showcase the Sunshine
Coast’s business events capability.

“The professional conference organisers attending this year are among the best in Australia, with many managing well in excess of ten events per year. The challenge with the business events sector is ensuring the individuals selected to attend our programs, have a strong influence on where an event will be held. This year we have definitely got the right people, who have the capacity to bring a lot of business to our region,” said business events manager, Pippa McCreery.

Famil participants at the Flame HIll Winery

“Once again, the local industry has provided tremendous support to help us host this program. More than 30 local business event operators have discounted their product or service, to show these buyers what they can offer their groups from new team building experiences, offsite dinner
options to meeting venues.

“The specific focus for this year’s program was to highlight not only the variety of conference venues on offer, but also the exclusive incentive options and innovative partner program inclusions. Each day we had a different theme, from stylish management retreats on day one, to the plethora of meeting spaces on day two, finished off with a taste of the region in events mode, a trip to the Noosa International Food and Wine Festival,” added  McCreery.

BESC try to support local charities where possible, and following the discovery of local not-for profit Coastal Caring Clowns, BESC decided to put their theming and entertainment budget to good use. Coastal Caring Clowns are a group of 25 local volunteers who visit hospitals and aged care
homes on a weekly basis to cheer up patients. Instead of sourcing from a professional agency,

BESC decided to recruit 4 local ‘clown’ volunteers for the welcome Aussie World function, providing a much-needed donation to the charity. BESC is a division of Sunshine Coast Destination Ltd (SCDL), whose responsibility is to market the Sunshine Coast as a viable, attractive and sustainable business events destination. A reported $60 million dollars is generated from the 50,000-plus delegates travelling to the Sunshine Coast annually. These important business visitors spend up to five times that of a leisure traveller.