Business Events Sunshine Coast (BESC) has hosted their inaugural ‘Sunshine Sojourn’ for eight top conference organisers. The group spent three days familiarising themselves with the region on a tour specifically developed to showcase the Sunshine Coast’s business events capabilities.
BESC Manager, Lauran Hofman said she was extremely happy with the quality of the famil participants for this new program.
Amy Stewart and Isobel Jones (Institute of Chartered Accountants)
Hofman said, “The event managers attending our Sunshine Soujourn are key representatives from Brisbane and New Zealand, and plan business events for companies such as Ernst and Young, Oracle, Ergon Energy and the Institute of Chartered Accountants. The individuals we selected to attend this program have a strong influence on where an event will be held for their companies and have the capacity to bring a lot of business to our region.Our local operators provided tremendous support to help us host this program and showcase our best assets.”
Nina Yeoman (Oracle New Zealand), Tiffany Beal (BESC), Ursula Britten (Brisbane Catholic Education), Lauran Hofman (BESC), Lisa Moyle (Ernst & Young), Amy Stewart (Institute of Chartered Accountants), Jessie Burrows (Australian Podiatry Association QLD), Australia Zoo Animal Handler, Maree Hawcroft (Holcim), Isobel Jones (Front) (Institute of Chartered Accountants).
Amy Stewart is the team leader of event delivery for the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia. She is responsible for selecting the destinations across the country to host corporate meetings and conferences for her organisation.
Stewart said, “We hold approximately 400 business meetings and events in Queensland each year. There was formerly a lot of interest in the Gold Coast but that is really changing to a greater focus on the Sunshine Coast. This region is well placed to cater to business event needs.”
The group toured the region from 17 to 19 October and visited Australia Zoo, Spicers Clovelly Estate, Mantra Mooloolaba Beach, Noosa Springs, RACV Resort and undertook at challenge at Eumundi Markets. Accommodation was provided by Novotel Twin Waters and Sheraton Noosa, while the group were treated to meals with Spicers Tamarind Retreat, Palmer Coolum Resort, Noosa Beach House, Outrigger Little Hastings Street and Bohemian Bungalow.
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.
