Business Events Geelong in partnership with over 40 regional operators hosted a spectacular cocktail evening last week (31 July), putting Geelong/Bellarine, Great Ocean Road region on show to key Melbourne conference and meeting organisers.
Melbourne’s Showtime Event Centre recently hosted the tourism showcase event.
“We had an A list of invitees for our business operators to talk to,” said Convention Bureau manager Terry Hickey “With the fantastic support of industry we were able to show these people the quality and breadth of our regional product. We really had our best dress in the window at this show,” he said.
The evening was held at Melbourne’s Showtime Event Centre at South Wharf, guests were delivered to the event via water taxi, where they were met by a fire twirler and greeted by ‘hosts’ Basil Fawlty and Manuel, from the Vue Grand’s renowned Fawlty Towers dinner show. The atmospheric room, featured a fantastic hand painted Great Ocean Road scene, provided by local business Rocket Science. Guests were treated to a range of local wines, beers and ciders.
Convention Bureau manager Terry Hickey adressed the crowd of conference and meeting organisers.
Exhibitors on the night included major hotels, resorts and venues, team builders and incentive providers, attractions and other support services such as scene/theme creators, caterers and conference organisers.
A highlight of the night was the fun and energetic musical entertainment provided by the fabulous George Kamikawa and Noriko Tadano. They are regular performers on the Bellarine’s Blues Train and recent finalists on television show Australia’s Got Talent.
Four major regional experience prizes were drawn on the night, these were part of a generous pool of prizes donated by the business events industry that totalled over $15,000.
“In our region we are renowned for being friendly and personable, at the end of the day, it is people who make a business event a success. This event has connected the people that run our professional products and services with conference organisers planning their future meetings,” Hickey said.
