Business events showcase promotes Tropical North Queensland

A strike mission from Tourism Tropical North Queensland into our southern capitals has showcased why TNQ is the cream of the crop when it comes to a business event destination.

Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef team Kirsty Boase, Tara Bennett and Natalie Johnson showcased tropical produce to 100 association and corporate buyers. Photo: Supplied

A strike mission from Tourism Tropical North Queensland into our southern capitals has showcased why TNQ is the cream of the crop when it comes to a business event destination.

The annual Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Showcase is an important outreach program helping to lure a lucrative market of often big spending businesses, their staff, and partners to our region as part of an event calendar worth $125 million.

TTNQ General Manager of Partnerships and Events Tara Bennett said their team was accompanied by 18 local business events suppliers to host lunch in Brisbane, breakfast in Sydney and cocktails in Melbourne.

“The three events gave us the opportunity to meet 100 association and corporate buyers, professional

conference organisers and destination management companies,” she said.

“We took 45kg of local produce to set up a display in each city showcasing the diversity of tropical food and beverages from our region which can be used as delegate gifts.

The Federal Government is encouraging the export of Far North Queensland fruit to worldwide markets. Swiss tourist Annina Guthauser holds a box full of fresh local produce at Rusty's Markets. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

“Each delegate then got to select what they would like to have as a gift with chocolate, coffee, tea, dried fruit, macadamia nuts, chilli sauces, lollies, Worcestershire sauce, spices and dukkah among the choices.”

The participating businesses ranged from tour operators Reef unlimited and Down Under Tours, resorts and hotels such as the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas and the Crystalbrook Collection, to hospitality venues like Mexicairns and Hemingway’s Brewery.

“At each event we launched two new videos with one targeting the association market and the other the incentive market which were well received by the buyers as a useful tool to showcase the destination and its business event capabilities,” Ms Bennett said.

“The BECGBR annual Regional Showcase is an opportunity to bring the sunshine of Tropical North Queensland to the eastern seaboard cities where the team’s enthusiasm and was well received by Australia’s leading business events sellers.

“The showcase compliments the in-region educationals, site inspections and brand marketing being undertaken to elevate the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef business events story.”

Originally published as Business events showcase promotes Tropical North Queensland