Meeting Place 2009 conference – preparing for the tourism recovery

Meeting Place 2009 – preparing for the tourism recovery

The secret to success is in the preparation – and despite the challenging trading conditions facing the tourism industry right now, there is no better time for operators and businesses to position themselves for better times in the years ahead.

This ‘focus on the future’ message is driving this year’s Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) Meeting Place 2009 conference -– with topics such as Tourism Australia’s new five-year business plan, travel and tourism trends from the Asia-Pacific region, and The National Long-term Tourism Strategy on the agenda to help delegates on their way to prosperity.

ATEC’s Meeting Place 2009 will bring more than 500 inbound tourism operators, decision-makers and tourism product suppliers to the Hilton Sydney in December to examine the latest innovations in export tourism and discuss the future of the industry in general.

“The inbound tourism industry has had a tough year, but it’s time to draw a line in the sand,” said ATEC Managing Director Matt Hingerty.

“It’s critical that the industry puts the past year behind it and focuses on the future – and ATEC’s Meeting Place conference should be the starting point.”
“The industry’s response to the GFC has been admirable in the way it has continued to fight by slashing prices, adding value, searching for new product and innovating in every imaginable way to keep the registers ticking over.”

“However with factors such as the soaring dollar starting to hurt the hip pocket of many of my members, conferences such as Meeting Place are vital in ensuring that our focus on the future continues,” Mr Hingerty said.

Mr Hingerty said that this year’s Meeting Place conference would reflect both the tumultuous journey of the last twelve months and potential inherent in the years ahead.
This year’s ATEC Meeting Place 2009 event runs for two days and includes a half-day conference, a full day of business-to-business workshops as well as an end-of-year Gala Dinner. This year’s conference will include:

• Asia-Pacific travel trends: An overview of the dynamics of the Asia-Pacific region by John Koldowski, Director of the Pacific Asia Travel Association’s Strategic Intelligence Centre.
• TA’s five-year plan: Tourism Australia’s Executive Chairman Rick Allert will speak on TA’s five-year business and marketing plan to attract international visitors to Australia.
Further details:

Nick Buchan – National Media and Communications Manager
Ph: (02) 8262 5501 or 0407 379 362

http://www.atec.net.au

http://twitter.com/ATECtoday

“I am very proud of the program for this year’s conference,” Mr Hingerty said. “Meeting Place is now a true counterpart to ATEC’s annual Symposium conference.”
“ATEC would like to thank key sponsors Qantas and Hilton Hotels Australasia for their support in putting Meeting Place together. Their foresight is a large part of this conference’s continued success,” Mr Hingerty said.

Media are welcome to attend all public conference sessions. For information regarding conference attendance or media accreditation, please contact National Media and Communications Manager Nick Buchan on 0407 379 362 or at nick.buchan@atec.net.au.

For further details regarding Symposium conference registration, please visit http://www.atec.net.au/meeting_place.html.

WHAT FOR: ATEC Meeting Place conference
WHEN: Wednesday December 2 – Thursday December 3, 2009
TIME: All day
WHERE: The Hilton Hotel, Sydney
FULL PROGRAM DETAILS: http://www.atec.net.au/meeting_place.html