PDC chairman Paul Fitzpatrick, Member for Dawesville Dr Kim Hames, MAPTO CEO Karen Priest, Mandurah Performing Arts Centre GM Guy Boyce
Mandurah, 20 June 2016…A new initiative by Mandurah and Peel Tourism Organisation (MAPTO) aimed at attracting the lucrative business tourist has been facilitated by a grant of $15,000 in the recently announced Royalties for Regions’ Community Chest Fund. MAPTO CEO Karen Priest said Mandurah and the Peel region offered a real economic alternative to Perth’s CBD for business events and satellite conferences.
“We are extremely pleased to be awarded the CCF grant and it will be used to create a business tourism brand and implement a marketing campaign to attract business tourism to the region,” said Karen Priest.
“Our target audience is pre and post conference delegates and small to mid-sized conferences. Because of their different orientation, conference delegates outspend other visitors.”
” The Perth Convention Bureau values the daily spend of an international delegate at $657.26 and a national delegate at $420.08. Conference registration, food and beverage represents 26% of the daily spend with the rest going to accommodation, merchandise, entertainment, domestic transport and other business expenses.”
Cities and coastal/beachside settings rated highly in terms of areas or locations decision makers would most likely hold a business event in Australia, according to Tourism Australia research.
“We are fortunate in Mandurah to have an existing business tourism precinct marked by the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Reading Cinemas, Mandjar Square and The Sebel Mandurah. The combination of this infrastructure has hosted many business events already and we are looking forward very much to further showcasing this exceptional region,” Karen Priest said.
Dr Kim Hames MLA, Member for Dawesville said there was a great deal of scope for pre and post conference touring. “From playing on our world class golf courses to touring local wineries, there’s a wealth of options for delegates to enjoy in the Peel region,” he said.
The grants are administered by the Peel Development Commission. Chairman Paul Fitzpatrick said MAPTO’s initiative aligned closely with the strategic direction being implemented by the Commission.
“Developing a strategy for attracting more business tourism and events fits closely with the tourism excellence pillar in the Peel Regional Investment Blueprint and the forthcoming Peel Tourism and Economic Development Strategy which we are creating jointly with MAPTO. Raising the profile of the region to interstate and international markets will lead to increased economic turnover for our accommodation, hospitality and retail businesses throughout the Peel,” he said.
Anyone interested in learning more about applications for the next round of Community Chest Fund should contact the Peel Development Commission’s Grants Officers on 95354140.
Media Contact: Norman Baker, Chief Executive Officer, Peel Development Commission, norman.baker@peel.gov.wa.au , (08) 9535 4140