Last night the Federal Government announced a $50 million grant program to restart Australia’s business event sector.
Under the Australian Business Events Grants Program, approved business events, including meetings conventions, incentives and exhibitions, will be able to apply for upfront grants to cover up to 50 per cent of their costs (between $10,000 and $250,000).
The Business Events Council of Australia will now lead the industry’s work with Government on the design and implementation of the Australian Business Events Grants Program. Their goal is to get money flowing throughout the supply chain as soon as possible.
The news is greatly welcomed by BET and this grant program, without doubt, will provide the confidence our industry needs to start planning and booking business events in Tasmania for 2021. It will also provide much needed hope to our struggling business events operators.
Tasmania’s strong brand position coupled with low rates of COVID creates welcome opportunities within the business events market for 2021. Restrictions on international travel, and a reluctance to travel to major capital cities, makes Tasmania an appealing destination for the high yielding corporate incentive market that was traditionally outbound prior to the pandemic.