SYDNEY WINS BID TO HOST DREAMTIME 2001

Australia’s premier incentive travel event, Dreamtime 2001, will be held in Sydney this year, Australian Tourist Commission Deputy Managing Director, Bill Calderwood announced today.

“Sydney is the ideal destination for Dreamtime 2001 following the phenomenal publicity Australia received during the Olympic Games,” he said. “ Interest in Sydney and Australia as an incentive destination has increased post Games, and this event will help to convert record interest in Australia into record business.

“Dreamtime is recognised as one of the most successful travel incentive events with last year’s event generating more than $25 million in incentive business.

“Australia’s potential in the high yield incentive market is limitless. Australia has the appeal, the product and the tourism experiences which combine for an ideal incentive travel destination and this event will help to showcase all aspects to international buyers.

“Business travel is set to continue as one of Australia’s growth tourism sectors over the next decade and events such as Dreamtime will ensure that we continue to grow this important tourism sector.”

Dreamtime 2001 will be held from 14 to 18 July 2001 including a two day trade show as well as an extensive famil program for international incentive buyers. Dreamtime 2001 is expected to attract more than 120 international incentive buyers and 100 Australian tourism organisations.

The Sydney Visitors and Convention Bureau has been successful in winning the bid to host Dreamtime this year after it was tendered to 13 convention and visitor bureaux Australia wide. The trade show component will be held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and the familiarisation program is currently being finalised.

Mr Calderwood said the new format will provide greater opportunities for Australian operators to meet with the buyers from international incentive houses.

“For the first time the ATC will be inviting corporate clients to accompany their international incentive buyers to Dreamtime which will provide a great opportunity for Australian operators,” he said. “This means the actual decision makers of the businesses will see the product first hand.”

“Australian operators will also have the opportunity to become involved in more elements of Dreamtime 2001 in addition to the trade show.

“Dreamtime is a perfect example of the ATC and the industry working together to help boost incentive travel to Australia. The ATC looks forward to working with the Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau (SVCB) as well as trade show participants to make this a successful event.”

Sydney Convention & Visitors Bureau Managing Director, Jon Hutchison said Sydney was the
natural choice for Dreamtime 2001, following the success of the 2000 Olympic Games.

“The Games have generated enormous worldwide interest in Sydney as a business tourism destination and Dreamtime offers a wonderful opportunity to capitalise on this by showcasing the new infrastructure and business tourism products and services,” he said.

"The Games gave us an unprecedented international profile, and through Dreamtime we are looking to convert this new level of demand into business for Sydney and Australia.”

Mr Hutchison added that the type of tourism business generated by Dreamtime was the fastest growing for past Olympic host cities and there are early indications that this will be the case for Sydney.