Tourism NT showcases Alice Springs

Challenges
Meeting space in Alice Springs was limited during the time of the event, so use of non-traditional venues had to be considered.
Most of these venues were outdoors in order to showcase the natural beauty of the town.
However this also left the group vulnerable to the weather.

Execution
To give an overview of Alice Springs, buyers were sent on a ‘Hop On Hop Off’ style bus.
A welcome function at Alice Springs Telegraph Station took place on the first night, when
German agents and Australian sellers came together for the first time.
During the three-day event, eight workshops were held at three venues, two of which were
outdoors. Workshop formats were decided by each STO: the Northern Territory’s area was
set up as an outback campsite, while Queensland used the Turf Club Pavilion, which was
transformed into a beach.

Delegates also enjoyed a range of incentives including hot-air ballooning, Aboriginal dot
painting workshops, helicopter rides into the Outback and sunrise camel rides.
A farewell function was held at Ooraminna Station Homestead where a country music band played before an Outback barbecue dinner and awards show.

The following day, every buyer went on a tour ranging from two to four days, where they had the chance to experience the Red Centre and Australia’s Outback.

Verdict
Overall, the event was heralded as a resounding success for Tourism NT, for the sellers
(whose investment to attend was considerable), and especially for the buyers, who all left Central Australia with a new-found appreciation of just what the small ‘Outback Town’ of
Alice Springs is capable of.
Kate Nicholson