Key industry communicators to present at first ever industry summit

Australia’s first ever event focusing on enhancing communication and marketing activities across all sectors of the leisure industry is to be addressed by leading industry professionals – who will equip delegates with essential skills in this vital management discipline.

Being presented at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on Thursday 24th August, the Leisure Industry Communication and Marketing Summit and Awards aims to be informative, enjoyable, intelligent, stimulating and essential.

In staging this first ever event of this type for the leisure industry, Australasian Leisure Management Publisher and event organiser Nigel Benton explains “the leisure industry and its diverse sectors have a very variable approach to communications and marketing.

“At its best, the industry has many operators who are exceptionally effective in how they communicate and it’s from these areas that we are drawing the speakers and panellists who will address the Summit - specialists in aquatic, attraction, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venue management - who have invaluable insights and experience to share.

“However, from my experience there are a significant number of organisations and professionals who don’t understand the fundamentals of effective communications and marketing and its importance in businesses relations with customers, the media and key markets.

“As a result, the activity is often ignored, under resourced and even feared.”

Benton emphasises that effective communications and marketing is about reputation and building the credibility of a brand, service or activity – assets vital to any business, service or activity.

As a result, the Leisure Industry Communication and Marketing Summit will address the principals and importance of effective communications and marketing as well as providing practical examples that delegates can immediately put into action in their workplace.

Benton adds “there are communications and marketing fundamentals that every business should have in place and we hope that by providing these tools leisure industry operators and professionals will be more effective in building their brands and reputation.”

A panel session at the summit, ‘Marketing and communications and its role in boosting your bottom line’ will explain why good communication and marketing isn’t an add-on but is a key part of any businesses activity.

This session will be addressed by leading industry practitioners Davin Miller (pictured), Chief Executive Australasia, Transaction Services Group - the owners of billing company Debitsuccess; Phil Heads, General Manager – Media, Communications and Government Relations, Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust; and Nigel Miller, Managing Director of 24/7 gym group Plus Fitness.

The Summit will also address the role of communications and marketing in the fast changing of social media.

Here, Benton advises “social media is having a seismic impact on communications and marketing but businesses need to have an imaginative and comprehensive range of approaches in place to be effective in this space – and need to behave differently to how individuals use social media.

“As an example, the ‘#awesome’ approach that many businesses adopt is often too simplistic and fails to engage vital audiences.”

Equally, Benton stresses that ignoring social media is not an option, commenting “for businesses who chose to not be active on social media, it is likely that they have a presence on social media through customer or member comments about their products or services.

“Businesses need to be aware of what is being said about them as there is always the potential for a disgruntled member or patron’s complaint goes viral.”

The Leisure Industry Communication and Marketing Summit will also include sessions on emergency and crisis management and the presentation of the second Leisure Industry Communication and Marketing Awards. 

The Summit and Awards are being held at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on Thursday 24th August

Click here for more information and/or to register for the Leisure Industry Communication and Marketing Summit and Awards. 

Click here to view event details in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar. 

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