Summit looks to enhance industry communication, awards recognise marketing excellence

With less than two weeks until the inaugural Leisure Industry Communication and Marketing Summit and Awards 2017 there is still time for delegates to book the limited number of places available.

Being held at ANZ Stadium, Sydney on Thursday 24th August 2017, the full-day event is the first time that the leisure industry and its key sectors - aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues  - will have had the opportunity to focus on key (non-sales) elements of marketing.

It will cover:

• Effective communication to build brands, reputation and profit
• Dealing with scrutiny
• Communication and marketing in the age of social media
• Planning for crisis and emergency communications

Explaining the thinking behind the Summit, event organiser Nigel Benton, Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management magazine, explains that “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.”

Crises and Emergency
The afternoon of the Summit will focus crisis and emergency communications, something every organisation should plan and prepare for.

Yet, Benton sees that in the last year or so, there have been a number of notable instances were crisis and emergency communications have been handled poorly, with a resulting impact on performance and reputation.

Media relations relating to the fatal incident on Dreamworld’s Thunder River Rapids ride last October, the performance drugs scandal that focused on the Essendon Bombers and Cronulla Sharks, ongoing issues of ticket scalping and bots at major events, the Waikato Chiefs stripper incident along with a range of incidents that have impacted major sports, were, Benton explains one of the key motivations for bringing the Summit together.

He adds “the afternoon of the event will feature presentations, panel discussions and case studies on the effective communication in crisis and emergency situations - something no business or organisation can afford to miss.”

Second Leisure Industry Communication and Marketing Awards
The Summit will also see the presentation of the Second Leisure Industry Communication and Marketing Awards, recognising leisure industry communication and marketing excellence among individuals, organisations, businesses and government in Australia and New Zealand.

Commenting on submissions for the Awards, which are presented in 14 categories, Australasian Leisure Management Editor Karen Sweaney stated “we are flabbergasted by the number and quality of nominations and entries that we have had for the awards ... we truly didn’t expect the level of response that we have received.

“What is wonderful is that these high quality submissions show the extraordinary level of professionalism and achievement in communication and marketing in the leisure industry.

“The only problem we are going to have is judging the awards as for every winner there will be multiple submissions that we can’t reward.”

The Leisure Industry Communication and Marketing Summit and Awards 2017 are being held at ANZ Stadium, Sydney on Thursday 24th August 2017

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

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