Sydney stages largest ATE event in a decade

Tourism Australia’s annual business-to-business event Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) returned to Sydney this week, bringing together more than 2,500 tourism industry delegates from 30 countries, making it the biggest ATE in nearly a decade.

ATE17 began at the International Convention Centre Sydney on Monday (15th May), with tourism  wholesalers and retailers from around the world meeting with more than 550 Australian tourism businesses.

Tourism Australia Managing Director John O’Sullivan said it was a great time to be hosting ATE in Sydney, commenting “as many as 50,000 business appointments are held during ATE, providing an invaluable opportunity for Australian tourism businesses to connect with key international travel wholesalers and retailers responsible for putting Australian holidays in the hands of consumers in our key overseas markets.

“The connections made at ATE help deliver around three million visitors each year, spending up to $8.5 billion whilst they are here, thereby helping to further grow our visitor economy.

“Holding ATE at the newly opened $1.5 billion ICC Sydney is also timely as it is one of many new infrastructure developments that is encouraging unprecedented investment in the city’s hotel sector - further bolstering Sydney’s and Australia’s credentials as a world-class tourism destination.”

On Tuesday night, delegates gathered at a special harbourside location for Destination NSW’s showcase event where some of the state’s finest produce was on show.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Sandra Chipchase said the aim of the event was to take people on “an incredible NSW food journey”.

She added “NSW is home to fourteen wine regions, renowned fruit, beef, pork and truffle farms, and over 2000 kilometres of coastline bursting with fresh seafood and local produce, some of which our guests will be able to enjoy and savour.”

Images: ICC Sydney from the air (top) and vineyards in the NSW Hunter Valley (below).

17th May 2017 - TOURISM AUSTRALIA ANNIVERSARY TO BE CELEBRATED WITH EEAA MENTORING DINNER

15th May 2017 - SYDNEY WELCOMES MORE THAN 2,500 TOURISM INDUSTRY DELEGATES FOR ATE 2017 

30th November 2016 - SHOWTIME AT NEW ICC SYDNEY 

9th September 2016 - VIVID SYDNEY INJECTS $110 MILLION INTO THE NSW ECONOMY 

15th May 2016 - QUEENSLAND READY TO SHINE AT AUSTRALIAN TOURISM EXCHANGE 2016 

13th April 2016 - EVENTS A MAGNET FOR OVERSEAS VISITORS

6th April 2016 - ATEC LAUNCHES NEW PROGRAM TO BOOST INBOUND TOURISM