Tourism Australia revises Business Events Advance Program to support industry in COVID-19 recovery

Tourism Australia’s specialist business events unit, Business Events Australia, has opened applications for a revamped Advance Program for next financial year FY20/21, with a focus on supporting the business events industry.

The Advance Program is a partnership marketing initiative that provides financial assistance to Australian industry to support marketing and distribution projects aimed at driving business events visitation to Australia.

The program for FY20/21 has been reviewed to increase industry access to the funding on offer. Changes include greater access for smaller projects by lowering the minimum amount requested for each project to $10,000; offering two rounds of applications each year; and streamlining the application process.

Tourism Australia Executive General Manager of Events, Penny Lion advises“we know this is a challenging time for the industry and as we work on our long term recovery plans, we’re looking for every opportunity to support the industry’s re-emergence post-COVID-19.

“We’re hoping that alterations to the application process for the Advance Program will drive innovation in internationally focussed Australian business events marketing and distribution initiatives and, ultimately, drive demand culminating in more business for Australian industry.

“This is an opportunity for industry to turn ambitious and effective ideas from concept into reality through a partnership with Business Events Australia.

“We strongly encourage industry to put forward concepts to be considered for the Advance Program funding, especially during this time where working together to position Australia is so important.”

Projects supported by the Advance Program in previous years include Melbourne Convention Bureau’s Melbourne Virtual Site Visit, which has received international acclaim, winning Best AR, VR or Mixed Reality Experience at the Skift Global Forum in New York in 2019.

Applications for the program can be completed online via the Business Events Australia website. The first round of applications closes on Monday 1st June at 5pm AEST. The second round of applications will open on Monday 9th November and close Monday 30th November at 5pm AEDT. 

Full details of the Advance Program can be found in the Advance Program Prospectus. The Business Events Australia team will also run a webinar to explain and answer questions about the program and the application process at 2pm AEST on Thursday 30th April. Register for the webinar online here.

For more information on Business Events Australia head to www.businessevents.australia.com.

Image courtesy of Tourism Australia