We need your voice: Government Support and Future Confidence Survey 2021
As the Commonwealth Government contemplates the need for ongoing industry-specific support arrangements from April 2021 onwards, the results of BECA’s Government Support and Future Confidence Survey will help inform State Governments of the state of the industry.
read more »BECA welcomed our new Minister’s confirmation of the Government\'s commitment to our industry
BECA has welcomed our new Minister’s confirmation of the Government\'s commitment to our industry. Our work with the Government is informing the ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of the Business Events Grants Program – making sure we’ve got the balance of support right between business event owners and business event participants. While this work in underway, we encourage all business events businesses – whether owners, delegates or exhibitors to engage with the program to ensure we can get the maximum revenue flowing through the entire supply chain as soon as possible.
read more »Border uncertainty threatening the survival of Australia’s business events industry
One month in to 2021 and the business events industry continues to face uncertainty, severe limitations and restrictions compromising its pathway to recovery and survival.
Throughout 2020, the industry invested heavily in preparing its businesses to deliver COVID Safe events in terms of protocols, training and infrastructure and has demonstrated its ability to do so safely and effectively.
Industry welcomes commencement of Government’s $50m Business Events Grant Program
BECA has welcomed the commencement of the Government’s $50 million Business Events Grants Program which was announced by the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and portfolio ministers in September 2020.
As a first phase Austrade has opened an EOI process to business event owners to establish a Schedule of Approved Business Events. BECA has urged business event owners across Australia to submit EOIs by 30 November to ensure their events can be considered for the Schedule when phase two of the grants Program opens in mid-December.
BECA survey reveals industry confidence levels for 2021
In light of the $50 million commitment to the business events industry by the federal government, BECA conducted a short survey of Australian business event owners and organisers to better understand barriers and confirm levels of confidence across 2021.
read more »Prime Minister announces $50 million injection to drive confidence for Australia’s business events
BECA welcomes the Government’s $50 million funding announcement to support the restart of Australia’s business events industry. The targeted support will drive confidence and create momentum, positioning the industry to rebound as market conditions improve.
Under the Australian Business Events Grants Program, approved business events, including meetings conventions, incentives and exhibitions, will be able to apply for upfront grants to cover up to 50 per cent of their costs (between $10,000 and $250,000). This initiative is part of the Morrison-McCormack Government’s $1 billion COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund, which supports sectors severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Joint letter to National Cabinet on the impact of internal border closures
BECA joined a coalition of peak industry bodies in a joint letter to National Cabinet on the impact of internal border closures on business confidence and certainty.
read more »BECA appears before Senate Select Committee on COVID-19
BECA appeared before the Senate Select Committee on COVID-19, represented by Dr Vanessa Findlay, Chair of BECA, and Andrew Hiebl, CEO of the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux, to reinforce the case for ongoing support for Australia’s $35.7 billion business events industry and the 229,000 people it employs.
read more »JobKeeper extension a critical lifeline but more targeted support needed to save business events
Australia’s business events industry has welcomed the Government’s extension of the JobKeeper payment as a critical lifeline for the industry but warns that more support is needed to save the industry and the thousands of jobs that hang in the balance.
On Wednesday the Business Events Council of Australia released the results of an industry-wide survey that showed JobKeeper was supporting up to 96% of industry businesses to retain employees.
read more »Business Events Recovery Framework calls for JobKeeper extension to keep the industry alive
Without an extension of the Government’s JobKeeper arrangement, the business events industry will face financial ruin. Beyond September, the business events industry will not be in full recovery mode given the long lead times to plan and promote events and for revenue to start flowing again.
Across the business events industry, the necessary cancellation of events has seen a near 100% loss of revenue.