Newcastle Convention Bureau, through their local collaboration Altogether Perfect, have been awarded the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) Innovation Award for 2014/15.
Altogether Perfect is a collaborative marketing project promoting Newcastle, Port Stephens and the Hunter Valley as venues for conferences and other business events.
The Innovation Award recognises new innovations that represent a significant transformation to bureau operations, technology and/or to the product pipeline. Bureaux competing for the award gave a TEDx style presentation at the 26th AACB Staff Conference, where voting was conducted by a combination of scores from competitor bureaux and independent judges. Each entrant highlighted specific benefits and organisational gains that have been realised from the innovation implemented and the impact it has on the business events industry and wider community.
AACB Executive Director, Andrew Hiebl, said he congratulates Newcastle on their win and the successful Altogether Perfect collaboration.
“Innovation plays an important role in helping Australia remain competitive in the national and global marketplace,” Andrew said. “AACB is pleased to recognise and celebrate new innovations and bureaux leadership.”
Business Events and Conventions Developer at Newcastle Convention Bureau, Georgia Lazzari, said that their innovative collaboration and approach with developing the Altogether Perfect campaign has been a game-changer for the broader Hunter Valley region.
“It is exciting that the AACB Staff Conference was the first business event attracted to Newcastle under the Altogether Perfect campaign,” Georgia said. “Altogether Perfect would not be possible without the dedication and support from my colleagues Danny Eather at Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association and Rebecca Morley at Destination Port Stephens ‚Äì together we thank AACB for this recognition and opportunity.”
Altogether Perfect was launched in 2014 as a collaborative marketing effort undertaken by regional partners in the broader Hunter Region to attract and secure business events tourism.
Image | Andrew Hiebl (AACB), Georgia Lazzari (Altogether Perfect), Danny Eather (Altogether Perfect)
