Industry Organisations

Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB)
Phone: +61 2 9326 9133       
Email: mike.cannon@aacb.org.au

Association of Australian Convention Bureaux is an umbrella organisation representing 15 city and regional convention bureaux.

The AACB members are:

·         Adelaide Convention Tourism Authority

·         Brisbane Marketing Convention Bureau

·         Business Events Sydney 

·         Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

·         Business Events Geelong

·         Canberra Convention Bureau

·         Gold Coast Tourism Business Events Unit

·         Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau

·         Newcastle Visitor & Convention Bureau

·         Northern Territory Convention Bureau

·         Perth Convention Bureau

·         Sunshine Coast Convention Bureau

·         Tasmanian Convention Bureau

·         Tourism Whitsundays

·         Townsville Convention Bureau

Business Events Council of Australia (BECA)
Phone: +61 2 9969 1400                   
Email: elizabethrich@a1.com.au

The Business Events Council of Australia is a coalition of national associations with an interest in business events. BECA’s members comprise the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB); the Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA); the Australian Chapter of the International Convention and Congress Association (ICCA); the Australian Convention Centres Group (ACCG); Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) and MEA’s Meetings Managers Special Interest Group.

BECA’s objectives include communicating industry views to government and Tourism Australia. The council coordinates industry-wide research and forms positions on issues of common interest developments affecting the business events industry.


Exhibition and Event Association of Australia (EEAA)
Phone: +61 2 9452 7538                   
Email: info@eeaa.com.au

Exhibition and Event Association of Australia represents the exhibition and event industry in Australia and New Zealand. EEAA members include exhibition organisers, venues and service organisations involved in the exhibition and event industry. The association’s primary objective is the growth of the exhibition and event industry.

International Special Events Society (ISES)
Phone: +61 2 9967 8240
Email: hub@ises.org.au

International Special Events Society is a worldwide organisation with over 5,000 members. Its Australasian affiliate has chapters in Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland. The society educates, advances and promotes the special events industry. Its members include special event producers, caterers, florists, decorators and photographers, audiovisual and transport operators.

Meetings & Events Australia (MEA)
Phone: +61 2 9929 5400
Email: mea@mea.org.au

Meetings & Events Australia is a national, independent not-for-profit organisation dedicated to fostering professionalism and excellence in all aspects of meetings management. It promotes the value and effectiveness of meetings as an important high-yield sector of business travel and tourism. MEA offers professional development programs, accreditation and recognition. It disseminates information and provides a forum for its members to discuss current issues and represents the industry to government. The organisation facilitates business-to-business relationships and encourages better business practices for the sector.

Tourism and Transport Forum Australia (TTF Australia)
Phone: +61 2 9240 2000
Email: contact@ttf.org.au

TTF Australia is the peak industry group for the tourism, transport and infrastructure sectors. As a national, member-funded chief executive forum, TTF advocates the public policy interests of the 200 most prestigious corporations and institutions in Australian tourism, transport, property, infrastructure and investment.

It engages with government decision makers on a broad range of tourism and transport issues, including aviation, major events, hotel investment and planning and the sector’s credentials on sustainability and climate change.

Australian Government Support

International Event Coordinator Network (IECN) - Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Phone: +61 1300 550 684
Email: iecn@immi.gov.au

For business event organisers, the International Event Coordinator Network is a valuable starting point. The IECN consists of skilled immigration staff, who provide visa advice and facilitate the processing of visa applications of international visitors wishing to participate in events.

The staff assist with events such as academic conferences, economic forums, medical conventions, IT exhibitions and sporting tournaments. They provide advice on the most suitable visas for business and other event visitors. With visas taking four to six weeks to process, event organisers are encouraged to contact the IECN as early as possible to ensure smooth visa coordination. IECN coordinators are available in each State or Territory office of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

Austrade
Phone: 132 878 (within Australia only)
Email: info@austrade.gov.au