Perth, Western Australia © Tourism Australia
Meet a planner
Meet Melvyn C. Nonis, Co-Founder and Director of M.I.C.E Matters Pte. Ltd. who planned the AIA Achievers incentive program for 1,400 delegates to Perth.
You recently held an incentive program in Australia - why is Australia appealing for incentive groups?
There is cyclical interest in Australia as a business events destination. Australia's unique culture and range of experiences for groups is appealing. For groups from Singapore, the proximity to Australia is a benefit, it is not a long journey, and the currency exchange against the Singapore dollar is also attractive. The Australian business events industry has a strong reputation in managing programs for large and small groups. We brought more than 1,400 delegates to Perth in one wave in May, deemed to be the largest incentive program from South East Asia for 2025.
What was a highlight during the Perth program?
The Pinnacles, Western Australia © M.I.C.E Matters
Sandboarding, 4WD Sand dune bashing and tailored team bonding experiences at Lancelin Sand Dunes on the Pinnacles Desert tour followed by lobster lunch at the Lobster Shack at Cervantes for 200 of the group’s premier qualifiers was definitely a highlight. These custom activities were designed to celebrate the achievements of our premier delegates with unique and unforgettable moments in Western Australia.
Tell us about a dining experience that you would want to book again?
For Perth and this group size, I would book an exclusive themed dinner and bespoke show at Sandalford Wines in the Swan Valley - 35 minutes from Perth. Guests were welcomed with a cocktail function, followed by a four-course gala dinner hosted in the winery’s purpose built marquee. The evening culminated with a spectacular Drone Show to top it all off.
Farm to table dining experiences with Australian wine pairings at a winery were also very popular with the group.
What was a unique wildlife experience that delegates enjoyed?
Caversham Wildlife Park, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia
More than 1,000 delegates participated in the hosted tour of Caversham Wildlife Park. They enjoyed a special arrival and an exclusive program featuring guided animal encounters and presentations designed to immerse participants in Western Australia’s unique wildlife.
What was one of the surprise and delight moments for delegates during their stay?
Sandalford Wines, Western Australia © MICE Matters
The Drone Show at the end of the gala dinner at Sandalford Wines wowed our delegates. With the clear sky for a backdrop, 400 drones lit up the night with 13 different scenes. Guests witnessed formations of a quokka, cowboy, cactus, didgeridoo as well as the AIA logo and AIA one team logo. This was an unforgettable 7-minute show for our guests.
How many days is the ideal time for incentive groups to explore Australia?
In general, the ideal timeframe for an Australian incentive would be 4 days / 3 nights.
What other Aussie destinations would you recommend for an incentive program?
We have also run successful programs in Cairns, a destination that can also tailor programs for large groups and we would recommend Uluṟu in Australia’s Red Centre for smaller incentive groups.
Tell us about the process for getting visas for your delegates?
MICE Matters had guidance from Team Australia– they recommended the list of qualifers be subbmitted to the International Event Coordinator Network (IECN) in advance. This helped make the visa process very smooth.
What would you say to clients who are thinking about hosting an incentive program in Australia?
Having just successfully completed a large corporate incentive group to Perth, I will be telling my clients that Australia has much to offer as a business events destination. Our Aussie partners understand business events programs and offer their experience and resources to collaborate in the design and execution of seamless and memorable incentive experiences. We will not hesitate to recommend Australia to our clients.
