Conference and events recovery gathers pace
New data from national C&E business Discovery Conferences and Events shows the recovery of Australia’s events industry is gathering pace, led by strong forward bookings for weddings and a return of large corporate and multi-day events.
Discovery Conferences and Events, a dedicated national events business that was launched earlier this year by Australia’s largest regional accommodation provider, the G’day Group, has seen a strong uplift in demand across its portfolio.
Forecasts for the year ahead show wedding bookings up 48% on the 2021-22 financial year and larger corporate events up by around 40%. With its event venues offering co-located accommodation, Discovery Conferences and Events has also seen a 40% uplift in room nights booked as part of corporate events as businesses increase their focus on multi-day gatherings to help their staff reconnect and rebuild team culture.
Discovery Conferences and Events General Manager Victoria Fox said that the increased demand for weddings and large corporate events demonstrated that confidence is returning to the C&E sector.
“While we saw the green shoots of an event industry recovery begin to emerge during the past financial year, the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 meant there was a hesitancy among our customers to book big corporate events and weddings,” she said.
“However, our pipeline of bookings is showing that confidence is returning with huge demand in particular for wedding bookings after so many people had their big day postponed over the past two years.”
“With businesses looking to rebuild team culture, we’re also seeing great interest in event getaways to unique regional destinations right around the country.”
Launched in April 2022, the Discovery Conferences and Events brand brings together unique regional event offerings at a range of properties owned by the G’day Group, including Discovery Kings Canyon, Glen Helen and Rottnest Island, as well as the Adelaide Hills Convention Centre at Discovery Hahndorf Resort and the Victor Harbor Convention Centre at McCracken Country Club.
The company recently launched a dedicated website to provide a more seamless and connected customer experience. Visit: www.discoveryevents.com.au
For more information, contact: Myles Wallace, G’day Group Communications Manager, 0432 866 094 or email mwallace@gdaygroup.com.au
About G’day Group
Founded by Grant Wilckens in 2004 with three caravan parks in WA, G’day Group is now Australia’s leader in regional accommodation experiences with more than 300 properties across the country.
G’day Group is home to Discovery Parks, a network of more than 85 owned and operated properties, including iconic regional resorts at Kings Canyon, Rottnest Island and the world famous El Questro. The company also owns G’day Parks, a network of 220+ independently owned licensed parks and more than 200,000 G’day Rewards members, and Australia’s number one regional travel community, Wikicamps.
G’day Group reached $1 billion status in 2020 and has ambitions to double in size in the next five years. The company is majority owned by Australian Retirement Trust and founder and CEO Grant Wilckens is the Chair of the Caravan Industry Association of Australia and a Board Director of the South Australian Tourism Commission.
