Delegates get naturally immersed in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef educational

Nineteen Australian meeting planners, including two media delegates, experienced an early May immersion in the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef region, undertaking a four-day programme. The new-look event ‘BE Immersed: Cairns & Great Barrier Reef’, 6-9 May, evolved from the long-running Sell TNQ educational programme. Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef general manager Rosie Douglas said BE Immersed successfully showcased the region’s business events products and capability, highlighting new hotels, offsite venues, and expanding infrastructure. “With meeting planners eager to start work on reactivating the business events industry, it is timely to welcome our fellow industry partners to the region, in person and following Covid-Safe procedures,” she said. The group toured the newly refurbished Cairns Convention Centre, nearby hotels and offsite venues and participated in one-on-one appointments with Cairns suppliers before dining under the stars overlooking the marina. Day 2 started with an aquarium breakfast, hotel site inspections, and a look at the rainforest canopy aboard a cableway. There were drinks during the golden hour of the sun setting in the middle of cane field and dinner in the middle of a disused World War II naval oil storage tank. The group then journeyed north on Day 3, meeting Port Douglas suppliers and exploring business events venues, hanging out with the local wildlife and a Dreamtime experience in Mossman Gorge. Delegates got to visit two waterfront Hemingway’s Breweries, with head brewer presentations. BE Immersed: Cairns & Great Barrier Reef is an annual educational programme and applications for next year’s event can be submitted throughout the year.