Events evolution in Darwin

Australia’s Darwin Convention Centre general manager Peter Savoff says it’s been a record-breaking year for attendance at the venue and shares his view of future strategic development of the business: Tell us about the recent successes of the Darwin Convention Centre in delivering big events in 2023. What factors do you attribute to these successes? 2023 has been a standout year for the Darwin Convention Centre. We’ve had conferences reporting record-breaking delegate registrations, while our Centre has had the highest-ever recorded national delegate attendance numbers since it opened in 2008, with international attendance having also returned to pre-pandemic figures. This is great news because it means that people are excited to travel again and will even go that extra mile to attend a conference in a unique and vibrant regional destination such as Darwin. We are increasingly finding that conference organisers are looking for destinations that will provide their delegates the opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of bigger cities, slow down and have more time to network and create meaningful connections – and Darwin hits on all points. The Darwin Convention Centre has been in operation for 15 years now. What are some of the key milestones and achievements during this time that you are particularly proud of? The Darwin Convention Centre is managed by ASM Global. With 15 years of operation at the Centre, we have celebrated remarkable achievements that stand as a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. The Centre has become internationally recognised as a world-class venue that consistently delivers extraordinary events for its clients. In recent years our commitment to business excellence and delivering outstanding customer service has been recognised in major industry awards programmes including, winning Gold at the 2021 Australian Tourism Awards for Best Business Events Venue in Australia and receiving a sixth-place global ranking in the latest AIPC APEX Awards, which recognises the best convention centres in the world, based entirely upon client ratings. We also participate in a number of benchmarking programmes that ensure we are consistently delivering world-class service and continuously improving year-on-year. Darwin is known for its diverse industries, including agribusiness, mining, resources, and health. How has the Darwin Convention Centre actively engaged with and supported these key sectors in hosting events and conferences? As the Northern Territory’s premier conference venue, the Darwin Convention Centre plays a key role in attracting international business events to Darwin – focusing primarily on those that align with our region’s key industry sector strengths. We lead and manage international convention bids for the city, working closely with the Northern Territory Business Events team and offering a range of services to local and national organisations wishing to bid for and host international conferences in Darwin. In 2021, we launched our Bid Champion Grant programme, designed to support increased awareness of Darwin and Australia’s Northern Territory as an outstanding business events destination by providing successful applicants the opportunity to receive funding as a bid champion and act as a global ambassador for our region. Thanks to the success of the programme, we launched Round 2 of applications in 2022, and will soon launch Round 3. In what ways has the Darwin Convention Centre contributed to the economic development and growth of the Northern Territory through its events and conferences? The Darwin Convention Centre contributes significantly to the economic development and growth of the Northern Territory by attracting national and international events, which bring in delegates, exhibitors and visitors from all over the world. These events stimulate local tourism, hospitality and the service industry, leading to increased economic activity, job creation and business opportunities in the region. Delegate contribution to the Darwin economy from those attending a conference at the Darwin Convention Centre was estimated to be more than A$67.5m for the 2023 financial year – a record for the Centre! Forward bookings show that it will probably be even better this financial year, with close to 20,000 national and international delegates expected. What kind of support can organisers expect when hosting a conference at the Darwin Convention Centre?   The Darwin Convention Centre strives to connect conference organisers with Northern Territory businesses that can support their events, and it is our city’s tight-knit tourism and events community that allows us to seamlessly provide end-to-end support in the planning and delivery of business events. Associations choosing to stage their conference in Darwin can easily connect with local experts, get government leaders to speak at their events, and host field visits to educational research centres, industry sites or remote communities. Additionally, we work closely with our local convention bureau, Northern Territory Business Events, who administers the Northern Territory Business Events Support Fund, which provides funding assistance to qualified organisers. Priority is given to business events that align with the Northern Territory’s economic and social strengths. Darwin offers unique cultural opportunities for visitors. How does the Darwin Convention Centre incorporate and promote local culture and traditions within its events? The Darwin Convention Centre acknowledges the Larrakia people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which the Centre stands. We enjoy a close relationship with Larrakia Nation and work with local Indigenous organisations to provide meaningful cultural experiences for delegates. Conference organisers can easily incorporate a meaningful Welcome to Country ceremony to the start of an event at our Centre. Delegates can also participate in a Larrakia Saltwater ceremony in the nearby Darwin Waterfront Precinct Lagoon, where visitors can enjoy stepping into ankle-deep water while a Larrakia Elder invites them to make a deep connection to the land and sea. Participation in these traditional ceremonies is frequently noted by delegates as one of the highlights of their Darwin conference experience because the cultural immersion is real and powerful. The development of an A$40m Larrakia Cultural Centre, set to be built next door to the Convention Centre, will only serve to enhance this experience for delegates. The Cultural Centre is expected to be completed within the next two years and will create a permanent place for the Larrakia people to share, celebrate and showcase their rich Larrakia Country, language, culture and knowledge. Can you address the question of access to Darwin, including flight routes? Darwin is Australia’s northern-most capital city and is very close to SE Asia. In just three to five hours’ flying time, delegates from across Australia and Asia can converge in Darwin. International and domestic carriers fly direct to Darwin from major Australian cities daily, and there are also regular direct services from Denpasar and Singapore. This means that international delegates from the UK, Europe, Middle East and the USA can easily access Darwin directly via Singapore and Indonesia. Have there been any recent developments or partnerships with airlines or travel agencies to enhance accessibility to Darwin for event delegates? Air access to Darwin is one of the biggest post-pandemic challenges we face, both nationally and internationally. Our local airport authority, together with the NT Government are constantly in discussions with our SE Asian neighbours, working with them to re-establish the air routes previously enjoyed, because many of their capital cities are already well-known hubs for international travel. Can you elaborate on the Darwin Convention Centre’s efforts to promote sustainability and eco-friendly practices in its operations? The Darwin Convention Centre has implemented a range of initiatives aimed at minimising our environmental impact and operating as one of the most environmentally responsible venues in Australia. With a focus on continuous improvement, we have achieved the Bronze Benchmarking Standard through EarthCheck and are committed to working towards achieving a Certified Silver Status. We also take great pride in regularly tracking our environmental performance in line with our parent company’s ASM Global Acts programme, by measuring energy consumption, water usage and waste diversion. This allows us to easily identify areas for improvement and implement targeted strategies, using a data-driven approach to set meaningful goals and monitor our progress over time to ensure we are continually moving toward a more sustainable future. Our Green Team also plays a pivotal role in our sustainability efforts. It meets monthly to discuss ongoing initiatives and brainstorm new ideas for delivering sustainable practices. As the general manager, what do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities for the Darwin Convention Centre in the coming years, especially considering the changing landscape of hosting events? We boast a magnificent, tropical destination enveloped by natural beauty and ancient culture, but for many international delegates Darwin is on the other side of the world. Therefore, to justify the success of hosting a global conference, we must work so much harder with the local business events industry, to demonstrate that we have the technology and capability to also produce carbon neutral conferences in Australia. However, our location and proximity to SE Asia is something we can also use to our advantage. Ongoing research conducted by Tourism Australia confirms that Australia remains one of the most aspirational destinations in the world to hold a business event. When a conference organiser from SE Asia factors in the distance and expense to travel afar, Darwin and our internationally awarded convention centre present the perfect solution – and we are only half the flying time, compared to reaching any other Australian city.