Ayers Rock Resort looks on track to grow its business events side of the business by 30% this year, despite a “somewhat tougher” market.
Executive general manager Ray Stone told The Nibbler that recent developments to its business events offering spearheaded by its Uluru Meeting Place conference centre are showing results.
“There are a lot of things happening on the business events side,” he said. “We’ve also added some service elements in the corporate social responsibility area.”
New offerings included the launch of a range of business events focused guest activities and CSR offerings.
The addition of new activities targeted at the business events community at Ayers Rock Resort has been well received with business events now accounting for 8% of overall business – up from between 2% and 3% just two years ago when it first opened its Uluru Meeting Place conference centre.
The significant growth puts its target of a 12-15% share of overall business being made up of business events well within its sights, according to Stone.
“Last year we saw a 50% increase in business events over the year before,” he revealed. “This year we didn’t expect to see another 50% rise, but 30% is a good solid increase over the year before.”
More new product is on its way, with a mountain biking trail around the base of Uluru on the cards along with a number of new events.
The Tjungu cultural festival, scheduled to take place over Anzac weekend later this month, looks set to sell out in its inaugural year. Then, there is the Astronomy Weekend to be hosted by TV and radio personality Dr Karl in August, offering guests a unique look into the skies with both a scientific and a cultural slant.
And, of course, there is the Royal Visit. Prince William and Prince Kate, along with baby George, will arrive in Uluru on April 22 for an overnight stay. They will visit the resort’s National Indigenous Training Academy where they will hand out certificates and meet some of the trainees before spending some time at the base of Uluru with the land’s traditional owners.
“That’s obviously going to get some significant coverage, possibly even more than we’ve anticipated, not only from Australia and the UK but other markets too,” Stone predicted.
Unsurprisingly, the resort is fully booked that weekend, he added.
Stone highlighted the main challenge on the business events side as “more pressure on pricing” but was unfazed.
“Things are going along nicely,” he said. “This is going to be an exciting year for us.
