Ayers Rock Resort has forecast it will finish the next financial year with business events up 50% on the previous corresponding period as it beds down its Uluru Meeting Place facility.
The meetings space, which officially launched in November, is one of a number of changes implemented by the Voyages Indigenous Tourism since it was appointed management firm at the resort in May 2011.
Voyages executive general manager Ray Stone told The Nibbler that the forecast is based on bookings already received and is a "conservative" estimate of conversions.
"That segment, which was about 3% of our business, will move to between 15% and 20% of our total business by next year, within two years of Meeting Place's launch," he said.
To date, between 90% and 95% of the events held at the resort have been domestic, but the resort recently hosted two business events from China, one with 65 delegates and the other with 40.
The facilities include two meetings rooms – one with capacity for up to 180 delegates banquet-style and another with capacity for up to 280 in a ballroom configuration or for up to 400 in a general seating arrangement. In addition there are four break-out rooms.
Stone also revealed the resort will host a "major cultural event" next year over the Anzac Day weekend to incorporate culinary events, dance, music, performances, fashion and art.
"There will be a wide range of indigenous activities and elements with support from the local community," he said. "It’s a big weekend, so we would be looking at a sell-out with between 1200 and 1400 people."
More details will be released in the coming months, he added.
