Visit Sunshine Coast was on tour last week to promote business events on its picturesque coastal beaches and stunning hinterland as it hosted the 2024 Sunshine Soiree at the IVY Sydney.
Much like recent travel trends that point toward travellers seeking out the road less travelled, event professionals working in the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences & exhibitions) sector have also turned to quieter destinations for business travel and events.
“The Sunshine Coast is now on the map a lot more now than it used to be as a business events destination,” Visit Sunshine Coast head of business events Ali Thompson told Travel Weekly at the event.
“There’s also a high demand for regional destinations now where people can escape the city and have a different kind of experience in the open air wide open spaces, beaches, hinterland et cetera,”
“The coast is superbly easy from the minute you get to the airport, you can touch down on the tarmac and be at your hotel in ten minutes, kick your shoes off and be having your welcome event on the beach, cocktail in hand.
“Most of the properties in the Sunshine Coast region are within a 20 to 25-minute radius from the airport.”
The event itself showcased 18 products in the region ranging from Australia Zoo to Sunshine & Sons Distillery to the Oaks Oasis Resort in Caloundra.
Each representative highlighted their business’s respective accommodation options, venue choices, enticing incentives and array of local products available.
Thompson told us the idea behind the Sunshine Soiree is to help promote the destination to the wider industry.
“The reason we do the Sunshine Soiree is really to educate our audience and to build brand awareness, relationships and friendships,” she said.
“The Sunny Coast is a regional place so people do get to know each other and people love to work with people that they like.
“This is all about building awareness, relationships and educating our buyers, event professionals on what the Sunshine Coast has to offer.”
2024 Sunshine Soiree product showcase
- Accor Sunshine Coast
- Australia Zoo
- Evoke Experiences
- Holiday Inn Express and Suites Sunshine Coast
- Kingfisher Bay Resort
- Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort
- Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort
- Spicers Clovelly Estate
- Spicers Tamarind Retreat
- Sunshine Coast Airport
- Sunshine Beach Surf Club
- Sunshine & Sons Distillery
- Sunreef
- The Station
- Tourism Noosa
