Pirate ships, buried treasure, sailing regattas, and racing through sand dunes on quad bikes were all on offer as Business Events Sydney (BESydney) hosted six of India’s leading MICE agents in late September.
The agents enjoyed a four-day uniquely Sydney experience and were treated to a sample of what adventures await companies looking to hold incentive trips in Australia’s leading business event destination.
One agent commented: “This was my first trip to Sydney. Before I arrived I had an idea of what to expect, but it was so much more. I had such a wonderful experience; Sydney is amazing! There is so much to see and do, not only in the city, but in surrounding areas.”
The group visited some of Sydney’s most iconic landmarks, including experiencing the thrilling BridgeClimb, and roared their way through the city streets on Harley Davidsons all the way to the golden beaches of Bondi.
Known for unique wildlife, the group also visited WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo where they had an up-close-and-personal encounter with kangaroos and echidnas. As a nod to the two nations’ joint love of cricket, the group also enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of the Sydney Cricket Ground.
One agent commented: “For many people the BridgeClimb will be on their bucket list, and for me, I can now say I have ticked it off mine. There are beautiful views over the city with the Opera House in the distance, and you can watch all the cruisers going around the harbour.”
Heading out of the city the group embarked on a two-day regional experience, sampling the best of the state’s northern wonders, including quad biking, an Indigenous experience, pirate ship adventures, and dolphin watching in Port Stephens. The group also enjoyed some well-earned downtime in the internationally renowned Hunter Valley, where they enjoyed wine tasting and a stunning lunch at one of the leading wineries.
The event comes at an opportune time for the Indian MICE market. In the last 24-months the number of Indian incentives travelling to Sydney has doubled, and this shows no sign of slowing down. Renowned the world over for stunning natural landscapes, iconic landmarks, and experiences that create lifelong memories, Sydney is a drawcard destination for Indian companies looking to reward, motivate and inspire their teams.
In 2016, the city delivered seven Indian incentive events, and year-to-date in 2017, Sydney has welcomed 11 incentive events with an economic impact worth A$14.3million from India secured by BESydney.
“We are seeing significant growth from the Indian market in terms of both number of events and number of event participants. We’re confident that the rise in delegate attendance can be attributed to Sydney’s appeal as an attractive, welcoming, world-class destination,” added Lyn Lewis-Smith, CEO, BESydney.
“Sydney’s iconic destination appeal and ability to deliver exceptional events with the help of our strong partner offerings are favourites with the Indian market. And, let’s not forget Sydney and New South Wales (NSW) also have so much to offer India’s cricket-loving population,” said Ms Lewis-Smith.
