By Ian Neubauer

The former Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau launched its new identity as Business Events Sydney (BESydney) and outlined the next phase of its growth strategy at its annual general meeting this week.

BESydney CEO Jon Hutchison detailed $145 million worth of new events secured in the past financial year and revealed plans to further increase its bidding success in 2009 under its new partnership with Events NSW.

He said State Government funding via Events NSW had been significantly increased for the 2008-09 fiscal year, allowing a further increase in bidding activities.

“Having won 37 international events during the past financial year, we’ve now increased our target for the year ahead to 49 bid wins,” Hutchison said. “We’re already well on our way to achieving this, having secured 12 events since July 1 and we’re on track to achieve a 50 per cent increase in bid wins by 2011.

BESydney launched a number of new initiatives for 2008-09, including a new direct marketing campaign targeting national associations, international associations and Asian corporate incentive groups.

It also launched a new partnership program as part of a whole-of-city approach to winning business events for Sydney involving organisations like Sydney Airport, the City of Sydney Council, Qantas Airways and the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, among others.

“Each partner organisation will support BESydney in different ways, both financially and logistically, allowing us to tap into their expertise and resources to better support events and win further business for Sydney,” Hutchison said.

Business Events Sydney is a not-for-profit organisation funded by industry members and the NSW Government through Events NSW.  It is responsible for promoting Sydney as a business events destination and for bidding for conferences, meetings, exhibitions, incentives and other business events.