Tourism Australia Announces Virgin Australia As Platinum Sponsor

Virgin Australia has been announced as platinum sponsor and the first airline partner for Dreamtime 2013, Tourism Australia's signature activity for the growing business events market.

As platinum sponsor for Dreamtime 2013, Virgin Australia will provide international flights for buyers from Australia's key international markets as well as all domestic travel for attendees. The sponsorship is the latest example of the growing partnership between Tourism Australia and Virgin Australia.

Dreamtime 2013 will see approximately 100 international decision-making business events buyers and media converge on Melbourne from 9 to 13 December to experience the unique experience that is a business event held in Australia.

The comprehensive business program and networking events hosted by the Melbourne Convention Bureau will be followed by three days of educational visits to various locations around Australia (Adelaide, Cairns, Gold Coast, Sydney and Uluru).

Tourism Australia Managing Director Andrew McEvoy said airline partners are vitally important to promoting Australia as a destination internationally.

"Ninety-nine per cent of visitors to Australia arrive by air and so Tourism Australia works closely with airlines both overseas and domestically to fill the seats that are currently available through powerful marketing and distribution," Mr McEvoy said.

"Dreamtime is our opportunity to showcase Australia as a business events destination to international buyers, and so it is fitting that we have Virgin Australia on board as a platinum event sponsor to help us demonstrate all that Australia has to offer."

Judith Crompton, Chief Commercial Officer of Virgin Australia said, "We are proud to be the platinum airline sponsor of Dreamtime 2013. This national tourism event will showcase some of the best our country has to offer. Thanks to our alliance partnerships with some of the world's leading airlines, we are able to facilitate a seamless travel experience to Australia from over 400 international destinations.

"This new sponsorship builds on the strong partnership between Tourism Australia and Virgin Australia and we look forward to continuing to work together to promote Australia to the world," Ms Crompton said.