Cairns business events executive wins national prize

Eleanor Wilkie

An emerging leader at Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef has won a national prize through the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux Scholarship Program.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) General Manager Rosie Douglas congratulated Business Development Manager Eleanor Wilkie on winning the 2018 Destinations Marketing International Prize.

“This award is designed to recognise young leaders working in the business events industry within destination marketing organisations such as TTNQ,” Ms Douglas said.

“Eleanor started as our team’s marketing assistant three years ago and her willingness to multi-task and learn new skills has seen her career progress rapidly.

“Her predecessor Emma Perez won the award two years ago which is a real credit to Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef as we are one of the smallest bureaux in Australia.”

“Eleanor’s video discussing what excites her about her work, what is unique about Cairns & Great Barrier Reef, and what is needed to be successful in this competitive marketplace was outstanding.”

Ms Wilkie said it was important for young people working in the business events industry to embrace how quickly the industry was changing and be agile in their thinking to remain competitive.

“Every business events win is celebrated in our region as it is not just growing our local economy, but enhancing the profile of our region and business events to a global audience,” she said.

“The knowledge transfer that business events bring helps promote local tropical expertise which is also important to our region’s economy.”

As well as registration at the Destination Marketing Association International 2018 Annual Convention on July 10-13 in Anaheim, California, Ms Wilkie will receive accommodation, return travel to the US with Qantas and $1000 for incidentals.

Ms Wilkie will also be required to present at the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux Annual Conference on the Sunshine Coast in August on her learnings from the convention and how these can benefit the business events sector.

Watch the award-winning submission at https://youtu.be/zck8b-eW6Ik