The annual event, which is delivered by Tourism Australia, will involve a hybrid format that brings together in-person and virtual components to ensure the tourism industry can meet, exchange knowledge, and establish important business connections.
The in-person component of the tradeshow, ATE Live, will take place from 6 to 9 June 2021 at the ICC Sydney, enabling international buyers based in Australia or New Zealand, as well as domestic buyers and frontline travel sellers, to meet with Australian tourism operators.
A virtual version of the event, ATE Online, will follow from 10 to 17 June 2021 for all other international buyers who are unable to travel to Australia.
To provide assistance to the industry after enduring the most challenging year on record, Tourism Australia will be offering fully subsidised participation fees to the event along with three nights’ accommodation for sellers and buyers along with flights for buyers.
Tourism Australia Managing Director Phillipa Harrison said that participation in ATE is more important than ever to support the industry’s recovery.
“After what has been such a challenging period for tourism, we’re thrilled to be able to bring so many of our friends and colleagues from across the industry together for this year’s ATE event,” Ms Harrison said.
“The tradeshow will provide an opportunity for operators to network and do business with wholesalers and agents from around the world, ensuring valuable links between Australian operators and the global distribution network continue especially while travel to Australia is on hold.”
ATE21 will involve a number of changes, including a revised layout with traditional seller booths being replaced by networking areas defined by each of the States and Territories, and appointments taking place throughout the trade show floor instead of seller booths. Priority will also be given to past attendees and sellers in bushfire affected areas.
ATE typically brings together around 600 travel wholesalers and agents (travel buyers) from more than 30 countries with 1,500 Australian tourism operators (sellers) for four days of face-to-face meetings, networking opportunities and educational famils in the host city. The most recent ATE event was held in Perth in 2019.
Applications for ATE21 will open on 17 February and close on 19 March.
