Sydney has been shining in May with Business Events Sydney (BESydney) achieving top industry honors in leadership and marketing with Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) and Meetings and Events Australia (MEA), and the city rankings in the International Conference and Convention Association’s (ICCA) top 20 global business events destinations.
BESydney was the first recipient of DMAI’s Humanitarian Award, presented at the IMEX Academy Awards. DMAI established the award to recognize a destination marketing organization that has demonstrated significant leadership and support of its community.
“The award recognizes BESydney’s perseverance and efforts that serve as a pillar in driving the evolution of the destination – impacting the destination brand to its local community and inbound visitors,” said Michael Gehrish, President of DMAI, at the IMEX ceremony in Frankfurt. “These efforts have helped showcase events as valuable knowledge economy drivers, as well as tourism drivers, which have a vital role to play in the government’s aligned economic development strategy.”
CEO of BESydney, Lyn Lewis-Smith, CEO of BESydney, said the company’s hard work over the past few years has served to build the credibility and standing of the industry.
“BESydney has worked extremely hard over the past few years to increase the understanding of business events and their legacies … both here in Australia and globally,” Lewis-Smith said. “Receiving this inaugural award is one of the highlights of 2014. It is an honor and a privilege to be recognized by one of our leading global associations.”
BESydney was also named Australia’s leading Metropolitan Destination Marketing Organization, and awarded the coveted MEA Hall of Fame status after securing the award for the third consecutive year at this year’s MEA National Industry Awards in May.
Charged with showcasing and profiling destinations – both nationally and globally, the Metropolitan Destination Marketing Organization category celebrates innovative and sound marketing practices. The MEA Hall of Fame recognizes entrants who have been successful in their category over three consecutive years.
In addition to BESydney’s recent wins, Sydney has cemented its place as Australia’s premier place to meet, exchange ideas and invent the future, taking out top places in the latest ICCA Country and City Rankings. Sydney retained its leading position as Australia’s No. 1 business event destination and was ranked in the world’s top 20 cities in 2013.
