Previously known as NT Meetings Muster, the ConveNTions Walkabout ’14 roadshow commenced with a lunch in Brisbane on Monday 13 October. Other functions include a breakfast in Canberra, early evening cocktail events in Sydney and Melbourne and lunches in Adelaide and Perth.

ConveNTions Walkabout ’14 is open to attendance by professional conference organisers, destination management companies, event planners, in-house meeting organisers, associations and corporate decision makers nationally.

Elegant and interesting venues have been chosen and include the Sofitel Brisbane, Sage Restaurant in Canberra, the Slip Inn Sydney, the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne and private rooms at Chianti Classico in Adelaide and The George in Perth.

The 10 Northern Territory (NT) exhibitors include the three NT convention centres located in Darwin, Alice Springs and Uluru, hotels and resorts, off-site venues, specialist service providers, activity, tour and transport operators, as well as members of the Northern Territory Convention Bureau (NTCB) team.

Fantastic NT adventure trips for two will be offered as prizes, allowing the winners to visit one of the three key NT destinations – Uluru, Darwin or Alice Springs. Two trips will be given away in each ‘Walkabout’ destination.

Katie Boone, Association Relations Manager with MCI Australia, was an NT trip prize-winner in 2013. She emphasised how the experience really opened her eyes to the potential of the NT as a conference and incentive destination.

“As one of last year’s lucky winners, I can honestly say it was an inspiring experience. “It was my first time to the region – the trip certainly proved that the NT is a fantastic option for conferences and incentives. From watching the sunset over Uluru, to a sunrise helicopter flight over the Olgas, to immersing yourself in the local aboriginal culture, it was a magical experience,” says Boone.

A generous donation of $5,000 will be made by the NTCB and their industry partners to Starwin Management, which operates a social enterprise organisation in the NT aimed to bring about positive community change. The organisation delivers corporate team-building activities, motivational speakers and cultural corporate gifts. It also operates the Starwin Shopfront at the DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade hotel in the Darwin CBD.

This corporate social responsibility initiative by the ConveNTions Walkabout ’14 team is made in lieu of gifts being distributed to guests attending the events around the country.