ALBURY

Location, local support, professionalism – why LambEx 2016 was such a success

In August 2016 Albury hosted the LambEx conference and trade exhibition which attracted almost 1,000 top lamb producers and ancillary suppliers from around Australia.

In lambing circles this was a sell-out crowd – with attendance buoyed by a period of strong lamb prices, a marketing-savvy organising committee and a regional location that offered prime access to producers plus a diverse and rich visitor experience. The event engaged all sectors of the lamb supply chain, from researchers through to processors, retailers and exporters.

Albury Proved Ideal

Albury won the business by demonstrating its professional links to the sheep and lamb industry and to the producers of Northern NSW and Victoria.

The city showed that it understood the professional context of the event – that it could relate to it and that the local community valued this industry.

Albury also knew how to talk to, welcome, entertain and inspire these delegates. All those involved worked together to create one seamless experience. Albury’s location on the doorstep of the Murray Darling Basin also made it a very appealing destination with the entertainment and cultural attractions of a modern city framed by heritage buildings, vibrant shopping precincts and the vineyards and natural attractions along the winding progression of the Murray River.

Albury was also centrally located with extensive options for flights, accommodation and proximity to other regional centres. It offered great value for money for both delegates and conference organisers.

These factors proved to be powerful drawcards for attendance and their impact was openly acknowledged by the organising committee. The post conference report stated that: “Selecting a regional location over Sydney was a major contributor to the increased delegate registrations.”

Making it Local

For LambEx 2016 it was all about making it local; the whole theme and presentation of the conference strongly benefited from the contacts, recommendations, creative flair and operational expertise of the local representatives on the organising committee.

For example, a local representative successfully pushed for the inclusion of the Albury-based, world-renowned Flying Fruit Fly Circus. The entertainment budget increased ensuring that the quality and impact of the conference program were significantly lifted by the verve and originality of the performers. Similarly, local catering resulted in an exceptional presentation of meals where regional lamb and wine featured as the hero on menus.

The Albury City Council also contributed to the success of the event by undertaking a range of initiatives for LambEx that promoted the event to both delegates and the local community. The Council decked the streets with flags advertising the event; developed a very welcoming and entertaining partners program; scheduled its annual AgFest markets to coincide with LambEx; and staged a hotly contested restaurant/pub lamb meal competition. Best of all, Council supplied the services of a qualified staffer who knew exactly how to work with business events and was a dynamo in making things happen.

Conference organisers were also strongly encouraged by Council to use a broad range of local service providers in conference preparations, fit-out and operations; their responsive attitude became a critical factor in the event’s success. This event really mattered to them.

And the Winners Were........

Albury and Region – Business stimulus on many levels

• LambEx delegates and their partners were estimated to have added $2 million to the local economy
   
• Numbers exceeded expectations, tickets to the event were sold out and local accommodation was fully booked. Hospitality, catering and retail sectors also benefited
   
• Albury actively built its reputation as a quality conference destination which has contributed to growth and development of an emerging new industry sector in the region
   
• The Albury sheep and lamb industry was showcased; the region was positioned as a centre of excellence in innovative sheep and lamb production; and local producers benefited from access to buyers, distributors and state-of-the-art knowledge
   
• The success of the regional conference destination opened opportunities for other NSW regions to become hosts for future conferences.

The Client – Creation of a marquee event for the industry

• 85.4 percent of the 260 delegates surveyed rated the event as 8/10 (or more) for overall satisfaction
   
• The event attracted its largest-ever attendance and sent a clear message that this was a highly professional conference and a marquee event for the industry.

The Participants and Industry – Thriving not just surviving!

• 90 percent of those attending acknowledged they would make changes to their business after attending LambEx
   
• Delegates and their partners were able to enjoy Albury’s wide range of visitor experiences which enhanced their visit. These included shopping at local galleries and craft shops, cellar-door tastings at nearby vineyards, a game of golf at some of the region’s outstanding courses, and a visit to the Wonga Wetlands, an 80hectare ecosystem comprising lagoons and billabongs which is located just five minutes from the city centre. There was high praise for local dining experiences, not unexpected in a city located in the heart of the ‘nation’s food bowl’
   
• LambEx also provided a much-needed catalyst for the industry to come together and to reboot for further growth and market expansion. Those attending shared an experience of professionalism, innovation and collaboration – a place where it was all about thriving, not just surviving.