DREAMTIME 2023 

Tourism Australia’s premier corporate incentive showcase, Dreamtime, resumed after a four-year hiatus in November 2023. Returning to Adelaide for the first in since 2017, the event was attended by almost 100 corporate incentive agents and media from China, India, Southeast Asia, New Zealand, North America and the United Kingdom.

Business Events Adelaide and its Team Adelaide partners set out to surprise and delight its international visitors, and truly delivered.

The week began with Business Events Adelaide hosting two pre-famils. The New Zealand delegation stopped off in the Adelaide Hills before flying to Kangaroo Island. Meanwhile, the UK visitors enjoyed an early morning roof climb at Adelaide Oval before lunch in the Barossa Valley.

By Tuesday evening, all delegates had arrived and were hosted for dinner in their base hotels, each property designing a menu that highlighted the freshness, diversity and uniqueness of South Australia’s local food and wine.  

Of note, Adelaide Oval, who hosted the UK and Indian delegations, preceded their dinner with an on-ground Q & A session with Head Curator Damien Hough, and rounded the evening off with a sound, light and firework display.

‘Off menu’ experiences such as these, demonstrating what Adelaide can offer corporate incentive groups, were a feature of many of the services on display. 

Following the business session and a sumptuous media lunch at Restaurant Botanic on Wednesday, delegates were officially welcomed at a street party in the East End, where visitors got to experience the buzz of the ‘festival city’. The Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Dr Jane Lomax-Smith, spoke glowingly about the connectedness of Adelaide, and the warm welcome future corporate incentive guests would receive.

Thursday morning’s breakfast on Adelaide Oval started with guests – including the Minister for Tourism, Hon. Zoe Bettison - being warmed up by a ‘coach’ in the change rooms, before running out onto the field to a wall of noise, replicating the experience of a full stadium. Delegates loved seeing their names on the scoreboards and the lighting displays around the ground.

The Minister spoke about the importance of business events and corporate incentives to South Australia, and how they aligned strongly with the State Government’s strategic priorities. She also referenced the uniqueness of being able to share a meal on the field of so many sporting triumphs.

The morning’s highlight was a performance by a school choir atop the western grandstand, and their rendition of ‘We Are Australian’. 

Following breakfast, the delegates visited more than 30 different member properties.  Each of the famils were designed to show how easy it is to move from the city to within minutes being among spectacular scenery, unique wildlife and an authentic Australian experience. Groups criss-crossed the Hills, the McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley, and every venue hit the brief of demonstrating how Adelaide can provide an exceptional experience for large, medium and small corporate incentive groups. 

Dinner on Penfold’s lawn, hosted by Tourism Australia, rounded off the week. The dinner saw 260 guests seated at an ‘endless table’ which wound its way across the lush grounds, and the Supper Club offered a floating desert experience live bands and DJ’s.

Feedback

It was a real ‘Team Adelaide’ effort. Feedback from our members also reflected their pride and satisfaction:

‘It made everyone feel so special, the whole Team Adelaide/Team Australia is real, not just in narrative but in practice too’.

Business Events Adelaide achieved its aim of showing the cream of the global and Australian corporate incentive market what Adelaide can do,and demonstrating to interstate competitors that it is a serious player.