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The Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) is excited to announce Casey Smith, Business Development Manager at the Adelaide Convention Bureau, as recipient of the 2019 Destinations International Prize.

This scholarship presents Casey, who is responsible for promoting Adelaide as a leading business events destination to the Sydney market, an amazing opportunity to attend the Destinations International 2019 Annual Convention, and be included in the 30 under 30s program at the event.

Casey will join two fellow Australian convention bureau employees, Renee McMahon (Melbourne Convention Bureau) and Melissa Trost (Destination Gold Coast) who made the 30 under 30s program through direct application to Destinations International.

The Destinations International Annual Convention will this year take place in St Louis, Missouri from 22-25 July, with the theme “Evolve and Elevate”. As the premier event for destination professionals in the US, the 2019 Convention provides a unique opportunity for our Australian delegates to connect with and learn with international peers and thought leaders from the industry.

As part of the growing global partnership between Destinations International and the AACB, the reciprocal scholarship allows one of the 30 under 30s members to attend the AACB Annual Conference – Destination Business Events. This year, the AACB is very excited to welcome Roberto Vigoreaux, from Discover Puerto Rico, to Melbourne in September.

The AACB thanks Qantas and the Destinations International Foundation for supporting this program and the industry’s future leaders.

Further career development opportunities exist for convention bureau staff across Australia through the AACB Staff Scholarship, proudly sponsored by Tourism Australia and Qantas. Applications for this scholarship close on 16 August 2019.

Quotes attributable:

Andrew Hiebl, CEO at Association of Australian Convention Bureaux
“It is great to see our global partnership with Destinations International continue to grow from strength to strength, and in doing so, promote amazing opportunities for our future leaders. Casey Smith will be our seventh annual delegate to attend the convention, with Roberto Vigoreaux being the third to represent Destinations International in Australia.”

Don Welsh, President and CEO at Destinations International
“We are thrilled to partner with AACB for this scholarship opportunity. The scholarship for Destinations International members attending the AACB Conference and for the AACB member attending our Annual Convention in St. Louis helps to further develop our next generation of industry leaders through exciting educational opportunities.”

Casey Smith, Business Development Manager at Adelaide Convention Bureau
“I am excited and humbled to represent the Adelaide Convention Bureau at the Destinations International Annual Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, USA in July. I am eager to network and collaborate with my international colleagues to get a greater understanding of our peers’ approach to attracting business events to their city. As a future bureau leader, I look forward to sharing my knowledge and learnings from the annual convention with AACB, Team Adelaide, members and industry.”

Roberto Vigoreaux, CRM Coordinator at Discover Puerto Rico
“Let me begin by saying how happy and grateful I am for being chosen for such and amazing opportunity. I’m so excited to attend the Destination BE Conference in Melbourne and plan to take full advantage of the wisdom that will be shared there. Being able to visit Australia and learning firsthand how they promote their destination will positively impact my ability to promote and sell Puerto Rico. I’m certain that with what I bring back to Discover Puerto Rico from this conference, we’ll be able to apply new tactics and strategies that will help my Island achieve success and accelerate our economic recovery.”