Deputy Premier Troy Grant was at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre yesterday to announce the government had committed $6 million to implement a regional conferencing strategy.

He said under the strategy even more conferences would be booked in large regional centres around the state, delivering an estimated $24 million a year in economic benefits.

“I want regional places like Tamworth to be a first-choice location when organisations are deciding where to hold their next conference,” Mr Grant said. 

“Most major regional cities have an airport with daily capital city connections, numerous hotels and motels, and conference venues that can host up to 400 delegates.

“Here in Tamworth we have three primary conference venues and a fantastic airport serviced by regular daily flights to and from Sydney with Qantas.”

The announcement was made just prior to Virgin announcing it was beginning flights from Tamworth to Sydney from May, and comes hot on the heels of a Harley Owners’ Group rally that brought thousands of 

the people to the city and injected well over $1 million into the local economy.

The $6 million funding pool will include grants to councils and external organisations, and a new business unit dedicated to regional conferencing will be created, developing promotional campaigns and co-ordinating support for conference bids.

Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson welcomed the announcement as a win for hospitality venues. 

He said about half of the 900 hotel and motel rooms in Tamworth were unoccupied last June, showing there was capacity to grow.

“I will be asking Destination NSW to throw its support behind attracting conferences that will help local businesses to boost their activity during the quieter periods of the year,” he said.

Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall can see the benefits for his electorate, too, with the likes of Armidale home to a number of venues capable of hosting large crowds.

“Our local hotels, motels and cafes could benefit from the increased expenditure of visiting conference delegates,” he said.