Networking drinks go online

TOURISM Greater Geelong and the Bellarine (TGGB) has kept networking drinks alive despite the coronavirus pandemic, taking the concept online last week.
The organisation hosted “Network on the Network (with a knock-off drink)” on Wednesday last week, in which members registered to join a Zoom group chat and have a small bottle of wine sent to their home or office.
About 70 people took part in the event, which also included breakout business-oriented and social-oriented sessions with smaller numbers of participants in each group.
TGGB acting executive director Tracy Carter said networking and getting together was something businesses in the tourism industry were usually good at.
“We thought we’d take the time and the opportunity to replicate that as much as we possibly can in an online environment.”
In an update for members, TGGB chair John Stevens said the tourism industry was undoubtedly still wrestling with all the challenges presented by COVID-19.
“It was certainly a sobering emergency board meeting back in March when we considered where this was going to potentially take us and some scenarios we considered.
“In a nutshell, the board was very strong on three things: how do we minimise or reduce costs to our members, how do we maintain services, and how do we make sure from a financial and resources point of view that when we can promote to our key markets – Melbourne being one, of course – that we’ve got gas in the tank to do that.”
He said the organisation had its brand rollout and a regional engagement promotional program ready to go.
“All of which we nearly pressed the green button for at the end of the first wave, and quickly had to take the finger off the trigger again, so like you, we’re all hanging out for some good news.
“All things considered, we’re in as a good a shape as we could hope to be.”
He said Geelong would be just one of the regions competing for tourism dollars when coronavirus restrictions were eventually eased in Melbourne.
“I don’t know if I’m giving away my age, but it’s going to be like a Le Mans start, I think, when the curtain does go up.
All the regions will be saying ‘this is the best region to come to’ and we will certainly be fighting our way to the front of the pack on that one.”