GEELONG has welcomed a $24.8 million boost to the local economy from events sponsored by the Geelong Major Events (GME) initiative.<\/p>\n
The City of Greater Geelong said its 13 sponsored events from November 2021 until June 2022 supported the equivalent of 198 full-time jobs.<\/p>\n
The events catalogue drew a combined 183,000 people, of which almost 60 per cent were from outside greater Geelong.<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s Archie 100 exhibition at Geelong Gallery ($4.73 million), the Festival of Sails ($4.1 million), Geelong Revival Festival ($3.59 million) and the Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta ($2.35 million) were among the most profitable events in Geelong during the
\nreporting period.<\/p>\n
Nine other events \u2013 including the Victorian Open golf tournament at Thirteenth Beach, Surround Sounds Geelong and the Bellarine Music Festival \u2013 also delivered a combined $10 million.<\/p>\n
The strong result came despite a host of events being rescheduled or cancelled in the last financial year due to the pandemic, including White Night Geelong, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and Portarlington\u2019s National Celtic Festival.<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s GME committee consists of councillors, city executive staff, tourism leaders and community members to attract and support major events in
\nGeelong.<\/p>\n
It supported the $24.8 million windfall with $1 million of council funding.<\/p>\n
GME chair Cr Ron Nelson said the figures showed a \u201creawakening\u201d of the city\u2019s events industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cGME\u2019s support of event organisers through changing restrictions and its work to attract major national and international events continues to strengthen Greater Geelong\u2019s reputation as a reliable and innovative events destination,\u201d Cr Nelson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cGME is proud to have invested more than $1 million in sponsorship, with the success of these 13 major events leading to significant economic and reputational benefits for the region.\u201d<\/p>\n
Geelong mayor Peter Murrihy also congratulated the industry for delivering such a successful program despite challenges from COVID-19.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
GEELONG has welcomed a $24.8 million boost to the local economy from events sponsored by the Geelong Major Events (GME) initiative. The City of Greater Geelong said its 13 sponsored events from November 2021 until June 2022 supported the equivalent of 198 full-time jobs. The events catalogue drew a combined 183,000 people, of which almost […]<\/p>\n