Lorne benefits from hosting conferences

LORNE has enjoyed an economic boost of more than $2 million after hosting a series of prominent conferences during February.

The Lorne Proteomics, Lorne Proteins, Lorne Cancer, Lorne Genome and Lorne Infection & Immunity conferences were all held at the Mantra Lorne, hosting some of the top science and medical minds in the country, and saw 1,800 delegates come to the region and stay for a collective 4,850 hotel room nights.

The Lorne conference series was supported through the Victorian government’s National Business Events Program, managed by Business Events Victoria (BEV), and other conference and events organisers are being urged to consider bringing their events regional.

BEV general manager Chris Porter said the conferences had delivered a huge economic boost to the region right at the end of the peak summer season when schools had started back for the new year.

“With decades of experience in delivering these events, Lorne has consistently delivered a premium experience for conference attendees and we urge other event organisers to consider bringing their events to this region.

“We know events like this do not generate just the hotel bookings and the cost of running the conference, but also wider impact to the local economy.

“We also know that people who attend a work event in regional Victoria are much more likely to return to visit with their families.”