Margaret River Gourmet Escape marked its fifth year over the weekend with headline guest Nigella Lawson joined by over 60 of Australia and the world’s leading food and wine personalities.

Mantra Group has secured five new hotel signings with a combined total of more than 900 additional rooms across Australia and New Zealand.

Tourism has become New Zealand’s top export earner following a period of strong growth.

Tropical North Queensland’s event expertise has been on show for Australian and New Zealand event planners and trade media during Sell TNQ held over the weekend.

The Mackay region has capped off a top year with four wins at the Queensland Tourism Awards and recently hosting more than 300 tourism industry delegates for the 2016 DestinationQ Forum.

One of China’s largest personal health care companies, Infinitus, has chosen the Gold Coast to host its week-long incentive program in 2018, expected to generate more than $50 million in delegate expenditure.

Work will begin on Melbourne’s first six star hotel in the new year following the selection of Australian-based company Built as the preferred contractor for the $350 million redevelopment of the Hotel Windsor.

Ballarat is poised to shed its ‘Old, Cold and Gold’ image to emerge as ‘Irresistible Ballarat’, as a group of business event organisers discovered on a familiarisation trip to Ballarat and surrounds last week.