Funding Conditions for the NSW Regional Conferencing Development Grants Pilot Program

Transcription

1 TERMS AND CONDITIONS Funding Cnditins fr the NSW Reginal Cnferencing Develpment Grants Pilt Prgram Nte: This dcument describes the cnditins f participatin in the NSW Reginal Cnferencing Develpment Grants Pilt Prgram nly. Table f Cntents Destinatin NSW Reginal Turism Strategy NSW Reginal Cnferencing Develpment Grants Pilt Prgram Objective Grants Use f Funds Fund Criteria NSW Reginal Cnferencing Develpment Grants Pilt Prgram Applicatin Prcess The Panel Feedback Event Agreement Other Cnditins Destinatin NSW Discretin Imprtant Cntacts at Destinatin NSW Appendix 1 - Reginal Cnferencing Bundary Map Appendix 2 Sydney Lcal Gvernment Areas Please read the fllwing cnditins carefully. Destinatin NSW's assessment Panel will allcate funding accrding t the terms in this dcument.

2 DESTINATION NSW The New Suth Wales (NSW) Gvernment established Destinatin NSW in July 2011 t supprt the grwth f the State's turism and Events sectr. Our Rle Destinatin NSW is respnsible fr devising and implementing strategies t grw the visitr ecnmy, with particular fcus n driving turism and acquiring and develping majr sprting and cultural events fr Sydney and Reginal NSW. In additin, Destinatin NSW is the majr investr in Business Events Sydney with the aim f securing mre internatinal cnventins, incentive travel reward prgrams, crprate Business Events and exhibitins fr Sydney and Reginal NSW. Our Visin T make Sydney and NSW ne f the wrld's mst successful turism and event destinatins. Our Missin Is t duble visitr vernight expenditure by 2020 and maximise the benefits f the visitr ecnmy fr NSW. Our Strategic Objectives The strategic directin fr Destinatin NSW is currently led by the Final Reprt f the NSW Visitr Ecnmy Taskfrce. A backgrund n the reprt and its key findings and strategies can be fund here Destinatin NSW s key strategic bjectives are: Achieve the visitr ecnmy 2020 target Psitin Sydney and NSW as Australia's premier turist and Events destinatin Develp the strngest and mst cmpelling Events calendar in Australia Increase industry stakehlder and custmer engagement Deliver value in ur partnership and c-perative prgrams Attract and retain the best staff and build staff capacity and capabilities REGIONAL TOURISM STRATEGY In 2015, the Bard f Destinatin NSW was tasked with reviewing the existing mdel f the State s Reginal Turism Organisatins (RTOs). This review recmmended the urgent refrm f RTOs, the implementatin f a new reginal turism mdel and a redesign f reginal visitr ecnmy funding.

3 On 6 July 2016 the NSW Gvernment annunced that six (6) new and prfessinalised reginal turism entities wuld be established, t be knwn as Destinatin Netwrks (DNs). The DNs will replace the existing RTO structure and wrk with Destinatin NSW t advance the interests f grwing turism in NSW. The six (6) DNs are: Destinatin Riverina Murray Destinatin Suthern NSW (including the Snwy Muntains and the Far Suth Cast) Destinatin Nrth Cast (including Lrd Hwe Island) Destinatin Cuntry and Outback NSW Destinatin Sydney Surrunds Nrth (including the Blue Muntains, Central Cast, the Hunter, Penrith and Hawkesbury) Destinatin Sydney Surrunds Suth (including the Suthern Highlands, Wllngng and the Shalhaven). A map shwing the bundaries f the Destinatin Netwrks by Lcal Gvernment Area is prvided in Appendix 1. The cre rle f the Destinatin Netwrks is destinatin management and, as such, their key respnsibilities will be industry engagement and industry develpment, prduct develpment, training and educatin, ensuring quality and cmpliance with funding applicatin guidelines, and cllabratin with Destinatin NSW n industry activities. In additin, the DNs will develp and implement their regin s Destinatin Management Plan, in alignment with the NSW State Destinatin Management Plan, and ensure its alignment with lcal turism and ther related plans. NSW REGIONAL CONFERENCING DEVELOPMENT GRANTS PILOT PROGRAM Objective The Reginal Cnferencing Develpment Grants Pilt Prgram is designed t help stakehlders create new Business Events fr Reginal NSW, where unique and wnderful attractins can be integrated int cmpelling event experiences. The Prgram als aims t bring existing Business Events t Reginal NSW, enriching the events with pprtunities ffered by icnic twns and regins while helping secure successful cnferences and events fr their future. Grants Seed funding is available till 30 June 2018 (up t a maximum f $100,000 (excluding GST) t be matched dllar-fr-dllar by the Applicant.

4 Small-scale infrastructure prjects are permitted but nly in the cntext f creating a new Business Event r attracting an existing Business Event. Evidence f dllar-fr-dllar matching must be prvided in the applicatin. Use f Funds The NSW Reginal Cnferencing Develpment Grants Pilt Prgram is pen t lcal gvernment, lcal turism rganisatins, cnventin rganisers, chambers f cmmerce, Business Events industry peratrs, industry assciatins and businesses in NSW, hwever the Business Event cannt be held in Wllngng r Newcastle (see Appendix 2 fr Lcal Gvernment Areas nt eligible fr funding). Funds are available fr either the creatin f new Business Events r the attractin f existing Business Events t be held in the six Destinatin Netwrk regins (excluding Newcastle r Wllngng Lcal Gvernment Areas): Destinatin Riverina Murray Destinatin Suthern NSW Destinatin Nrth Cast incl. Lrd Hwe Island Destinatin Cuntry & Outback NSW Destinatin Sydney Surrunds Nrth Destinatin Sydney Surrunds Suth This includes the Sydney metrplitan Lcal Gvernment Areas f Penrith and Hawkesbury which are included in Destinatin Sydney Surrunds Nrth. An Applicant may apply fr any amunt up t and including $100,000 (ex GST) but must be able t prvide justificatin fr the amunt requested within the cntext f the Event strategy and verall budget and Event plan. The payment f any funds granted thrugh the Develpment Grants Pilt Prgram will be tied t the delivery f key milestnes and KPIs related t the initiative being supprted. Develpment Grants Pilt Prgram Criteria T be cnsidered fr funding fr the Develpment Grants Pilt Prgram, an Applicant must demnstrate that they sufficiently meet the fllwing fund criteria: Creatin f New Business Events Criteria The criteria fr assessment fr new Business Events will include: 1. Number f anticipated delegates, their regins f rigin, expected number f bed nights, (and if relevant, anticipated accmpanying persns).

5 2. Evidence f lcal supprt e.g. Chamber f Cmmerce, lcal Cuncils, civic leaders, lcal member f Parliament etc. 3. Sufficient quality infrastructure i.e. accmmdatin, meeting venues etc. 4. The link f the cnference tpic/theme t the lcal cmmunity and/r relevance and evidence f research t shw that tpic area is either unique and/r hw it can leverage an existing similar event. 5. Use f lcal prduce, entertainment, venues, attractins and transprt and pre and pst lcal cnference turing elements. 6. Lcal resurces t deliver the cnference and any jbs (full time r part time) that might be created. 7. Future sustainability f the cnference, beynd ne year (if pssible). Attractin f Existing Business Events Criteria The criteria fr assessment fr existing Business Events will include: 1. Number f anticipated delegates, their regins f rigin, expected number f bed nights, (and if relevant, anticipated accmpanying persns). 2. Evidence f lcal supprt e.g. Chamber f Cmmerce, lcal Cuncils, civic leaders, lcal member f Parliament etc. 3. Sufficient quality infrastructure i.e. accmmdatin, meeting venues etc. 4. Use f lcal prduce, entertainment, venues, attractins and transprt and pre and pst lcal cnference turing elements. 5. Lcal resurces t deliver the cnference and any jbs (full time r part time) that might be created. The fllwing items are nt eligible fr funding under either stream: 1. Internatinal staff travel. 2. Infrastructure items nt directly related t a new r existing Business Event. 3. Subsidisatin f delegate attendance 4. Any ther activity, as defined under the agreement. Additinally, Applicants cannt apply fr funding fr mre than tw Business Events during the Pilt perid. Applicatins must be submitted using Destinatin NSW s nline applicatin system. Written applicatins are nt accepted. Applicatins must be received in full befre the clsing date advertised. Destinatin NSW des nt accept late applicatins after the clsing date, nr draft applicatins. DEVELOPMENT GRANTS PILOT PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESS All applicatins must be cmpleted nline via the Meet In Reginal NSW website. T be selected t receive a grant, Applicants must address the Develpment Grants Pilt Prgram criteria in their applicatin. All Applicants are encuraged t thrughly read these terms and cnditins befre beginning their applicatin. Where an Applicant cntacts Destinatin NSW with enquiries n the Develpment Grants Pilt Prgram, they are directed t these Terms and

6 Cnditins in the first instance and t then seek clarificatin frm Destinatin NSW nce they have read them. The Panel Applicatins fr the Develpment Grants Pilt Prgram will be assessed by a Panel cnvened by Destinatin NSW (the Panel) and including representatives frm the Department f Industry (DOI). The Panel will cnsist f representatives with experience in Business Events, reginal turism, marketing, cmmunicatins r visitr research. The Manager, Reginal Cnferencing will distribute the applicatins t the Panel upn receipt in either electrnic r printed frm fr review. The Panel will meet mnthly thrughut the perid f timing funding is available t discuss applicatins received and make recmmendatins fr funding. During assessment, shuld the Panel deem it necessary, it may request additinal infrmatin frm the Applicant t supprt claims made in the applicatin. All applicatins are assessed by at least tw ut f the fur panellists t ensure fairness with each applicatin being assessed by the Manager, Reginal Cnferencing and ne frm a representative f the Panel wh is an emplyee f DOI. Panel members are required t cmplete a cnflict f interest frm. Once all applicatins have been assessed, the ttal scres are tallied. The Panel then meets t review the scres. The Panel identifies and discusses thse business event applicatins where bth assessrs have given a lw scre (e.g.: belw 15 ut f 50). Where there is cnsensus, these applicatins are eliminated frm cnsideratin. The Panel next identifies and discusses thse business event applicatins where bth assessrs have given a high scre (e.g.: abve 40 ut f 50). Where there is cnsensus, these Business Events are recmmended fr funding. Finally, the Panel discusses thse business event applicatins where either bth assessrs have given a middling scre (between ut f 50), r where there is a disparity between the tw assessrs scres. The Panel, led by the relevant assessrs, discusses the relative merits f each applicatin as relates t the fund criteria and cllectively determines which Business Events will be recmmended fr funding subject t the limitatins f the Develpment Grants Pilt Prgram budget. This will generally be Business Events that demnstrate higher scres in the key criteria. In general, an applicatin will need t have scred at least 30 r abve frm bth assessrs t be cnsidered fr funding. At the end f the meeting, the Panel must reach cnsensus and submit a final list f Business Events recmmended fr funding which is then briefed in t the Minister fr Turism and Majr Events. All assessments are managed thrugh the Destinatin NSW nline applicatin prtal.

7 On being ntified f the utcme f their applicatin, all Applicants are invited t seek feedback regarding their applicatin as nted in the terms and cnditins. This imprves the transparency f the applicatin prcess and assists unsuccessful Applicants t imprve the quality f their submissins in future years. It shuld be nted that applicatins are nt gruped int regins fr cnsideratin by the Panel. All applicatins are treated equally and reginal equality is nt a cnsideratin when the Panel makes its recmmendatins t fund. The Panel will make its recmmendatins fr which Business Events shuld receive Develpment Grants Pilt Prgram grants. Destinatin NSW reserves the right nt t award funding if the applicatins are f insufficient merit in the pinin f the Panel. Similarly, Destinatin NSW reserves the right t award an amunt less than applied fr if the assessrs deem the amunt requested is nt warranted, fall utside the criteria r are excessive. Feedback Applicants will have the pprtunity t cntact Destinatin NSW t receive feedback n their applicatins fllwing assessment but shuld nte that: Infrmatin prvided by Destinatin NSW is a guide nly and is prepared in gd faith. Feedback is supplied based n the infrmatin prvided t Destinatin NSW. Destinatin NSW des nt make any representatin r warranty abut the accuracy, suitability, reliability, currency r cmpleteness f any feedback prvided. Destinatin NSW cannt prmise any results r benefits frm an Applicant s participatin in any initiatives r fferings. All Applicants are respnsible fr determining any further investigatins, infrmatin and cnsideratin that might be required. It is the Applicant and the Applicant s management s respnsibility t decide, based n their full knwledge understanding f their business situatin and hw relevant the infrmatin is. Destinatin NSW recmmends seeking independent prfessinal advice (legal, financial r therwise). Destinatin NSW is nt liable fr any lss resulting frm any actin taken r reliance made by the Applicant n any feedback and infrmatin prvided. N guarantees are made f any particular utcme if an Applicant chses t rely n the feedback. EVENT AGREEMENT The applicant will prvide the fllwing: 1. Prvide data n delegate spend, delegates, destinatin impressins and regin f rigin; and

8 2. Assist Destinatin NSW in cnducting delegate research via n site surveys and/r pst event nline surveys. If the successful Applicant des nt enter int the Event Agreement, breaches its bligatins under the Event Agreement including failure t deliver n a milestne, Destinatin NSW reserves the right t withhld funding r claim a refund f any funds already prvided in respect f the Event. Fr mre infrmatin n the Destinatin NSW Event Agreement please cntact helen.parker@dnsw.cm.au OTHER CONDITIONS The fllwing ther cnditins apply: Destinatin NSW may prvide additinal in-kind marketing supprt t Business Events funded by the Develpment Grants Pilt Prgram as part f its nging marketing activities. Destinatin NSW will, frm time t time, request Event infrmatin, imagery and vide cntent t assist with the marketing f Business Events supprted thrugh the fund. A pht brief is available at Destinatin NSW s website Destinatin NSW reserves the right, as a cnditin f funding, t make use f Event data fr the purpses f market research and evaluatin t enable the lngterm develpment f Events in New Suth Wales. Successful Applicants shuld retain all recrds relating t the Event, including expenditure, and make them available fr audit purpses if required. All Business Events financially supprted by Destinatin NSW thrugh the Develpment Grants Pilt Prgram are encuraged t cnslidate their financial psitin thrugh crprate and ther supprt. DESTINATION NSW DISCRETION Ptential Applicants shuld nte that: N funding applicatin is guaranteed t result in funding frm Destinatin NSW. N Applicant is guaranteed funding t the full amunt requested in their applicatin. Destinatin NSW reserves the right t vary the amunt f funding at any time. The number and lcatin f Business Events that will be funded by Destinatin NSW will be determined by Destinatin NSW r ther Panel members in its discretin.

9 IMPORTANT CONTACTS AT DESTINATION NSW Fund Administratin Manager, Reginal Cnferencing, Events Helen Parker GPO Bx 7050 Sydney NSW 2001 P: E: General Manager, Reginal NSW Stephen Mahney GPO Bx 7050 Sydney NSW 2001 P: E:

10 APPENDIX 1 - DESTINATION NETWORK BOUNDARY MAP The map belw shws the bundaries f the six new reginal Destinatin Netwrks based n lcal Gvernment areas.

11 APPENDIX 2 LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR DEVELOPMENT GRANTS PILOT PROGRAM FUNDING The table belw lists the Lcal Gvernment Areas that are nt eligible fr funding frm the Develpment Grants Pilt Prgram. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR DEVELOPMENT GRANTS PILOT PROGRAM FUNDING Blacktwn Fairfield Liverpl Strathfield Btany Bay Gerges River Msman Sutherland Burwd Hills Shire Nrth Sydney Sydney Camden Hrnsby Nrthern Beaches Waverley Campbelltwn Hunters Hill Parramatta Willughby Canada Bay Inner West Randwick Wllahra Canterbury Bankstwn Ku-ring-gai Rckdale Wllngng Cumberland Lane Cve Ryde Newcastle