Tourism operators in the popular seaside destination of Port Stephens, 2½ hours north of Sydney, have formed a new body – MICE Port Stephens – to promote the region to conference and event organisers.

The new organisation, backed by 22 tourism operators in Port Stephens, will host its inaugural Sydney Showcase beside Sydney Harbour this Wednesday, July 25, 2012, to show key conference organisers how MICE delegates can work and play in a region boasting pristine natural scenery, adventure activities, deluxe, beachside accommodation and state-of-the-art conference facilities.

Straight after the product showcase at the Sydney Theatre Company, MICE Port Stephens will also host Sydney conference organisers to a free performance of the Agatha Christie murder mystery stage production, ‘The Mousetrap’, now showing at the Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay. The event is being supported by Business Events Sydney, Meetings and Events Australia and Destination NSW.

MICE Port Stephens will also host regular familiarisation trips to the region for conference organisers.

MICE Port Stephens coordinator, Rebecca Lavis, from Shoal Bay Resort and Spa in Port Stephens, said the MICE (Meetings, Incentive, Conference and Events) sector was important for the region to complement its staple but seasonal leisure market. “Port Stephens has long been a popular seaside destination for leisure travellers but we’ve formed MICE Port Stephens to attract more corporate visitors, especially outside the peak holiday periods,” Ms Lavis said.

Port Stephens Tourism Marketing Manager, Tars Bylhouwer, said the formation of MICE Port Stephens represented another evolution of the region’s successful ‘P.S. I Love You’ marketing campaign, which included the recent launch of a new 12-page MICE e-brochure for Port Stephens. “Port Stephens is perfect for corporate visitors who want to work and play away – but not too far away - from the city,” Mr Bylhouwer said. “Port Stephens offers an idyllic mix of quality accommodation, facilities and services, a spectacular natural environment and adventure activities perfect for team-building.”

“Our very successful ‘P.S. I Love You’ campaign has reinvigorated our brand and placed Port Stephens top of mind for all types of travel. The MICE market has the potential to offer strong midweek and non-peak season visitation and MICE tourism also delivers to our area high-yield business.”

Conference venues in Port Stephens can cater for up to 300 guests while activities include quad biking and sandboarding on Australia’s biggest sand dunes, whale-watching, swimming or cruising with dolphins, surfing, kayaking, jetskiing, parasailing, wave-jumping jetboat rides, golf, koala-spotting, camel rides on the beach, horseriding, fishing, bushwalking, tobogganing, sailing, tasting boutique beer, feasting on succulent local seafood,  feeding harmless sharks and rays and of course relaxing on the area’s pristine bay and ocean beaches.

Major airlines offer direct flights from Port Stephens to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and the Gold Coast, using Newcastle Airport near Nelson Bay in the heart of Port Stephens.