Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) is expecting to host more than 55 international and national business events across its key business events destinations of Darwin, Alice Springs and Uluru in 2025.
Rebecca McCaig, director of Northern Territory Business Events (NTBE), picked out some of the reasons why the NT is being increasingly seen as a competitive conference destination.
“With Darwin being Australia’s northernmost capital, its close proximity to Asia and direct aviation services make it a strategic and accessible hub for global delegates attending business events, as well as those from across Australia,” she said. “Our network of government contacts, competitive bid support via the NT Business Events Support Fund and the opportunity for delegates to engage with the world’s oldest living culture are all genuine contributing factors.”
NT capital, Darwin, has recently secured hosting rights for a number of global business events to be staged within the next seven years, succeeding against competitive bids from countries such as South Africa, Canada, Brazil and Malaysia.
These events include the 25th Commonwealth Law Conference which is expected to welcome over 800 delegates to Darwin in 2027. That bid win was the result of a collaborative partnership between the Darwin Convention Centre and Charles Darwin University. Strong support was also provided by the NT Government’s chief justice and the attorney-general, who is also the minister for tourism and hospitality. In 2026, the International Symposium on Fish Nutrition and Feeding expects to attract 400 delegates and further afield, in 2032, the International Radiation Protection Congress will welcome over 1,000 delegates to Australia’s Northern Territory.
Upcoming international conferences for Darwin include the 10th World Archaeological Congress (1,200 delegates) and the World Federation of Neuroscience Nurses Quadrennial Congress (200 delegates), which will be staged respectively in June and July 2025.
New direct international flights between Darwin and Asia launched by carriers including Qantas, Indonesia AirAsia and AirAsia Malaysia are also proving attractive for international meeting planners. These are complemented by existing services operated by Singapore Airlines and Jetstar.
Global hotel brands opening new properties in the area include a 186-room Courtyard by Marriott Darwin, a new 87-key IHG Hotels & Resorts voco Darwin Suites property later in 2025 and a new 236-room Darwin Convention Centre Hotel at the planning stage.
McCaig added that NTBE strategies have included identifying key industries and sectors where NT local expertise and strengths are an asset. “Our close connections with these sectors have enabled us to undertake a highly targeted approach, alongside our NT industry partners, to showcase how the NT is ‘different in every sense for business events’.”
Further information: www.ntbusinessevents.com.au
