Global organisation Johnson & Johnson Medical have taken their business to regional Victoria, hosting their monthly leadership meeting in bushfire-affected North East Victoria.
The Johnson & Johnson leadership team are meeting in Merrijig today in an effort to support local businesses impacted by the recent bushfires.
Johnson & Johnson are the first company to have held a business event in regional Victoria as part of the Business & Sport for Bushfire Recovery program, which encourages businesses to pledge to hold meetings, events or conferences in a bushfire affected region in the next six to 18 months.
Eight senior executives from Johnson & Johnson Medical have travelled to Merrijig for their monthly leadership meeting, putting a much-needed cash injection into the town with the group making bookings at Sebel Pinnacle Valley Resort.
To date 215 leading organisations have made the pledge, including the Crown Resorts, Richmond Football Club, Ernst & Young, Bosch, Cotton On Group, Deakin International, Flight Centre, Harness Racing Victoria and Grocon.
Victorians are being encouraged to travel to regional Victoria and support local businesses and tourism operators.
The Victorian Government is rallying behind regional tourism operators that have been hit hard by the recent bushfires, with many also feeling the impact of falling visitor numbers from travel restrictions imposed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
Visit Victoria is rolling out a targeted marketing and advertising campaign under the slogan "A short visit goes a long way" to encourage Victorians to travel to all parts of the state.
The Victorian Government has also announced a dedicated Bushfire Recovery round of Regional Events Fund would deliver up to $300,000 to help organisers to attract more people to events in bushfire-affected regions.
This is on top of the additional $200,000 being provided to both Tourism North East and Destination Gippsland to assist with their marketing and recovery efforts.
The Victorian Government invites more organisations, both small and large, from the corporate, sports and government sectors to take the pledge to spend in regional Victoria.
For a full list of organisations signed up to the 'Business & Sport for Bushfire Recovery' program, and details on how to get involved, go to Business Events Victoria.
