There is no simple way to describe the year that was 2020. From drought, to bushfires, to the COVID-19 pandemic, we experienced loss and hurt while also ending with a sense of hope.

We have come so far this year and as we enter the final few weeks of 2020 it is abundantly clear that we deserve a COVID Safe Summer.

The sun is certainly shining on Victoria in more ways than one this week with another perfect record of no COVID-19 cases and deaths to make it 21 days in a row of double zeros.

The Victorian Chamber welcomes today’s announcement of the $465 million Victorian Tourism Recovery Package in the 2020-21 State Budget. Today’s announcement aligns with our State Budget submission which sought certainty for the tourism industry.

I cannot wait for Sunday when I expect Victoria becomes a whole state again. We’ve worked extremely hard to suppress the second wave of COVID-19 and now we can get on with our state’s rebuild.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the events industry to a standstill, Melbourne Convention Bureau CEO Julia Swanson explains what is needed to put Melbourne back on center-stage.

From record breaking revenue to closing doors six months later, the MCEC’s Chief Executive reveals why “it is unlikely that we will return to business as we once knew it”.