O=Mega21
Finally Bringing the industry together
After a year of Event cancellations, ODMA and Optometry Victoria are looking forward to bringing O=MEGA21 to Melbourne in September. Understandably, there may be some apprehension around attending an event after the lockdowns 2020.
However, this event is being held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and a Victorian Government approved COVID safe venue.
Yet despite the disruption caused by COVID the industry’s confidence in its own event O=MEGA21 presented by ODMA and Optometry Victoria/South Australia, was confirmed when within 48 hours of launching the floorplan the fair has virtually sold out. To find out about the limited opportunities left for exhibitors and sponsors, please contact amanda@omega21.com.au
The Optical Industry have missed so many events over the last 18 months, and by September, the industry will be ready to be on display again. The majority of the industry understand that the COVID risk is diminishing, and the Government is continually monitoring and controlling any outbreaks.
This year we welcome back exhibitors such as De Rigo, Safilo, Optiqueline, Rodenstock, ZEISS, Hoya, Optos, Optimed, BOC, Device Technologies, Van Staveren Eyewear, Good Optical, Aarons Eyewear, and Designs For Vision, to name a few, we also are glad to have new entrants to the market such as Marcolin join us.
The conference launched on April 1st with early bird pricing and OVSA are delivering a strong program to meet all the new guidelines and maximise your time. The masterclass and Knowledge centre education programs will follow. Please note veteran TAFE optical dispensing teacher Steve Daras will headline those sessions.
O=MEGA21 will be a face to face conference and exhibition with no virtual component – so start making plans now to block out the time to attend.
Australians are safe to travel interstate, to New Zealand, go to venues and lead everyday lives. That combined with the vaccine rollout, Australia is a very safe place to be. With everyday lives returning, this also enables Events to return. We are excited to see events happening for all industries in every state happen as industries reawaken, and in September, it is the Optical Industry’s turn too.
All of these factors have made us confident in bringing O=MEGA21 and the industry together.
ODMA CEO Finola Carey met with MCEC, who have devised a VenueSafe Plan designed to reassure people that MCEC is ready to operate a safe environment with scalable control measures to ensure certainty in this changing environment. All employees, visitors, customers and contractors can have the utmost confidence that MCEC has developed an intelligence-led VenueSafe Plan, in consultation with industry experts, that employs risk mitigation principles to ensure the health and safety of all.
Throw into the mix a culture of monitoring, responding to danger signals before they result in harm.
• Check proof of registration at venue entry
• Support visitors where required throughout the venue
MCEC supports and encourages the use of the Australian Government’s COVIDSafe mobile app. The app helps health authority contact tracers identify people who may have been exposed to.
Additional Information
Business Events Grants for exhibitors and delegates to OMEGA21
Please take note of the following Business Event Grant Info:
The good news is that the Business Events Grant program applications are extended to 30 June 2021.
On 11 March 2021 the Australian Government announced an extension to the Business Events Grant program. The current program closed yesterday 30 March 2021 but will re-open mid-April 2021 when the website will be updated.
Current details here but this will be updated mid-April https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/business-events-grants
For Exhibitors & Delegates If you have not already applied wait till mid-April and apply if your expenditure is over $10K For Delegates/Visitors
– If your expenditure is less than $10K you are not eligible so make sure you combine all the practice members attending in one application
– Minimum spend will be $10K for a grant of up to 50% of this
– The Grant will be paid on execution of the Grant Agreement.
– Grants will be audited so you need receipts to prove expenditure although in the application process quotes and invoices seem to suffice.
Remember when they have allocated the full $50m there will be no more grants so first in first served This is NOT legal advice – it is provided to assist you make a grant application.
Book the half-price flights offered by Government to O=MEGA21 (AVALON)
WHEN DOES THE HALF-PRICE FLIGHT SALE START?
The flight sale will kick off on April 1 and end on July 31, 2021.
WHAT ARE THE TRAVEL DATES?
Travel dates for the half-price fares are between May and September 2021.
HOW MANY TICKETS WILL BE ON OFFER?
800,000 tickets in total will be sold at half price – which breaks down to around 46,000 half-price tickets available per week for the 13 destinations.
WHICH AIRLINES ARE TAKING PART IN THE SALE?
Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar are all on board to sell tickets at half price. Other smaller operators may opt in on the serviced routes chosen by the government, such as REX, but they must have been running the route for at least two years.
HOW DO I BOOK A HALF-PRICE AIRFARE?
To be eligible for the discount, customers must book through the airline’s website. So for Qantas, visit here. For Virgin Australia, visit here. And for Jetstar, visit here.
CAN I GO TO ANY OF THOSE DESTINATIONS THAT ARE PART OF THE CAMPAIGN?
No. Half-price fares only apply to those travelling interstate and those flying directly to the nominated destinations (Sydney and Melbourne residents, for example, won’t get half-price fares to Kangaroo Island, as there are no direct flights from the cities).