WHILE one of Busselton's biggest international events has relocated, the council have been asked to expand its marketing campaign.
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The Wings for Life World Run, which attracted more than 500 participants this year, has been moved to Melbourne for next year's event.
The international event involved 35 different countries running at the same time all around the world.
Busselton resident and Wings for Life runner Max Higgins said the event's move was a great loss for Busselton.
"It was a really good opportunity for the whole world to watch Busselton," he said.
"I would have definitely taken part next year and I know a lot of locals who have said the same thing."
The news comes as councillors have been asked to support changing the marketing campaign to Events Capital of WA.
This recommendation comes from the Marketing and Events Management Group after they found an increase in events from 61 to 83 last year.
Geographe Bay Tourism chief executive officer Sharna Kearney said the loss of Wings for Life shouldn't affect the council's decision to change the branding.
"The number and quality of events gained far outweighs the one event that has been lost," she said.
"I can't think of another destination in Western Australia that has put such a concerted effort into attracting and promoting events."
City of Busselton mayor Ian Stubbs said he would have loved to have seen the Wings for Life event in Busselton next year and it was quite possible the city would attract it again in the future.
Cr Stubbs said the new branding would recognise the city's elevation onto the national and international events platform through its ability to attract, retain and grow events.
"Other local governments may or may not feel that this approach is over-ambitious," he said.
"But if council decides to support this recommendation, how other local governments feel about this marketing tag is unlikely to perturb us-we have done, and will continue to aim high."
Nationals candidate for Vasse Peter Gordon welcomed the new branding and said he had been discussing for a long time the need to drop the word regional from the title.
