Conference wins bring $20 million boon to Brisbane economy
Brisbane Marketing and the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) have worked in partnership to secure conferences worth more than $20 million for the city so far this financial year.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the 28 business events would bring in more than 11,000 delegates and create 35,000 delegate days for the city over coming years.
“This is great news for Brisbane as these conferences support our venues and hotels and provide flow-on benefits to our hospitality and service businesses,” Cr Quirk said.
Conferences won for the city include the Australian College of Health Service Management Asia Pacific Annual Congress 2016, the International Conference for Adolescent Success in 2017 and 2019 and the International Conference on Document Analysis and Recognition 2019.
“These conferences alone will provide $3.3 million in economic impact for Brisbane by attracting 1500 delegates and creating 5700 delegate days,” Cr Quirk said.
“They also enhance Brisbane’s reputation as a research and innovation hub in fields such as life sciences.”
Cr Quirk said 2016 was looking bright for science-orientated conferences, with two organisations bringing their business events to the city to tie in with the World Science Festival Brisbane.
“The World Science Festival is one of the world’s premier science and arts events and it will be hosted in Brisbane in March next year – the first time it will be staged outside New York,” he said.
“The peak body for Australia’s Cooperative Research Centres, which are leaders in many fields of scientific endeavour, and the Australian Science Communicators, an association dedicated to making science accessible to everyone, will both bring their annual conferences to Brisbane to align with the festival.
“Brisbane Marketing’s conventions team works with Brisbane institutions to ensure conference hosts and delegates can access local networks, knowledge and expert keynote speakers.
“The Conventions team also liaises with venues such as BCEC, hotels and service suppliers to ensure conference visitors have the best possible experiences in Brisbane.”
BCEC General Manager Bob O’Keeffe said Brisbane’s collaborative approach was the key to winning conferences for Brisbane.
“BCEC has worked with Brisbane Marketing for over two decades on the bids the centre generates to secure these high-yield events for the city,” Mr O’Keeffe said.
“These events provide enormous benefit and opportunities for Brisbane, particularly in the scientific and business sectors.”
For more information on conventions in Brisbane, visit:http://www.choosebrisbane.com.au/conventions
From Media Release 2 December 2015
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