Gold Coast calls on bid leaders ahead of 2018 Commonwealth Games

AN INNOVATIVE programme aimed at rallying local support for bids on sporting conferences ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games has been rolled out by the Gold Coast Business Events.

Speaking to TTGmice e-Weekly at the Pacific Area Incentives & Conferences Expo on Wednesday, manager of Business Events, Shannon Thwaites, said introducing the Gold Coast Business Events Future Bid Leaders Grant was part of the CVB’s strategy to increase sports focused business events.

“It provides opportunities for locals affiliated with international Asia-Pacific conferences to apply to work with us to bring their conferences to the Gold Coast,” she said.

Successful applicants linked to a professional sporting association or corporation will receive A$2,500 (US$1,778) to attend a national conference or A$5,000 to attend an international conference with the goal of bringing that event back to the Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast has already demonstrated its sporting prowess with Badminton Australia announcing on Saturday the Queensland city’s successful bid to host the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Surdirman Cup in 2017 in conjunction with the BWF Annual General Meeting, fending off competition from Scotland.

Meanwhile, the city is also undergoing extensive redevelopment in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games, which to date includes a new G:Link light rail system. According to Thwaites, it’s the “only tram in the world you can take a surfboard on”. Stage two of this project will link the light rail to the heavy rail to Brisbane.

The destination’s shopping mecca, Pacific Fair, is in the midst of its A$670 million makeover, which upon completion in 2016 will feature two full-line department stores, 400 specialty stores and an indoor/outdoor entertainment precinct.

Gold Coast Airport will embark on a multimillion-dollar upgrade in early 2016, which will give it new aircraft stands and a three-level terminal, while construction is underway on the six-star Jewel Hotel to the tune of A$1 billion.

Sponsored Post