NOVEMBER is turning out to be a bumper month for the business events industry on the Gold Coast, with five major international conferences convening in the city.
The conferences are expected to make a direct economic impact of over A$3 million (US$2.2 million) to the local economy and attract around 1,800 international delegates as well as global experts in their respective fields.
These events are the 27th Asia Pacific Conference on International Accounting Issues (250 delegates), the 3rd Australia – China Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Research Forum (80 delegates), the 13th Congress of the World Federation of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology (1,200 delegates); the Interdisciplinary Cerebrovascular Symposium (100 delegates), and the 5th International Conference on Neurology & Epidemiology (220 delegates).
Anna Case, director of Gold Coast Business Events, said the eventful month represented an inspiring influx of social capital to the academic and broader community.
“The most obvious impact of these events is the significant contribution they make to the local economy, with business events delegates typically spending double that of a leisure tourist,” she said.
“These conferences also enhance our reputation as an emerging cultural and intellectual knowledge hub, with local experts proud to showcase their achievements to their international colleagues.”
Case acknowledged the vital role of a number of local residents in attracting these conferences to the city, with several being the result of the efforts of Gold Coast Business Events Ambassadors. The ambassador programme unites influential leaders from key local industries to proactively promote the destination through their industry networks, and has contributed to the success of attracting conferences to the Gold Coast valued at approximately A$20 million.
A further A$15 million in future conferences are awaiting decision.
