Gold Coast opens up grant to more conference bidders

anna-case
Case: positive response prompted
expansion of programme to more bidders

JUST eight months after launching its Future Bid Leaders Grant to attract sports-related conferences, Gold Coast Business Events has opened up the initiative to anyone affiliated with an association or company that regularly hosts national or international events.

Successful applicants of the grant, originally launched to attract business ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, will receive AU$2,500 (US$1,778) to attend a national conference or AU$5,000 to attend an international conference with the goal of bringing that event to the Gold Coast.

According to Anna Case, director of Gold Coast Business Events, the grant has attracted interest from a wide range of organisations affiliated with sport, and has opened up new opportunities for the Gold Coast.

“We’ve been really excited by the positive response to the grant and recognised there was an opportunity to expand the programme to (other key) pillars of the industry,” said Case.

“We work closely with representatives from the academic community and local business leaders and have identified that this type of partnership will be of real value to them, with the ultimate aim of attracting more conferences to the Gold Coast.”

The initiative has already resulted in a conference win for the city with the Gold Coast set to host the Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand (SMAANZ) in November 2017.

Potential recipients must submit an application addressing a selection criteria including its history, rotation pattern and the applicant’s links and influence within the organisation.

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