Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) has secured 77 new conventions during 2021, worth an estimated A$144 million (US$107 million) in direct expenditure to the Queensland economy.
The events will deliver an estimated 50,000 delegates to Brisbane, generating 245,000 room nights to the city’s hotels with flow-on benefits to local businesses across the hospitality and tourism sectors.
One major win is for 2025, where the world’s leading experts in population research will be heading to Brisbane to attend the International Population Conference; it is the first time in the event’s 93-year history that it has been held in Australia.
Other newly-confirmed conferences are three large-scale events set to deliver 2,000 delegates to Brisbane, one forecasting more than 8,000 and one with 5,000 delegates all heading for Queensland and Brisbane over the next three years.
These global and national meetings will attract considerable talent and expertise across a range of the State’s key sector industries, including technology, transport, population, healthcare, science and research.
BCEC’s general manager Bob O’Keeffe AM said the reopening of borders and resumption of international flights, as well as a very strong and evident desire for face-to-face meetings, was driving momentum in the industry, with the Centre forecasting more than 800 events through to the end of 2022.
O’Keeffe opined that interest in Australia is strong and will only be amplified in future with the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games further enhancing awareness.
“Brisbane’s infrastructure development has already begun, and with the boost of further investment as part of the official Olympic Infrastructure program, Brisbane and the Centre’s appeal as a business events destination is expected to skyrocket.”
BCEC is the major driver of business events to Brisbane and Queensland, responsible for more than 70 per cent of delegate stays and visitation.
