Destination Gold Coast has secured 104 conferences with an estimated economic impact of A$99.3 million (US$70 million) in the 12 months leading up to June 2021, with the level of enquiry and bidding opportunity remaining strong.
Announcing the results at the marketing body’s Annual General Meeting on November 24, Destination Gold Coast CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said the city is looking forward with renewed optimism.
According to O’Callaghan, the Gold Coast is well positioned to lead the visitor economy into recovery with business events set to contribute significantly.
“There is a strong desire to meet and connect in person and we have been highly aware of this consistent sentiment across the industry as this demand will drive growth,” she said.
“Business events are a vital part of our visitor economy, particularly as they support Gold Coast’s economy from Monday to Thursday and during off peak periods.”
“Our future pipeline reflects this with 144 conferences and meetings, worth an estimated A$191 million (US$136 million), committed to meet here between 2022-2030.
“Beyond our world-class infrastructure, natural environment, and extraordinary delegate experiences, we’ve also been quietly building a knowledge economy that will contribute significantly to strengthening our business events sector,” she noted.
Conferences newly confirmed for the Gold Coast include the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 2022; the 35th Topical Meeting of the International Society of Electrochemistry, 2023; and the Australian Medical Students Association (AMSA) National Convention, 2023.
