Two landmark event destinations in Brisbane, the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) and The Star Brisbane, have agreed to collaborate to provide greater options for event organisers and delegates, as the city works towards the 2032 Olympics.
BCEC is the largest conference venue in Brisbane, responsible for 60 per cent of the city’s visiting conferences, attracting 120 such events and thousands of delegates every year.
The Star Brisbane and Queen’s Wharf will activate 12 hectares of riverfront land directly across from BCEC, providing an urban precinct filled with purpose-built event spaces, luxury hotels, a 250m-long suspended Sky Deck, expansive Leisure Deck, entertainment and dining options, riverfront parklands, heritage buildings, and more, when it opens in August 2024.
The two key city precincts are physically joined by the newly developed Neville Bonner Bridge, a pedestrian connection that links the South Bank precinct, home of BCEC, with Queen’s Wharf, providing flexibility and new experiences for event organisers and delegates to explore.
Clients who generally hold social events outside their conference venue will be the natural beneficiaries of this offering.
BCEC’s general manager, Kym Guesdon, said having the Queen’s Wharf precinct directly opposite and accessible to BCEC will deliver a unique Brisbane experience for delegates and conference organisers.
The collaboration is expected to evolve, where both BCEC and The Star Brisbane are committed to partnering to secure large conferences, particularly in priority Queensland industry sectors, to Brisbane.
Jonathan Kao, BCD Travel’s managing director for North Asia, oversees the company’s operations in China, Hong Kong, and Japan. A BCD veteran since 2016, Kao brings to his new role a deep understanding of the Asia-Pacific region’s intricate technical, operational, and cultural nuances.
He has a 27-year history with the airline – from operations to communications and external relations – and led the airline’s social media and digital communications team prior to this new position.
Before joining Hahnair, he was commercial manager at the Cathay Pacific Group.
