Following the G20 year, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) has confirmed new business wins with a value of $153m to Brisbane’s economy.
The 2014/15 financial year saw 147 convention bid wins for BCEC representing a 35 per cent increase in the number of wins over the previous period. The healthcare, medical, scientific and education sectors dominate these convention wins.
Scientists, medical researchers and healthcare professionals will be among the 75,000 delegates and international speakers travelling to Brisbane generating 282,000 room night for the city’s hotels over the waves of upcoming conferences.
BCEC’s partnerships and collaborations with Brisbane’s science and research communities through its Brisbane Convention Advocators Partnership is a factor in attracting international scientific meetings to Brisbane. The centre is supported by its’ convention partners Tourism and Events Queensland, and Brisbane Marketing in delivering international meetings to Brisbane and Queensland.
XXVI Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB) 2017 combining with the Asian-Pacific Association for Biomechanics Conference (APAB) are two of the meetings secured for Brisbane, bringing around 1,000 scientists to the city in July 2017.
BCEC Convention Advocate, Emeritus Professor Mark Pearcy, from the Queensland University of Technology, stated: “One of the key reasons behind Brisbane’s winning bids was the strong collaboration of Brisbane’s three leading universities, the Queensland University of Technology, The University of Queensland, and Griffith University.” The universities will co-host the Congress in association with the Australian and New Zealand Society of Biomechanics (ANZSB).
The BCEC team led the bid that was presented to the International Executive Council in Boston, leading to a win against San Diego, Calgary, and Copenhagen.
Bob O’Keeffe, BCEC general manager, said: “The recent spate of bid wins provided a great opportunity to showcase both the Centre and the City’s ability to host world class scientific events.”
Brisbane Marketing general manager, conventions and business events, Rob Nelson said: “These bid wins once again reinforced the city’s reputation as a health and life sciences innovation and research hub.”
