$30 MILLION SEPTEMBER QUARTER FOR BRISBANE CONFERENCES

BRISBANE has won the rights to host 16 future conferences worth more than $30 million.

The win marks a particularly successful September quarter for its business events industry.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says the events will bring about 11,500 delegates to the city.

“It puts Brisbane on track for a bumper year for conferences in the lead-up to the G20 Leaders Summit in November 2014,” says Quirk.

“The G20 is a great chance for Brisbane to showcase itself as Australia’s New World City.

“The economic benefits to the city are expected to run into the hundreds of millions, with an upsurge in trade for local shops, hotels and restaurants, along with increased international media coverage for Brisbane.”

Cr Quirk acknowledges the role Brisbane Marketing played in helping to bring important conferences to Brisbane.

“Brisbane Marketing’s strategic focus of attracting conferences that align with Brisbane’s key sectors has driven much of our recent conventions success,” he says.

”Conferences attract thousands of high-spending national and international delegates to the city annually, delivering important economic benefits to Brisbane.

“Over the longer term, conferences also help to attract talent and investment to Brisbane, driving the city’s ongoing economic growth and development.”

He says Brisbane’s three world-class universities, including the world top 100-rated University of Queensland, are another drawcard for international conference organisers.

“Brisbane’s internationally-recognised universities continue to be a magnet for international business events, supplying a steady stream of experts and know-how that contribute to the success of so many local conferences.

“Our world class research institutes, including the Translational Research Institute headed by cervical cancer vaccine pioneer Professor Ian Frazer, are another reason event organisers are choosing Brisbane.”

Brisbane Marketing Convention Bureau (BMCB) director Annabel Sullivan says her organisation offers a comprehensive one-stop-shop of independent advice and support services to help plan, promote and stage successful events.

“Brisbane Marketing’s services include assisting with bidding for national or international conferences right through to promoting conferences to potential delegates,” says Sullivan.

Cr Quirk says the September quarter bid wins led by BMCB include a number of prestigious medical, educational, resources and IT conferences:

Joint Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine, Aeromedical Society of Australasia, and Flight Nurses Australia Conference 2014;

Australian Association for Research in Education – New Zealand Association for Research in Education 2014 Conference;

WCO IT Conference & Exhibition 2014 (World Customs Organisation);

Australia and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting 2015;

Austmine 2015 International Conference and Exhibition.

Other bid wins led by BCEC – done in partnership with Brisbane Marketing – have also contributed to the outstanding September quarter result.

For more information on the bureau visit www.meetinbrisbane.com.au