International Conventions - Big Business for Brisbane and BCEC
06 Sep 2007

Brisbane is bidding for one of the world’s top 20 conventions.

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Bank, is partnering with the Australian Dental Association, the Queensland Government through Queensland Events and Brisbane Marketing, in its bid to host the FDI Annual World Dental Congress in Brisbane in 2013.

The four-day event, is the largest single global gathering of dentists and is expected to attract at least 8,000 delegates and their partners from around the world. It is anticipated that the event will generate in excess of $16 million to the Queensland economy.

Australian Dental Association CEO, Robert Boyd- Boland expects Brisbane to be a strong contender to host the high profile event, previously held in Sydney in 2003. “Australia is well respected in the international environment, has a proven track record for hosting large events and enjoys an excellent reputation for its high standards of dental practices.”

Brisbane will present its bid submission in the next few weeks to the FDI, Federation Dentaire Internationale, who are based in France.

Already successful in attracting the International Geological Congress in 2012 and staging the Rotary International Convention in 2003, this bid highlights the strong relationship that the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre has with Queensland Events.

This latest bid follows an unprecedented run of international convention bid wins for Brisbane. In the past eight weeks, the Centre’s International Bidding Team, in partnership with Brisbane Marketing, has confirmed 10 major international conventions.

These conventions will deliver 11,500 delegates to Brisbane with an estimated economic benefit to Queensland of $28 million, bringing the total number of new international and national conventions confirmed for the Centre in the past 12 months to an unprecedented 77.

Convention Centre General Manager, Robert O’Keeffe said the recent spate of convention wins was the result of a carefully researched and targeted sales strategy.

Mr O’Keeffe said many of the successful bids were researched and prepared by the team at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, in partnership with Brisbane Marketing and with support from the Queensland Government, and reflect the extent of the collaboration and team work on the part of the city.

Paul Lewin, Director of Business Development for Brisbane Marketing said the wins and the opportunity to bid for such a significant conference as FDI reflect Brisbane’s reputation as a leading international meetings destination.

“With record forward bookings – the Centre has 1,000 event bookings through to 2013 – and outstanding financial performance based achievements, the Centre is headed into a period of continued, sustained growth,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

Recent international convention bid wins:

• Asia Pacific Conference on Vision 2008
• Research In Education International Conference 2008
• 29th International Symposium on Sea Turtle Conservation and Biology (2009)
• 20th International Maritime Pilots Congress 2010
• International Horn Symposium 2010
• IFIP World Computer Congress 2010
• The IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2010
• International Symposium on Remote Sensing 2011
• Asian & Oceania Congress on Child Neurology 2011
• 2012 International Council of Archives Congress

Enquiries   

Gail Sawer, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Ph 07 3308 3023 Mob 0417762337
Email gails@bcec.com.au