International portfolio director, Iain Stirling, speaks to Lorelle Chittick, general manager – tourism, business & major events at Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA)
How does the Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) prioritise sustainability within the scope of tourism, business, and major events in the city?
At BEDA, sustainability is integral to our mission of driving sustainable economic growth for Brisbane. We work collaboratively with tourism operators and industry partners to promote sustainable practices, positioning Brisbane as a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible city, along with being a clean, green, low-carbon and climate-resilient destination. By prioritising sustainability, we not only enhance the city’s reputation globally but also protect opportunities and quality of life for future generations, providing a competitive advantage for Brisbane now and into the future.
The Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) has been recognised globally for its commitment to sustainability. How does BCEC’s sustainability align with BEDA’s goals and strategies for promoting sustainable events in Brisbane?
BCEC’s EarthCheck Platinum Certification underscores its global leadership in sustainability within the meetings and events industry, emphasising initiatives such as sustainable construction, energy conservation, and community engagement. This aligns perfectly with BEDA’s aim of promoting and attracting sustainable events in Brisbane, positioning the city as a premier destination for environmentally responsible gatherings. With BCEC’s innovative efforts, such as solar panel installations and food waste reduction, BEDA advances Brisbane’s reputation as a sustainable hub, attracting visitors and investors while fostering a resilient low-carbon economy. Brisbane welcomed several major sustainability business events at BCEC, including Social Enterprise World Forum 2022 and EarthCheck Inner Circle Forum 2023.
Can you elaborate on some of the specific sustainable practices implemented by the BCEC, such as daylight harvesting, solar panels, and waste recycling? How do these initiatives contribute to Brisbane’s reputation as a sustainable destination?
BCEC’s sustainable practices include recycling 51% of waste produced, utilising a 764-solar-panel system to supply 40% of the base-load power, and implementing LED lighting with daylight harvesting, resulting in a 50% reduction in energy demand. These initiatives, coupled with EarthCheck Platinum accreditation, demonstrate BCEC’s strong commitment to environmental stewardship, setting a high standard for sustainable practices in the industry and contributing to Brisbane’s reputation as a sustainable destination.
Crystalbrook Collection is highlighted as a leader in sustainable accommodation in Brisbane. How does BEDA collaborate with sustainable hotels to promote eco-conscious tourism in the city?
BEDA partners with sustainable accommodation providers in Brisbane to advance eco-conscious tourism through inclusion in marketing and PR initiatives, hosting educational events at the Brisbane Business Hub, encouraging providers to undertake eco-certification, providing networking opportunities and offering support and acknowledgment for their sustainability efforts. Through initiatives like these, BEDA encourages visitors and event organisers to seek and make environmentally friendly choices in accommodation and hospitality options and fosters a culture of sustainability in Brisbane, positioning the city as a leading destination for eco-conscious travellers and businesses alike. 
Outstanding Displays is noted for its innovative approach to eco-friendly exhibitions. How does BEDA support and encourage similar initiatives within the events industry to minimise waste and promote sustainability?
BEDA, as an integrated agency with connections to government officials and key stakeholders in the city, plays a pivotal role in supporting and encouraging an innovative approach to eco-friendly events and exhibitions. BEDA fosters collaboration within the events industry by connecting exhibitors with resources, expertise, and sustainable practices. Through partnerships and knowledge sharing, BEDA facilitates the adoption of environmentally-friendly practices, minimising waste, and promoting sustainability throughout the events industry in Brisbane. Brisbane Pop-Up is Brisbane Economic Development Agency’s (BEDA) annual signature showcase of Brisbane’s business event venues, accommodation and service suppliers, and is a great example of sustainable BEDA-led initiative. Collaborating with Re-Forest, BEDA launched an impactful initiative for this event, planting 393 trees in the Cooroy Mountain Wildlife Corridor, offsetting 80.2 tonnes of CO2, and restoring 1,576.2sqm of habitat. The event embraces low-impact practices: a city-based location encourages walking or public transport, digital alternatives replace printed collateral, and exhibitors utilize reusable banners. Event organisers are invited to attend to experience best-practice sustainable event and connect with likeminded businesses who can provide support in this area. Through initiatives like the Brisbane Sustainable Event Guide, CSR and Event Legacy Guide, and Team Brisbane list of sustainable suppliers for event planners, BEDA promotes sustainability across the event landscape. Moreover, BEDA fosters social and environmental event legacy programs while enhancing accessibility to the city centre via public and active transport, including offering free or discounted public transport for delegates, further positioning Brisbane as a premier destination for sustainable events. Enhancing accessibility and making Brisbane an all-abilities destination of choice ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a key priority for the region. BEDA is also developing accessibility tools and resources. Our current initiatives include mentoring and training programmes, region-wide accessibility assessments, digital marketing content development, and initiatives supporting hidden disabilities.
In what ways does BEDA engage with tourism operators and industry partners to enhance sustainable practices across Brisbane, thereby creating a competitive advantage for the city?
BEDA collaborates with tourism operators and industry partners, providing training such as sustainability workshops delivered at the Brisbane Business Hub as part of the Destination Eco-Certification Programme, promoting sustainable practices through member communications and encouraging tourism operators and industry partners to pursue sustainability accreditation. BEDA is playing a crucial role in the Queensland Regional Tourism Network’s programme, Queensland Tourism Climate Action, working with a range of tourism operators and industry partners to reduce their carbon emissions. BEDA’s collaborative efforts enhance Brisbane’s reputation as a sustainable destination, attracting eco-conscious travellers and providing a competitive edge in the tourism market. Leveraging Brisbane’s credentials such as achieving Gold level status in the UN-Habitat’s Sustainable Develop Goals City programme, maintaining Climate Active certification making Brisbane the largest carbon-neutral city council, boasting extensive bike paths and 38% green space, plus commitments from entities like Brisbane Airport Corporation to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, BEDA showcases the city as an ideal destination for environmentally conscious travellers, contributing to its reputation as a leading sustainable travel destination.
Can you discuss BEDA’s role in promoting sustainable travel experiences in Brisbane, such as eco-conscious adventures, conservation programmes, and sustainable dining options?
As Australia’s most biodiverse capital city, BEDA leverages and showcases the city’s eco-friendly offerings to visitors, including nearly 4,800km of bikeways and shared pathways. In addition to this, Brisbane offers extensive green spaces (38.9% of Brisbane) like those found in Mt Coot-tha, Victoria Park-Barrambim and the South Bank precinct. With a proximity to two of the world’s largest sand islands, World Heritage rainforests and wetlands in the Moreton Bay Ramsar Site, the city has so much to offer. BEDA connects visitors to industry partners such as the Lone Pine Sanctuary, the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary, that showcase and offer animal conservation programmes, or BlackCard cultural tours for an authentic First Nations cultural experience. BEDA links visitors to sustainable dining experiences including the sustainability-award winning Howard Smith Wharves precinct, and eco-certified hotels such as Tangalooma Island Resort, Novotel South Bank and experiences such as See Moreton. By promoting Council, State Government and Indigenous managed natural assets, as well as promoting and collaborating with local businesses and stakeholders through an always on proactive PR and destination marketing programme, BEDA ensures that visitors are aware of and have access to a diverse range of sustainable experiences. Recognising the rich cultural heritage and invaluable contributions of Indigenous communities, BEDA’s initiatives like the First Nations Relationship Building Programme serve as catalysts for meaningful change. The focus of the programme is building relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous tourism operators, to enhance the growth of experiences across the region. Through this programme, participants are given the opportunity to engage directly with Indigenous communities, fostering deep cultural understanding and promoting collaboration, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future. The Visitor Experience Programme and Best of Brisbane Region Experiences Programme play a pivotal role in ensuring that all front-line staff, such as hotel concierge, front desk agents and visitor information centre team members are equipped to deliver exceptional service and an unforgettable experience to visitors exploring Brisbane, as well as elevate guest experiences by showcasing the region’s sustainable attractions and cultural richness.
How does BEDA work to ensure that sustainability efforts in Brisbane align with broader global initiatives, such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals?
BEDA ensures that sustainability efforts in Brisbane align with broader global initiatives, such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by closely collaborating with Brisbane City Council. Achieving Gold certification in the UN-Habitat’s Sustainable Development Goals Cities programme, Brisbane stands as one of only two cities in the world to achieve this status. Council’s commitment to becoming a global leader in sustainable development, as outlined in its Voluntary Local Review (VLR), provides a framework for Brisbane’s progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs. By focusing on themes like resilience, active living, inclusivity, and connectivity, BEDA works with Council to address social, economic, and environmental challenges, creating a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for Brisbane residents, in line with global sustainability objectives.
What future sustainability initiatives or partnerships is BEDA exploring to further enhance Brisbane’s reputation as a sustainable destination for business events and tourism? Also taking into account the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032, how is Brisbane aligning its sustainability goals with the IOC?
BEDA is currently undertaking sustainable destination certification through EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking certification and advisory group for sustainable travel and tourism, and have recently completed benchmarking the city’s sustainability progress against 14 key indicators across social, environmental, cultural and economic pillars. This programme was part of a state-wide initiative by the Queensland Government Department of Tourism and Sport. BEDA is also an active participant in the Queensland Regional Tourism Network’s ‘Queensland Tourism Climate Action Project’. The Project aims to develop pathways towards net zero emissions for the state tourism industry before 2050 and involves working with tourism operators and industry partners to reduce their carbon emissions. This helps strengthen Brisbane’s commitment and path to a carbon positive 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. To continue embedding sustainability into Brisbane’s long-term trajectory, BEDA will also continue to support Brisbane City Council’s targets outlined in the Brisbane. Clean Green Sustainable 15-year plan and will continue to provide information to Council to maintain their carbon neutral status through Climate Active. 
How do you measure the success of BEDA’s sustainability efforts in terms of economic growth, environmental impact, and community engagement?
Our commitment to sustainable economic development ensures that the opportunities and lifestyle we create today remain available to future generations and deliver resilience and impact mitigation to local business and community. It is also reflected in BEDA’s strategic plan and supported by BEDA’s Sustainability Working Group activities. BEDA annually reviews our own and the city’s sustainability efforts through our involvement with global benchmarking programs like the Global Destination Sustainability Index and EarthCheck Destination Eco-Certification Programme. As a subsidiary of Brisbane City Council, BEDA supports Council’s dedication for a clean, green, sustainable city. Council aims to ensure Brisbane is a great place to live, work and relax and measures goals against targets set in the “Brisbane. Clean, Green, Sustainable” plan. Contact the team at businessevents@brisbane-eda.com.au to find out how to stage an event with impact in Brisbane. For more information, visit https://choose.brisbane.qld.au/events/business-events.
