Brisbane CEC in business with 22,000 visitors in first two weeks of February as live events roll out

As one of the first Australian convention centres to reopen in 2020 following the Covid-19 lockdown, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) is reporting a strong comeback and hosting an increasing numbers of events into 2021. The Centre finished the 2020 year having welcomed 60,000 guests attending 165 events following its re-opening in August. Since the beginning of February 2021, the Centre has hosted 33 events including exhibitions, conferences, corporate luncheons and graduations with more than 22,000 people through the doors in the first two weeks of the month. The Pregnancy, Babies & Children’s Expo held in February, drew 9,000 attendees, while organisers of a public sector conference held at the Centre in mid-February were happy with their delegate turnout of 550. A further 12,000 guests will attend events at the Centre during the last week of February, including the Business Chicks Breakfast with Julia Gillard and The Brisbane Home Show. This positive trend continues into March with five conferences, two exhibitions, sold out International Women’s Day events, graduation ceremonies, cocktail functions and dinners including the Keno & Clubs Queensland Awards for Excellence 2021. The Centre also looks forward to hosting Queensland Ballet’s 60th Anniversary Season opening night post-performance celebration. In May The Brisbane Truck Show returns, one of Australia’s biggest exhibitions. All events are conducted in accordance with BCEC’s Site Specific Covid Safe Plan approved by Queensland Health. BCEC General Manager, Bob O’Keeffe welcomes the strong start to 2021. “Based on current bookings and the success of our February events, although not yet reaching event numbers of past years, we are cautiously optimistic that the industry is in the early stages of a post-Covid recovery and BCEC is one of the best placed venues in the country to take advantage of the improving business environment,” he said.