Brisbane chosen as host city for major US-based conventions

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC), Australia, has announced two US-based conventions are be held at the venue between 2024-25. The Convention of Zonta International 2024 and Baptist World Congress 2025 are set to bring in 8,000 visitors to the Queensland city and are expected to deliver A$35m (US$25m) of economic impact. The BCEC partnered with Tourism Australia, Tourism & Events Queensland and the Brisbane Economic Development Agency to secure these first-time events. Zonta International 2024 follows on from the hosting of the Australia and New Zealand Zonta Centennial Convention at BCEC in 2021, which attracted 900 delegates from across the region. Zonta International has more than 1,100 clubs with over 27,000 members in 64 countries, where it is renowned for its advocacy of women’s rights, and more recently climate change. Both the Convention of Zonta International and Baptist World Congress share a tradition of significant numbers of accompanying partners at events, and it is anticipated there will be strong demand for tours and visits to regional Queensland and other parts of Australia. Organisers of the Baptist World Congress are expecting more than 6,000 delegates to attend the Brisbane event, with more than 5,000 of those coming from overseas. Bob O’Keeffe, general manager of BCEC, stated: “These are but two of 77 conventions confirmed for BCEC during 2021, ensuring a strong pipeline of business events into the future for Brisbane and Queensland and boosting the city’s appeal as a destination leading into the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.” Phillipa Harrison, managing director of Tourism Australia, commented: “Attracting these events plays a key role in helping to generate global attention for Australia’s world-class business events offering whilst also delivering short and long term benefits to our tourism industry and economy more broadly.” Adrian Schrinner, mayor of Brisbane, added: “With a host of new hotels and world-class venues, a A$15bn infrastructure pipeline, stunning natural assets on its doorstep, and a subtropical climate, Brisbane is an unparalleled destination for business events.”