Brisbane convention calendar hits a high in May, as business returns

Convention business returned to the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) in May in numbers not seen since pre-Covid days. The Centre reports it is set to host 16 conventions during the four weeks of May including two internationals. It is the highest number held over a four-week period since 2019. The majority of conventions are related to key scientific, medical and healthcare sectors including leukaemia research, critical care, cardiovascular genetics and nuclear medicine. Australian Water Association’s OzWater’22, celebrating its 60^th anniversary and APPEA (Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association) Conference & Exhibition 2022, the largest gathering of the oil and gas industry in the Southern Hemisphere were also among those on the May calendar. The Centre will play host to 100 events in total during the month and expects to welcome 43,000 patrons through the doors. The trend is set to continue with 14 conferences in June along with five exhibitions and a host of corporate meetings and functions including the popular Lifeline Bookfest and Business Chicks Breakfast, and the high profile CEDA State Budget Address and the Ultimate Origin Lunch 2022. BCEC General Manager Bob O’Keeffe AM said the Centre was thrilled to see strong demand for in-person events. “As the very first convention centre in Australia to reopen during Covid, we have had time to adapt and integrate efficiency measures into our operations, but there are still challenges and we need to remain flexible.  Staffing across the industry remains a concern, but a major recruitment drive delivered very positive results and we are pleased to see many new staff members join our ASM Global family.”