has set the pace for the rest of the country in the lucrative meetings market jumping 16 places on international rankings while other Australian cities dropped or experienced minimal growth.

The International Association Meetings Market Report released by ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) revealed that Brisbane had experienced some of the world’s highest growth, moving from 50^th in 2003 to 34^th in 2004.  Australia’s traditional leading convention destination, Sydney, dropped significantly from 14^th in 2003 to be 30^th in 2004. 

In ranking more than 700 cities in over 80 countries, Brisbane also experienced substantial growth in the number of delegates in 2004 with 21,929 visitors, ahead of Melbourne with 16,405 visitors and just behind Sydney with 25,212 visitors.

The positive results follow the recently released HotelBenchmark Global Performance Review of world hotel occupancy levels which placed Brisbane fourth in the world and number one in Australia.

Brisbane Marketing CEO, Marina Vit, said that the meetings and conference market’s excellent growth partnered with recent positive industry statistics highlighted Brisbane’s position as a legitimate business destination.

“These recent wonderful results are a testament to the quality of conference and meetings facilities in Brisbane as well as the hard work of the local conventions industry in making Brisbane a world recognized business meetings destination,” Ms Vit said.

“The average international conference or meeting attendee spends approximately $500 a day in Brisbane and over the past year the international and domestic meetings market has contributed in excess of $100 million to the local economy.

“Our lifestyle and climate makes Brisbane a desirable convention location all year round while world leading facilities like the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) are located within walking distance of major hotels and downtown Brisbane.

“We will continue to work very hard as an industry to ensure this growth continues and Brisbane becomes Australia’s leading conventions destination,” she said.

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre is ranked number two among convention centres world-wide by the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC) and continues to attract an increased share of the convention market.

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre General Manager, Bob O’Keeffe, said that the success of the Centre has resulted in the significant recent growth of Brisbane as a conventions destination. This is a positive sign for the future.

“The Centre was host to a record number of international conventions in 2004 with record numbers of people visiting Brisbane to do business and stay,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

“With consistently high convention and hotel occupancy rates it demonstrates our strength as an industry.