Brisbane has recently been selected to host a number of major international conventions, bringing in excess of 14,000 visitors to the city at various stages throughout the coming years. From September to December this year, the city will host 17 major conventions attracting in excess of 11,000 visitors, each spending an estimated $300 to $500 per day.

Brisbane Marketing’s Paul Lewin said this was fantastic news for the city’s retailers, restaurants and entertainment venues offering a considerable increase in trade while conventions were in town.  

“The city’s Visitor Information Centre in the middle of the Queen Street Mall received more than 9000 enquiries in the last week of August as opposed to its usual 3000 enquiries a week.

“These figures were reached with only one major conference in town, the Entomology Conference run by Carillon Conference Management, hosting approximately 3000 delegates,” said Mr Lewin.

Recent and upcoming conventions being held in Brisbane include:

• International Federation of Endodontics Associations World Congress 8-11 September
• The 8^Th World Leisure Congress 2004 in conjunction with Parks & Leisure Australia National Conference, 12-17 September
• ISPCAN 15^th International Congress on Child Abuse & Neglect, 19-22 September
• The 4^th International Crop Science Congress 2004
• Tournament of the Minds Australian Finals, 1-3 October
• XXV Congress of the International Academy of Pathology, 10-15 October
• Brisbane International Animation Festival, 14-17 October
• International Association of Public Transport (UITP) 4^th Asia Pacific Regional Congress, 24-29 October
• UITP International Bus Conference, 25-27 October.

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre has reported recent successful bids, through strong support from Brisbane Marketing, to host the Association of Librarians in 2009, attracting more than 3000 delegates as well as the 2012 International Geological Congress with up to 8,000 delegates predicted to attend.

The city itself has won two other conferences recently – the Mitre 10 Annual Conference in June 2005 and the Australian Nursing Homes & Extended Care Association Federal Congress in October 2005.

Mr Lewin said “Brisbane is obviously making a huge impression with interstate and international visitors to the city as a vibrant, happening, progressive and sophisticated city offering world-class hospitality, conferencing and entertainment facilities.

“As a further example, our bids have attracted the attention of other bureaus across the world. South Africa’s Cape Town Bureau Senior Manager recently met with Brisbane Marketing to adapt similar models we have been so successful with in securing conventions for the city,” he said.