Brisbane’s status as an up-and-coming hub of arts and creativity has been confirmed with news that the city will host the 2008 World Dance Congress and Global Summit.

Ausdance Queensland, with the assistance of Brisbane Marketing, put forward the successful bid for the Congress that is set to attract more than 1,000 international delegates and inject $2.4 million into the local economy.

Brisbane Marketing Director of Business Development, Mr Paul Lewin said the win was a great result for the city and was further proof of Brisbane’s reputation as a destination of international standing.

“Brisbane is a modern, dynamic destination with a youthful spirit, great convention and meeting facilities and a complete package of leisure activities. It embodies the great Australian destination,” said Mr Lewin.

Ausdance Queensland Executive Officer, Mr Marcus Hughes said he was thrilled that Brisbane and QUT’s Creative Industries precinct would become the epicentre of the global dance community in July 2008.

“Brisbane is home to a vibrant, adventurous and diverse dance culture and this will be a great opportunity to showcase our local talent to an international audience,” he said.

Mr Hughes said the World Dance Congress and Global Summit would be an inspiring world-class event that firmly positioned Brisbane – and indeed Queensland – as one of the daring innovators of the global dance community.

“Plans are already underway to pull together a comprehensive and progressive program of performances, presentations and forums that celebrate dance in all its forms,” said Mr Hughes.

Mr Hughes said much of the credit for bringing the event to Brisbane could go to Brisbane Marketing.

“Brisbane Marketing did an outstanding job of preparing the winning bid documents and supporting us every step of the way through the presentation and bid process,” he said.

“I’m still receiving reports about how impressed the other international delegates were with the Brisbane presentation.”

Mr Lewin said this latest bid win strengthened industry’s call for stronger State Government investment in Brisbane’s convention and meeting industry.

“In 2004/05 the convention and meeting industry injected more than $160 million into the local economy¹,” he said.

“In the coming financial year the competition for the convention dollar stands to be much stronger as Brisbane goes up against those cashed-up Australian capitals that have big budgets and the financial support of the State.”