Recent business successes have confirmed the Cairns Convention Centre’s ability and flexibility to respond to changing trends in the meetings industry, Managing Director, Geoff Donaghy said today.

Mr Donaghy said the Cairns Convention Centre was now winning business at opposite ends of the spectrum – those with both short and long lead-times.

“Current market trends are for shorter booking lead times, and Cairns has responded by securing a 600 delegate Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) international convention next month.

“Being able to accommodate this event alone at such short notice will result in a AUD2.4 million benefit to the Cairns economy," he said.

Mr Donaghy said while addressing this demand had been satisfying and rewarding, the Centre had not ignored those clients who adhered to the traditional longer lead time associated with their events.

Recent convention wins by the Centre confirm this.

• Royal Australasian College of Physicians Annual Scientific Meeting, May 2006 (1000 delegates)
• Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting, May 2006 (400 delegates)
• 2006 VETnetwork Australia 5th National Biennial Conference, October 2006 (700 delegates)
• International Pathogenic Neisseria Conference, October 2006 (500 delegates)
• AMS Radar Meteorology International Conference, May 2007 (400 delegates)
• International Symposium for Microbial Ecology, August 2008 (2000 delegates)
• 69^th Annual Scientific Meeting of Australia Orthopaedics Association, October 2009 (650 delegates).

Mr Donaghy said the timing of these wins was significant with the Centre’s AUD10 million refurbishment due for completion at the end of this month.

“The refurbishments will not only meet increasing client demands but deliver the international market expectations of the Centre, created in part through winning of the World’s Best Congress Centre Award in 2004".

“That win has certainly given the Cairns Convention Centre greater recognition on the world stage, particularly in the major convention markets of North America and Europe," Mr Donaghy said.