Convex (Qld) Pty Ltd, a division of leading venue-management company Ogden IFC, had been reappointed as operator of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Ogden IFC will manage the venue through its subsidiary Convex (Qld) Pty Ltd to June 2015. Its management team will continue to be led by the inaugural BCEC General Manager, Robert O’Keefe.

Ogden IFC and Convex (Qld) Chairman, Harvey Lister said the company would continue to build upon the BCEC’s reputation as Australia’s most awarded centre and its high ranking among convention centres worldwide. It has won 86 major industry awards during the past 10 years.

Mr Lister said he was delighted with the continuing strong performance of the Centre, particularly in the international and national marketplace and with the strong forecast growth said the Centre was nearing its operational capacity. 

In a separate announcement, Mr Lister confirmed that Ogden IFC, a founding shareholder with a current 50% interest in Convex, had entered into a contract to acquire the remaining 50% interest from Jacobsen Venue Management.

“This is a huge vote of confidence in the future of the BCEC, and confirms its full membership of the expanding Ogden IFC ‘Family of Facilities’,” he said.

Ogden IFC was also announced last week by the Northern Territory Government as the operator of the proposed AUD $103 million Darwin Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The DCEC is included in Stage 1 of the AUD $1 billion Darwin Waterfront development project, due for completion in 2008. It will feature a 1500 seat plenary auditorium, 4000 square metres of exhibition space, 500 square metres of function rooms and provision for future expansion.

Ogden IFC will immediately commence providing pre-opening management services, including input into the detailed design of the DCEC, and then manage the venue from its opening in May 2008 for 25 years.

Ogden IFC will shortly begin the selection process for the General Manager and Director of Sales for the Darwin Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Mr Lister said in addition to its Australian interests, Ogden IFC was making significant inroads internationally.

The AUD $184 million Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre which Ogden IFC has been appointed to manage, has had its “soft opening” ahead of its first major conventions in June.

“Peter Brokenshire and his management team have done a great job preparing for the opening of this spectacular venue in the downtown KLCC parklands, with the world-famous Petronas Twin Towers as its backdrop.

“The KLCC is certain to become one of the most recognisable convention venues in the Asian market,” he said.

In Hong Kong, Ogden IFC recently completed a major study of that region’s convention and exhibition market on behalf of the Legislative Council. It also provided an assessment on the provision of an additional 20,000 square metres of exhibition space at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

In China, Ogden IFC was recently engaged to provide operator advice for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games stadium. This included a review of the Stadium design, advice on the operating effectiveness of the current design and recommendations / resolutions to the owner, the Chinese National Stadium Company.

Last week, Ogden IFC and the Chinese Government announced they would present an International Sports Facilities Expo in China in November. Ogden IFC Executive Director, Rod Pilbeam said the Expo would provide a meeting  point between the developers and operators of China’s 850,000 sports venues and international firms seeking to access this growing market.

And in the Middle East, Ogden IFC is providing operator input, design and technical advice for the proposed Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha.

Ogden IFC is the largest venue management company in the Asia Pacific region with more than 176,000 seats under management. Among the 15 venues within its 'Family of Facilities' are the Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin and Kuala Lumpur Convention Centres, the Brisbane and Newcastle Entertainment Centres, Telstra Stadium in Sydney, Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, and four State Theatres in Perth.

In the International Association of Congress Centre’s (AIPC) 2004 rankings, two of Ogden IFC’s convention centres in Cairns and Brisbane were named number one and two in the world respectively.