Brisbane has once again shown its diversity as a business events destination, winning the rights to host a trilogy of conferences covering the vastly different topics of turtles, tiny trees and technology.

Brisbane Marketing Chief Executive Officer, Mr David Regan said Brisbane’s dynamic package of first-class meeting facilities and inspiring leisure experiences had once again come to the fore to help secure the bid wins.

“Bid wins like this prove that Brisbane is a city custom-made for conventions; a city that can deliver on all counts – from the large international conference to the small national meeting,” said Mr Regan.

Leading the list of recent Brisbane bid wins is the 29^th International Symposium on Sea Turtle Conservation and Biology.

The Symposium – which heads to Australia for the first time in almost 30 years – will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in early 2009.

Conference organisers anticipate that the Symposium – with its strong focus on building networks and exchanging ideas and information on the latest sea turtle research and conservation programs – will attract up to 800 international delegates.

In terms of economics, the Symposium is expected to deliver Brisbane benefits of $1.3 million.

Later in 2009, Brisbane’s Royal on the Park will play host to the Australian Association of Bonsai Clubs National Conference.

This annual meeting – with an estimated economic impact of $504,000 – is set to bring together more than 300 of the country’s Bonsai enthusiasts along with overseas Bonsai artists for an interactive program of workshops and demonstrations.

Completing the trilogy with an estimated economic impact of $519,000 is APCSEET 2011 – the Asia Pacific Conference on Sustainable Energy and Environmental Technologies.

This biennial international forum – designed to encourage and stimulate fresh perspectives on the challenges, opportunities and solutions to energy and environmental sustainability – is expected to attract almost 300 delegates to Brisbane in May 2011.

Brisbane Marketing Director of Business Development and AACB Vice President, Mr Paul Lewin said competition for all three conferences had been intense.

“To score three successive bid wins with a collective economic impact of more than $2.3 million is a great result for Brisbane and a positive way for the Bureau to start the new financial year,” said Mr Lewin.