Business Events bring $75 million boost to Brisbane

Updated: 28 February 2022

Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) secured 50 business events throughout 2021, delivering economic benefits worth almost $75 million to the region.

As the convention bureau for Brisbane, BEDA was involved in attracting 50 business events in 2021, with multiple national and international conferences confirmed in the new year securing over $4.2M economic impact and over 10,000 delegate days.

Between 2022 - 2026, over 90 business events are already confirmed for Brisbane, attracting more than 76,000 delegates - totalling 368,500 delegate days - and bringing multimillion-dollar benefits to Brisbane's visitor economy.

BEDA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Ryan said business events were a critical element of the city’s economic development.

“Business events bring talented people to our city to experience our world-class events, venues and attractions,” he said.

“As well as highlighting our strengths in these areas and generating economic activity throughout the conference, business events also attract longer-term trade and investment.

Amid unprecedented challenges in the business events industry, BEDA has continued to work with local events partners and stakeholders to host high profile events, promoting the city as a leading business events destination.

Event highlights in 2021 include the World of Drones and Robotics Congress, the Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia Brisbane Truck Show, the World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH) 17^th World Congress, the Australasian Sonographers Association (ASA) 27th Annual International Hybrid Conference and the Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Lord Mayors’ Forum.

BEDA continued active national and international bidding activity, and participated in virtual trade shows and marketing campaigns to continue to profile Brisbane as a business events destination.

In addition, the organisation hosted Brisbane Pop-Up to drive local business for BEDA members. This gathering brought together more than 170 event planners and buyers, showcasing Brisbane’s capacity for safe and secure business events while showcasing the city’s leading hotels, venues and event suppliers.

Mr Ryan said there was growing confidence in Brisbane’s event industry in 2022 with high national vaccination rates and the recent reopening of international borders. BEDA has already confirmed multiple national and international conferences in the first months of 2022 securing over $4.2M economic impact and over 10,000 delegate days.

This year in 2022, Brisbane will continue to have a strong program of events with the team present at upcoming national and international tradeshows and reinstating our client famil program,” he said. “We anticipate in-person event attendance will increase in 2022 as people seek to reconnect and share knowledge and ideas across their industries once more, and we look forward to welcoming more visitors back to Brisbane.”

BEDA has a strong focus on business event attraction as a driver of foreign investment and trade, innovation, productivity, research collaboration and cultural exchange.

For more information on available support, contact the Business Events team at businessevens@brisbane-eda.com.au.