Adelaide has been named host city for the one of the largest business events in the country – the Australian Dental Congress in 2021.
The event is expected to add AUS$16m to the state of South Australia’s visitor economy, according to Adelaide Convention Bureau.
The Australian Dental Association will host more than 3,000 participants from across Australia and the world, with local event businesses, hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, taxi drivers and retailers set to benefit.
Recent buyer and media familiarisation trips to Adelaide have seen positive feedback from participants impressed by venue and accommodation offerings, and the fresh food and wine in the area. The city’s ease of accessibility and connectivity have also been praised, says Adelaide Convention Bureau.
Oscar van Elten, founder of Event Management Professionals, which works with the Australian Dental Organisation, says: “Our Team Adelaide strategic partners along with the South Australian Government and the Minister for Tourism proved that a smaller destination can not only host these larger events, but our size also enables them to have a sense of ownership of the city whilst they are here.
“Adelaide is the perfect sized Australian city that thinks outside the box for business events. I had reason to visit the city for the first time in quite a while early this year as part of Destination South Australia and was surprised and highly impressed at the development the city has undergone, ” says van Elten.
"From the from the larger projects including the Adelaide Oval and convention centre upgrades to the 70-plus new small bars and restaurants adding a real vibe to the city’s laneways, we’re looking forward to an exceptional event.”
Damien Kitto, chief executive of Adelaide Convention Bureau, says: “This biennial Congress was last held in Adelaide more than a decade ago, however, a lack of suitable venues has seen us unable to accommodate the sheer number of delegates the congress now attracts.
“The upgrade to the Adelaide Convention Centre in combination with the Convention Bid Fund has now enabled Adelaide to pitch for events of this magnitude. In such a highly competitive market by destinations keen to host such meetings, this expansion along with the entire Riverbank Development has certainly made us a much more attractive offering to event owners and we’re now realising the results,” says Kitto.
