EYE specialists have chosen Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre as the location for a key international association conference.
The International Society for Eye Research (ISER)’s 2022 ISER Biennial Meeting is expected to bring 1,200 delegates, including 500 international attendees to the Australian resort city in September 2022.
Queensland Tourism officials say the event will generate 3,800 visitor nights, worth A$2.4 million to the state’s economy.
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre’s international team worked with Tourism and Events Queensland, Destination Gold Coast and Tourism Australia to secure the meeting bid.
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They said the win reconfirmed the appeal of Gold Coast for scientific, medical and research-based meetings.
“We were up against other iconic destinations in this bid and look forward to showcasing our offer to the Society,” said Adrienne Readings, the venue’s general manager.
“The Gold Coast will be the centre of focus for eye research and innovation in the lead up and during this meeting.”
Destination Gold Coast CEO Annaliese Battista said the decision was a testament to the Gold Coast’s enviable appeal as a global conferencing and events destination.
“At a time of unprecedented challenges for the global business events sector, the Gold Coast continues to offer decision-makers certainty as a future host city for world-class international conferences, beyond Covid-19,” Battista said.
Take 5… Activities around Gold Coast
In 2019, Gold Coast drew a record 14.2 million visitors, but the Covid-19 travel ban hit the resort city’s tourism industry, worth A$6 billion a year.
Meanwhile, Business Events Perth has confirmed five new events in the technology, agriculture and education sectors scheduled to take place over the next two years, despite the “strange and difficult times” of the past few months.
Over the past two months Business Events Perth secured 14 new bid wins expected to attract 5,000 delegates in late 2020, 2021 and 2022.
However, 56 events and conferences were cancelled due to Covid-19, while 43 events and conferences are awaiting to be rescheduled.
“We are beginning to feel some sense of optimism as we take these cautious steps towards recovery,” Business Events Perth CEO Gareth Martin said.
Across Australia, business events with fewer than 100 people could start on July 1, according to a timetable produced by the Tourism Restart Taskforce. Events with more than 100 people could start from September 10, with organisers required to ensure their events are Covid-19 safe.
