Australia Overview
including Alba luxury hot springs in the Mornington Peninsula, SOL Elements bathhouse on the Gold Coast and a new wellness retreat on Kangaroo Island.
Tourism Australia is committed to elevating Indigenous experiences( both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural experiences) within its planning tools and event attendees can experience a Welcome to Country ceremony and Indigenous-led tours and live dance performances, as well as many other options to immerse in Australia’ s rich First Nations cultures.
Brisbane 2032 Olympic opportunities Major events like the 2032 Brisbane Olympics are already driving significant hotel and infrastructure developments.
Brisbane itself is undergoing a major redevelopment leading up to the Olympics, which will support the Games and shape the city’ s event landscape for decades to come.
Regional diversity and multi-city options According to the latest TRA data, 20 % of Business Events trip expenditure is spent in regional destinations of Australia and 59 % of trips had multiple stopovers. Options include:
• ReefConnect from Cairns and Port Douglas, Queensland, offering experiences for MICE groups involving a deeper insight into conservation, cultural awareness and marine education. Guests can participate in reef conservation projects and marine biologistguided snorkel tours.
• Rottnest Island Eco Walking Tour from Perth, Western Australia – with The Hike Collective, groups can explore the island and learn about its unique ecosystem and sustainable practices.
• Hobart in Tasmania, just over an hour ' s flight from Melbourne, is ideal for wilderness experiences.
Local partnerships and support network Many of Australia’ s convention bureaux have an ambassador programme. One example is Business Events Sydney’ s Global Ambassadors’ network. Their Ambassador Dinner in 2024 brought together 380 members of the
BESydney community, including the eight new Ambassadors.
Showcasing the smarts of Aussies, Tourism Australia’ s‘ Australia Innovates’ video series shows how the organisation amplifies the stories of extraordinary Australians and ultimately drive awareness of Australia as a destination to hold your next conference. https:// businessevents. australia. com / en / plan-your-event / association-events / australia-innovates. html
TOURISM AUSTRALIA PICKS OUT 16 INFASTUCTURE DEVELOPMENTS OPENING IN 2026 AND BEYOND:
InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach – Sydney / Warrane, New South Wales Dual-phase opening. Phase 1: December 2026( rooms). Phase 2: March 2026( event venues) Following a full transformation of the former Crowne Plaza, InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach is Sydney’ s first luxury hotel positioned directly opposite Sydney’ s Coogee Beach. Features include an ocean-facing infinity pool, new spa and wellness centre, and an elevated Club InterContinental. Rick Stein at Coogee Beach is a 224-seat signature restaurant in the hotel and there is a courtyard terrace. Six meeting and event spaces will also feature, including the Oceanic Ballroom which can host up to 350 guests.
The Lands by Capella – Sydney / Warrane, New South Wales – Opening February 2026 The Lands by Capella is set to become a landmark events destination within the heritagelisted Department of Lands building. Located across the road from the Capella Sydney hotel in the city centre, the new events precinct offers five venues on Level Two. The Capella Ballroom offers 536sqm of event space with views to Sydney Harbour Bridge, while there are smaller breakout spaces.
Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre, Victoria – Opening July 2026 Located on the Geelong waterfront, an hour from Melbourne, Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre will be a major new destination for events. The precinct
will include a 1,000-seat theatre, 2,000sqm exhibition hall and a collection of meeting rooms. It is connected to a 200-room Crowne Plaza hotel. Nyaal Banyul is targeting a 5 Star Green Star rating, self-generating 38 % of its energy, with extensive waste-diversion systems in place.
Andaz Hotel Gold Coast – Gold Coast, Queensland – Projected opening early 2026 Hyatt’ s global hotel brand Andaz is set to make its Australian debut with a 202-room luxury hotel rising above Broadbeach as part of The Star Gold Coast’ s integrated resort precinct. Spanning levels six to 21, the property will offer three dining venues, a fitness centre, Andaz Lounge and pool deck. The new hotspot will be positioned close to Pacific Fair and the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The Lands by Capella
Andaz Hotel Gold Coast
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