The appeal of Australia
New research indicates a positive outlook for Australia ’ s business events industry with big conferences in the diary following on from major business in 2022 , as international events return strongly . usiness Events Australia has released the 2022 Business Events Consumer Demand Project ( CDP ), research that reveals a strong outlook for the events industry . Delivering insights into the factors influencing decision makers when choosing a destination for events , the research found that decision makers are feeling increasingly confident with travelling and running events abroad , with Australia ’ s appeal as an association and incentives destination remaining strong .
AGNSW Interiors 2022 . Credit Jacquie Manning
Two major events in 2022 that illustrated Australia ’ s resilience and quick bounce back from the pandemic included the Million Dollar Round Table ( MDRT ) Global Conference at ICC Sydney and the world ’ s largest Indigenous education forum hosted in Adelaide .
The 4,500 international delegates attending the 95th MDRT Global
Conference , 28-31 August 2022 represented leading life insurance and financial services professionals from over 500 companies and 33 countries and territories . The venue hosted 32 speaker sessions in its state-of-the-art Aware Super Theatre .
The World Indigenous Peoples ’ Conference on Education ( WIPCE 2022 ) was hosted at Adelaide Convention Centre in South Australia in September 2022 and was the largest international business event hosted in Adelaide since the onset of Covid-19 and drew 2,400 delegates from 17 countries . Programme highlights included 300 workshops and forums . The event generated 15,500 bed nights and delivered AUD $ 11.3m in economic benefit for the state .
Looking to the future , Sydney is set to host the International Astronautical Congress ( IAC ) in 2025 . The successful bid was a collaboration between the Space Industry Association of Australia ( SIAA ), the Australian Space Agency ( ASA ), the New South Wales Government and BESydney , with Tourism Australia ’ s Business Events Bid Fund Programme helping to secure the congress on Australian shores .
Australia previously hosted the IAC in Adelaide in 2017 and that was credited as a key driver for the formation of the Australian Space Agency in that city . IAC 2025 will be held at the ICC Sydney , 29 September - 3 October 2025 .
Brisbane , meanwhile , will play host to the International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science in
July ( IAS 2023 ). Australia ’ s science excellence within the immunology and infectious diseases space was key to the selection of the city as host for the world ’ s largest HIV Sciences conference . Organisers are forecasting 6,000 delegates will attend .
Venue news
Australia continues to add to its major venue stock and to invest in old favourites , too .
The Sydney Modern Project , an expansion of the Art Gallery of New South Wales , has transformed gallery into a museum that now offers five flexible event spaces with capacity ranging from 80 people seated to 1,000 standing . They can be booked for venue hire from January 2023 .
In Sydney , a $ 110m refurbishment has transformed the iconic InterContinental Sydney . The redesign has seen a refresh of all 509 rooms and suites and the Aster on level 32 offers a rooftop space with 270-degree views over the city . The InterContinental Sydney houses 14 function venues with 2,361sqm of meeting space .
Australia ’ s third Ritz-Carlton hotel will open on the Gold Coast in Queensland by 2026 . The property will house 150 guest rooms and suites and a 512sqm ballroom and 261sqm outdoor pre-function space .
Sydney ’ s A $ 800m Allianz Stadium has opened after a four-year development and features seven function rooms with capacity for up to 800 guests .