BCEC a leader in the venue family
CMW put a few questions to the management team at Brisbane CEC about how the business is rebounding and the prospects for the New Year .
What kind of impact did Covid have on business events at the BCEC for 2022 ? Are events firmly back and what is the outlook for 2023 ?
Events were back in a big way in 2022 . We had a packed calendar due to pent-up demand , and a general desire among clients to meet faceto-face again . We recorded two of the highest profit months ever in the 2022 calendar year and exceeded all targets . The outlook for 2023 is very strong . We are 12 months ahead of our original forecast for a return to pre-Covid business levels and are forecasting 1,040 events in 2023 compared to 1,050 in 2019 .
What have the main challenges been ?
As with the rest of the industry , supply issues were somewhat of a challenge . We continue to rely heavily on our local farmers , fishers and growers to supply us with our wonderful local produce . They have kept us functioning in the face of food shortages and transport issues . Brisbane is Australia ’ s sub-tropical capital city and the centre of a region known for its agriculture , seafood and alfresco lifestyle . Our close relationship with local growers is very important . management organisations , in ASM Global , and have the support of a global network of venues here in Australia and in our Asia Pacific region with access to highly skilled and experienced professionals . When assistance is needed we have the opportunity to reach out to our other venues . BCEC was able to assist fellow family venue Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre , dispatching the Centre ’ s AV systems manager for a period of time when they were struggling with industry wide shortages during their very busy post-opening period .
How has business changed compared to pre-Covid ?
We have developed faster and smarter ways operationally to conduct business . There are shorter lead times for all events , which are also reassessing destinations , choosing those that are accessible , affordable and profitable . The international market is very active , conference organisers are making faster decisions about confirming conferences . The international focus on Covidrelated vaccine and immunology research highlighted Australia ’ s strength in science and leadership in this space with increasing interest from related associations . Internationally there is a reduced focus on the virtual / hybrid format and an increased focus from clients on sustainability , biodiversity and engagement with the next generation in their sector .
We are fortunate as a destination that Brisbane is Australia ’ s greenest city and the country ’ s most biodiverse capital city with the highest diversity of native plants and wildlife . Brisbane has officially been inducted into the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Cities Programme ( SDG Cities ).
The tight global labour market was certainly a challenge and the snowball effect of labour shortages affecting our suppliers and contractors , remains in some circumstances . We are fortunate that we are part of one of the world ’ s leading venue
BCEC on Grey Street