Cairns Convention Centre draws in big names
What keeps world-class conferences coming back to the same venue year after year – and attracting new ones for the first time? Executive PA editor Claire Muir finds out …
Nestled between two World Heritagelisted wonders( the Great Barrier Reef and the world’ s oldest living rainforest) Cairns Convention Centre is a venue unlike any other. Its location alone sets it apart, but the combination of natural wonders, modern infrastructure and warm, tropical hospitality makes it a magnet for national and global brands.
The Centre has earned its reputation as one of the world’ s finest, having twice been named the AIPC’ s World’ s Best Congress Centre. With 45,000 square metres of flexible event space, it can accommodate conferences of up to 2,500 delegates.
The 2,330-seat auditorium can be reconfigured into smaller spaces whilst a 5,000-seat arena is perfect for exhibitions and gala dinners. There’ s also a 440-seat plenary hall, an exhibition space that showcases the region’ s natural assets, a ballroom for 500 guests, an outdoor terrace overlooking Trinity Inlet and 18 meeting rooms that can be tailored to suit a wide range of event formats.
Why attendees love Cairns Accessibility is a key factor in Cairns’ growing appeal. Sitting just seven kilometres from Cairns International Airport, travel is seamless for both domestic and international delegates with direct flights from major Australian cities and one-stop connections via Singapore, Tokyo, Auckland and Fiji / Nadi.
Once here, delegates discover a city that’ s vibrant, walkable and welcoming. Cairns’ compact layout means everything is within reach, from luxury resorts to budgetfriendly accommodation, as well as exceptional dining featuring fresh local produce and more than 150 trusted tour operators offering immersive experiences – think snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, exploring the ancient Wet Tropics Rainforest and engaging with the rich cultural heritage of First Nations communities.
This unique blend of convenience, natural beauty and cultural depth has earned national recognition. In 2025, Cairns was ranked 2nd in Wotif. com’ s Best Australian Town Awards
22 Executive PA | Spring Issue 2025