Convention business returned to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC) in May in numbers not seen since pre-COVID days.

The Center is expected to host 16 conventions, over the four weeks in May, including two international with the remaining events, national and state – the highest number held over a four-week period since 2019.

The majority of conventions relate to key scientific, medical and healthcare sectors, including leukemia research, critical care, cardiovascular genetics and nuclear medicine, one of these events, the Health Conference (PHA 2022), providing positive feedback to the Center. “The Brisbane Convention Center team were amazing. Anything asked of anyone was never a problem which ensured the success of our event.

The Australian Water Association’s OzWater’22, celebrating its 60th anniversary, and the 2022 Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) Conference and Exhibition, the largest gathering of the oil and gas industry in Australia. southern hemisphere, were also on the May calendar.

The Center will host 100 events during the month and expects to welcome 43,000 customers through the doors.

The trend is expected to continue with 14 conferences in June, along with five expos and a host of meetings and corporate functions, including the hugely popular Lifeline Bookfest and Business Chicks Breakfast, as well as the high-profile CEDA State Budget Address and the Ultimate Origin Lunch 2022.

BCEC General Manager Bob O’Keeffe AM said the Center was pleased to see strong demand for the in-person events. “As the very first convention center in Australia to reopen during COVID, we have had time to adapt and incorporate efficiency measures into our operations, but challenges remain and we must remain flexible. Staffing in the industry remains a concern, but a major recruitment campaign has yielded very positive results and we are delighted to see many new staff members joining our ASM Global family. »