Adelaide Convention Centre has recorded its best year yet with the venue returning a $215 million economic benefit to the South Australian economy in the last financial year.
During the 12-month period from July 2022 through June 2023, Adelaide Convention Centre played host to 646 total events, welcoming more than 224,000 guests through its doors.
The venue’s business events calendar was highlighted by 81 major national and international conferences and exhibitions, attracting more than 36,000 interstate and international visitors to Adelaide and generating approximately 205,000 bed nights.
The momentum is set to continue in the year ahead with 79 major national and international business events already confirmed at Adelaide Convention Centre, many of which closely align to the state’s priority sectors.
The Centre recently hosted the 13th Australasian Society for Breast Disease Scientific Meeting, with the Australian International Education Conference, World Urban Parks Congress, Sleep DownUnder 2023 and Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control International Conference to be held in the coming months.
Adelaide Convention Centre general manager Martin Radcliffe said they were thrilled with the results achieved over the past year.
“We are really encouraged by the future outlook, as our talented and committed team embraces a much more positive period for the business events industry,” he said.
“Adelaide does business events so very well. It’s fantastic that our State Government is so attuned to the value of business events for both our city and the wider state, recognising the importance of their lasting legacies and strongly supporting their attraction.”
The Centre was the world’s first convention centre to achieve EarthCheck Platinum certification for best practice in business and environmental sustainability and is on the cusp of achieving EarthCheck’s coveted Master status.
“It’s also been really pleasing to see the impact and traction of both the Centre and our city’s sustainability commitment amongst event organisers,” Radcliffe said.
“Our clients are highly motivated by our sustainability credentials, and it’s critical that we continue to go about our business sustainably, both in terms of supporting the environment and our local communities.”
Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said Adelaide’s reputation as a leading business events destination continues to go from strength to strength.
“When it comes to business events, Adelaide is certainly benefiting from not only the increased inventory of high-quality accommodation within the city centre, but also our city’s blossoming reputation as a clean, green destination, which has been identified as an increasingly important consideration amongst business events organisers,” she said.
“Furthermore, Adelaide’s strong reputation for innovation, propelled by the ongoing development of Adelaide BioMed City and Lot Fourteen as key innovation and knowledge hubs, continues to be another major drawcard in attracting leading health, medical and innovation event organisers.”
