The Adelaide Convention Centre generated the highest turnover in its 21 year history during the year 2007-2008, attracting more than 486,000 visitors.
The year recorded turnover of $27.3 million, following a record $25.9 million turnover the previous year. The period 2008-2009 is also shaping up to be big with the centre winning the rights to host numerous events including the 2009 Meeting & Events Australia (MEA) National Conference in April, expected to attract 600 delegates including some of the country’s leading event and meeting planners.
“This is an outstanding result for the economy of South Australia with conferences and events held at the centre during 2007-2008 generating $71 million in economic benefits including 90,000 bed nights,” Adelaide Convention Centre chief executive Alec Gilbert says.
“Adelaide Convention Centre continues to punch above its weight achieving results that can be felt in all sectors of the tourism industry, with delegates staying in hotels, booking tours, eating out at cafes and restaurants and catching taxis.”
Among the more than 600 events held during 2007-2008 were the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy’s International Uranium Conference 2008, which attracted 400 people from 25 countries, and the Defence and Industry Conference, which attracted more than 1,600 delegates and was the first time that this event had been held outside Canberra.
Gilbert said the centre’s strategic marketing focus and the introduction of its new brand in 2007 had been highly successful, increasing its profile and helping to attract prestigious and lucrative events from across the globe.
“With limited budgets and competition from newer and larger centres both in Australia and overseas, future growth is challenging but we are committed to the centre’s success and will continue to work harder and smarter than everyone else to achieve our goals,” he said.
In addition, in 2007-2008 the centre covered all of its operational costs, made a $1 million net profit and will return $785,000 to state government revenue.