The Adelaide Convention Centre continues to set new standards clocking up another record-breaking year in 2007-08, generating the highest turnover in its 21-year history.
The Centre attracted more than 486,000 visitors, including 27,000 who would have otherwise not visited South Australia, and recorded turnover of $27.3 million.
This follows a record $25.9 million turnover the previous year while 2008-09 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 2007-08 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."
There were more than 600 events held during 2007-08, including the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy's International Uranium Conference 2008, which attracted 400 people from 25 countries, and the Defence + Industry Conference, which attracted more than 1600 delegates and was the first time that this event had been held outside of Canberra.
Other events included COAG, the International Solar Cities Congress, Land Warfare Conference, International Salinity Forum and World Education Forum.
Mr 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.
"This year alone we have developed Go for Green conference packages that reduce and offset carbon emissions as well as installing a worm farm and reducing our landfill by 50 per cent. We also launched our new room décor packages designed to provide event planners with a cost and time efficient option for their gala dinners.
"It's these type of initiatives which are helping to attract attention, cementing our reputation as a 'can do', innovative player in the marketplace able to respond quickly and effectively to changing needs. We will continue to capitalise on our strengths, including Adelaide's compact size which makes it Australia's best conference destination, and market ourselves strongly both here and throughout the world as Adelaide. Australia?s convention city."
In addition, in 2007-08 the Centre covered all of its operational costs, made a $1 million net profit and will return $785,000 to State Government revenue.
Further information: Jodie van Deventer, Deventer PR & Communications, on 0427 408 588 or jodie@deventer.com.au
