The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) will be hosting the International Society for Eye Research’s (ISER) Biennial Meeting in 2022, bringing ‘millions’ in economic benefit to the region.
The GCCEC worked alongside Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ), Destination Gold Coast and Tourism Australia to secure the event, bringing 1200 delegates to the venue—500 of which will be international visitors.
The ISER meeting will take place in September 2022, supported by Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund Program and TEQ’s Business Events Acquisition and Leveraging Fund.
Australia’s Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said this win is vital to the recovery of Australia’s business event industry and broader visitor economy.
“This is a great win for the Gold Coast, securing events such as this will inject much-needed revenue back into local economies and help provide a boost for businesses,” said Mr Birmingham.
“The long lead time involved in securing these large scale conferences means that now is the time to remind global event decision-makers to continue to look to Australia as their choice destination in the years to come.”
Queensland Minister for State Development, Tourism and Innovation Kate Jones said business events were an important component of the state’s tourism strategy.
“Queensland’s tourism industry is enduring an incredibly difficult time at the moment and while our focus is on the here and now, we must also keep an eye on the future and continue to secure events that will support our economy,” Ms Jones said.
GCCEC General Manager Adrienne Readings said that the centre works closely with industry leaders and influencers to secure valuable and meaningful events such as the ISER meeting.
“We were up against other iconic destinations in this bid and look forward to showcasing our offer to the Society. We’re also thrilled to bring the opportunity to our Queensland community of eye researchers to network, present and learn on a global platform,” Ms Readings said.
“The ISER meeting provides a unique opportunity for academics, researchers and students within the international industry to learn and collaborate with their peers and mentors. The Gold Coast will be the centre of focus for eye research and innovation in the lead-up and during this meeting.”
