January 27, 2012Premier business destination, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) has this week launched with increased seating capacity and conference space following a $140 million expansion.
Arts Minister Rachel Nolan opened the new-look South Brisbane venue during the annual Australia Day celebrations on Wednesday, exactly 12 months after the centre reopened for business following the devastating January floods.
Now boasting 25,000sqm of space, BCEC is looking to host at least 300 more events on top of the 1,000 already hosted annually.
According to Nolan, it has the potential to generate over $70 million for the economy and deliver employment for 100 additional full-time staff.
The five-level expansion of the centre's facilities includes a total of 44 meeting rooms, including three stand-alone tiered auditoria and some of Brisbane's most outstanding function venues.
It has been designed to meet an increasing market demand for smaller and medium-sized events providing flexibility to host events from eight to 8,000 guests.
BCEC has achieved a profit every year since opening in 1995 and last year recorded its highest ever revenue delivering an economic benefit to Queensland of $217 million.
General Manager Bob O'Keeffe says that the centre will build on its previous record of achievement.
"The addition of Grey Street to the Centre's existing resources generates a robust dynamic into the ultra competitive global market mix,” O’Keeffe says.
“The boutique nature of Grey Street is proving attractive to international and national meeting planners, with bookings exceeding targets," he says.
