May 7, 2021 | By Graeme Kemlo
Adelaide Convention Centre (ACC) this week staged Australia’s largest business event since the global pandemic was declared in March 2020.
About 2,500 attendees, mainly interstate delegates flew to South Australia for Ozwater 21, creating quite a spring in the step of the city. Hotels along North Terrace and the city’s restaurants, wine bars and service sector all benefitted.
Adelaide Convention Bureau (ACB) Chief Executive Damien Kitto told micenet the event was a great kick-off for a post-COVID recovery in the state. ACB coincidentally staged an industry showcase this week too. Meanwhile ACC’s General Manager Simon Burgess described the conference and exhibition as a welcome confidence booster.
“With all that has been going on and all the debate and heartache between us and the organisers, thank goodness it went ahead because it has been a roaring success,” he told micenet.
There were contingency plans in case of border lockdowns in any of the states, “but it was great for the destination, for the hotels, and for the Centre…[and] it has also been great for our staff,” he said.
Ozwater21 was a three-day event hosted by the Australian Water Association and featured a large trade show brimming with industrial equipment from mains water pipes to valves, giant taps, filters and high-tech solutions to ensure Australia’s drinking water could be safely carried to cities and towns. Adelaide last staged the event in 2015.
Adelaide was also abuzz mid-week with the arrival of their first direct flight from New Zealand in more than a year.