Daily News & Opinion

The MCEC is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, as well as one year since the opening of its expansion this month. Since the official opening in July 2018, MCEC’s expansion has hosted 247 events including a diverse range of meetings, conferences and exhibitions. Since its opening in 2009, the MCEC has hosted more than 7000 events and welcomed millions of visitors through its doors.

Apparently Brisbane is so hot in America right now. Leading US travel magazines AFAR and Travel + Leisure both recommended Brisbane as a top international destination to travel to during the months of July and August. AFAR said Brisbane had emerged “from the shadows of its more famous southern sisters and is basking in a newfound confidence.” In the year to March, US visitors travelling to the city were up 5.9 per cent.

In yet more Brisbane news, the Asia Oceania Otorhinolaryngological Head and Neck Surgery Congress will take place in the city in 2023, marking its first return to Australia in 40 years. The conference is expected to attract 1500 clinicians and specialist surgeons to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) over five days, and deliver $4.5 million directly into the Brisbane and Queensland economies.

New records will be set this weekend when 1600 competitors from around the globe gather in Melbourne for the 10th World Cube Association Speedcubing World Championship. The event will see competitors solve the Rubik’s cube and other cube-based games or ‘twisty puzzles’ under timed conditions. The event is expected to inject $8 million into the Victorian economy. More information on the championship can be found here: https://wc2019.speedcubing.org.au/en/

Lynn Ormiston has been announced as the new sales manager for luxury business exchange Luxperience. Lynn joins Diversified Communications, owner of the Luxperience event, with extensive experience in the events service industry after eight years with Reed Exhibitions. Commenting on the appointment, event director Michelle Papas said “[Lynn’s] wealth of knowledge in the industry will be very valuable as we draw closer to the opening dates of Luxperience. Lynn’s natural sales ability and passion for travel is a great synergy for us.”

Best-selling author Debbie Mayo-Smith will provide a talk at the PCOA19 conference this December. Debbie, who has been dubbed ‘Ms Productivity’ by the media, will provide cloud software tips and tricks and pose the question: ‘Are you working as smartly, efficiently and productively as possible?’ Microsoft and Google will be explored during her talk, specifically how to use them to improve time management, communication, client/member services and event results.

Hotel industry veteran Graeme Rutherford has been appointed general manager of Sage Hotel West Perth. Graeme began his hospitality career with Rydges Hotels, eventually working his way up to the general manager position in Melbourne. Since then he has managed a number of hotels in Australia and New Zealand, including Rydges Perth and Frasers Suites Perth. On his appointment, Graeme said “I am thrilled to be back in Perth and to be leading the team at Sage Hotel West Perth.”

First State Super has secured the naming rights to the 8000-seat theatre in the ICC Sydney. The venue will be known as First State Super Theatre for the next decade. On the partnership, ICC Sydney CEO Geoff Donaghy said “We are delighted to be strengthening our partnership with First State Super. We see many synergies between our two companies, particularly our razor sharp focus on building the best possible teams to service our delegates, patrons, members and partners.”