The medical meeting, specialising in the digestive system and its disorders, will bring together 3,000 delegates from around the world and is expected to pump $17.7 million into the Victorian economy.
Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) led the bid in collaboration with the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA). The current president of the World Gastroenterology Organisation Professor Geoffrey Metz, who is based in Melbourne and is a Club Melbourne Ambassador, also played a critical part in securing the event for Melbourne.
“This event will serve as a vital platform for collaboration and innovation, fostering significant progress in gastroenterology and hepatology,” said MCB’s chief executive, Julia Swanson.
“Healthcare conferences play a key role in promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing, often leading to breakthroughs that drive substantial improvements in health outcomes.”
The congress has support from the state government as well as financial backing from Australia’s subvention fund, the Business Events Bid Fund managed by Tourism Australia.
“International business events contributed $4.4 billion in the 12 months to June this year, which is why it is important we continue to secure a strong pipeline of future events through Tourism Australia’s Bid Fund Program,” said Tourism Australia’s managing director, Phillipa Harrison.
The event will be held at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from September 20 to 22 next year.
MCEC also manages the Club Melbourne Ambassador program, of which Metz is a part.
In fact, at this year’s annual Club Melbourne Awards, Metz won the Club Melbourne Award for Excellence, recognising his role in bringing four conferences to Melbourne since 2005, which have a combined economic impact of $64.3 million. This latest win is included in that impact.
The Gastroenterological Society of Australia will incorporate its annual meeting, Australian Gastroenterology Week – which despite the name typically runs for four days – into WCOG 2025. The Australian event attracted over 2,000 delegates in 2024 when it was held at Adelaide Convention Centre.
