Standing out from its clear blue skies are cranes – more than 60 of them – as the Gold Coast powers its way towards one million residents from the current figure of almost 700,000 – a feat forecast by some to be achieved as early as 2035.
Mega business events famil, This is Gold Coast, opened with a beachfront lunch at offsite venue Kira Beach House, followed by a drone show welcome at Dreamworld. On Tuesday, more than 40 exhibitors gathered to meet about 60 event planners from interstate, New Zealand and Asia for a “speed dating” session at RACV Royal Pines.
The Gold Coast is Australia’s sixth largest city and its growth rate is being fuelled by arrivals relocating from southern climes. Alongside its residential growth, its visitor economy infrastructure is also thriving. Currently the city has 22,000 hotel rooms, with another 5,300 expected to be delivered well in time for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
This 1,400 square kilometre destination that runs from the Logan River south of Brisbane to the New South Wales border, stages about 60 per cent of Queensland’s events, says Avril Harris, executive director of events at Experience Gold Coast (EGC).
EGC is the result of the amalgamation of five organisations into one, that collectively help drive the Gold Coast’s $8 billion visitor economy.
“The most recent results that just came out put the Gold Coast as the number two destination in Australia, just behind Melbourne,” said Harris.
“And for those three months, you know, Melbourne had the likes of the Australian Open and the Formula One. So, I think the Gold Coast has been doing pretty well.”
“We’re probably one of the most entrepreneurial cities in Australia now, really around research, development, innovation is really thriving on the Gold Coast.
“We’re constantly changing here on the Gold Coast, and we’re a modern city,” she says, adding that the old meter maid cliches are no longer the reality for the destination.
Harris called This is Gold Coast “probably one of the most important weeks for our business events team and business events industry”.
“[It’s] a program to really highlight the best of the Gold Coast and how it can be used for conferences and for incentive travel as well.”
Gold Coast Airport’s recent improvements, including its new international airport terminal, are a critical factor in business events
New routes direct to New Zealand are “probably our number one international destination here into the Gold Coast,” said Harris, “and we’re really working hard with our Asian markets as well because we haven’t quite got back to pre-COVID levels for countries like China. But we’re working very hard and also working with the likes of the Brisbane Airport as well.”
Gold Coast receives about 13 million visitors a year, both domestic and international.
“We’re seeing those figures continue to grow. We’re seeing length of stay continue to grow. And the amount of money that people are spending here as well,” Harris said.
Business events are important for keeping the city busy Monday through Thursday, “which makes our tourism economy far more sustainable because it’s a seven-day visitor economy rather than just a weekend economy” she said.
