Feature
Issue No. 3 - December/ 2001/january
Adelaide Convention Centre
The Convention Centre, now 110 per cent bigger, is a world leading meeting and exhibition facility and claimed to be the largest one in the world.
Briefing the media prior to opening, Convention Centre Chief Executive Officer, Pieter van der Hoeven said the trend to pair major expositions up with international meetings was compelling exhibition venues to expand in response to a growing demand for larger events.
To prove its need, the Convention Centre monitored client enquiry for two years, beginning in December 1998. In that time it turned away 162 events due to excessive size or existing booking.
“It was a case of extend or perish,” Mr van der Hoeven said.
The extended Convention Centre now has a peaking event capacity of 4000 to 6000 delegates, guests and ancillary participants. The pillarless interior can handle expositions of virtually any type, and can suspend objects as large as cars and boats from the lofted ceiling, maximising display possibilities.
Offering exhibitors such flexibility can only build on Australia’s existing popularity.
“Australia is a world leader in the events industry, with 7.3 per cent of the international meetings industry,” Mr van der Hoeven said. The USA has 5.7 per cent and the UK 5.2 per cent.
This booming statistic underpins annual turnover of $7 billion, which is expected to top $10 billion in a few years.
Then Premier, John Olsen called the “entire...
