Gold Coast Convention Centre expansion backed by tourism and business leaders
City leaders saying $100m is needed to dramatically change the Gold Coast and deliver decades of income for local businesses.They reveal how the city is missing out.
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THE Gold Coast has bounced back as a post-Covid convention favourite, with more events wanting to come than there is available space.
The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre has a pipeline of events lined up until 2030, with strong bookings already set for 2025 and 2026.
However, the city is being forced to turn away big-ticket events because it doesn’t have the available space, building momentum behind the push to expand the convention centre.
Mayor Tom Tate said he was “keen” to see the state government deliver on “the commitment made to me, for a $100 million upgrade to the convention centre”.
“The convention market is booming again post-Covid and clearly the state-owned centre would benefit greatly from an upgrade,” he said.
“Equally, I have publicly called on the state government to get behind a possible multipurpose facility on our HOTA footprint.
“HOTA is evolving as the key arts and cultural precinct in the southeast region and I would be willing to take to full council a proposal to establish a fit-for-purpose convention-exhibition facility as part of our next phase of HOTA.
“This provides the state with a real opportunity to contribute to both projects.’’
In 2019, Star Entertainment Group offered to spend up to a $100m to extend the centre in exchange for the state government knocking back a second casino on the Coast.
The government killed off that project in 2020 and talk of a convention centre upgrade stalled during the pandemic.
The Mayor has proposed the HOTA project with a 50/50 funding split between Gold Coast City Council and the state.
Destination Gold Coast CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said more convention space was needed.
“Any investment into business event facilities will support the Gold Coast increasing their market share of the Australian visitor economy,” she said.
“It is a lucrative market and it fills the city predominantly during weekdays and opens up the opportunity for pre and post touring – which is they come a few days earlier and stay a few days after.
“It’s a huge opportunity for the Gold Coast moving forward to further diversify our visitor economy and while we are known for holidays … increasing business events and conferences adds another layer.
“The City is growing and it also supports other sectors – the health and knowledge precinct, advanced manufacturing, marine, education.
“Business events support the promotion of these sectors.”
Urbanist Kate Meyrick said greater thinking was needed into the type of space created.
“It’s not just quantum of space we need to rethink but type of space,” she said.
“Making sure people who join online get full experience, with more break out spaces and more social spaces because a high proportion of people coming for conference come for networking as much as content.”
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