Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre has is celebrating its 30th anniversary

The Brisbane Convention & Entertainment centre opened its doors 30 years ago and has welcomed millions of people through the doors from world leaders to royalty and Mr and Mrs Average.

The BCEC has hosted 26,082 events.

A post Expo 88 legacy project, the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre has marked its 30th anniversary.

It officially opened its door on Queensland Day in 1995 and since then the ASM Global-managed venue has welcomed 21.6 million guests, everyone from world leaders to pioneering scientists and star performers as well as thousands of loyal locals.

Over that time BCEC 26,082 events for Brisbane, 2372 conferences and welcomed the world figures such as Barack Obama to the Dalai Lama and Prince William.

The centre has generated $6.26bn in economic benefit for the state and at the same time supported the development of the South Bank precinct and continuing to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors, replicating its economic benefit permanently.

The Dalai Lama at the BCEC.

Bob O’Keeffe, former general manager and now the centre’s CEO, and Kym Guesdon, the current BCEC general manager, have both been with the centre since day one.

“From the very beginning, our vision was to create a centre that would drive growth, spark ideas, and put Brisbane on the world stage,” O’Keeffe says.

“Thirty years on, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together as BCEC stands as a powerful symbol of that vision, continuing to create opportunity and shape the

future of our state.”

Agents moving

RWC Gateway office will launch a recruitment drive after a large portion of staff left to start of their own agency south of Brisbane.

Ex RWC agents Peter Laoudikos and Ben Sands are principals and with AJ Calvert will be an associate agent while support staff have also left to set up shop at a McGrath Estate Agents franchise at Beenleigh and will be focusing on commercial and residential Beenleigh.

Others joining the team are Charlie Ploetz, Evan McLean, Alex Lewis and Lachlan Holliday.

Former RWC Gateway agents Ben Sands and Peter Laoudikos.

We are expecting a bit of movement in the commercial agency space with CBRE set to buy portfolio auction specialists Burgess Rawson.

The acquisition will strengthen CBRE’s Metropolitan Investments business, which focuses on commercial property assets and development sites valued at up to $35m.

The question is – will everyone fit in?

Coconut lovers

The Brisbane brothers behind Origin Tea, Hrvst St and distribution business Brewing Brands, Chris and Lawrence Seaton, have crafted a new beverage to add to their growing portfolio.

Sip Coco is a new no-fuss coconut water that comes in a range of flavours and colourful cans.

The flagship coconut water, in a teal and white can, is a refreshing and tasty 100 per cent pure coconut water containing five natural electrolytes – sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus – and no added sugar.

Sipco Coco- coconut water cans.

Sip Coco CEO Chris Seaton. says it tastes like it has been poured straight from a coconut, because it has and he adds it’s the ultimate thirst quencher.

“We haven’t added any sugar or cut any corners because this is a beverage that nature got right the first time,” he says.

Sip Coco also comes in passionfruit, ginger, watermelon, lychee and pineapple flavours, which contain around 90 per cent coconut water plus a splash of fresh fruit juice – never from concentrate, no added sugar, and packed with five natural electrolytes.

Originally published as Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre has is celebrating its 30th anniversary