The Adelaide Convention Centre (ACC) is actively attracting associations meetings by leveraging the city’s strengths in sustainability and the creation of lasting impacts, as well as the possibility of research collaborations and business partnerships.
This was emphasised by general manager of Adelaide Convention Centre, Sarah Goldfinch, during a dinner with around 20 association chiefs, event planners, and TTGmice in Singapore last month.
“Our research and sales teams work to proactively identify and target conferences that align with South Australia’s priority sectors and have potential links to Adelaide’s innovation neighbourhoods – including Adelaide BioMed City and Lot Fourteen – as a way of assisting associations to enhance their conference programmes,” elaborated Goldfinch.
BioMed City is a health, medical and life sciences precinct, comprised of leading-edge anchor institutes and companies that cluster and connect with startups, business incubators and accelerators; while Lot Fourteen is an innovation hub with a focus on space, AI, defence, cyber and creativity. Lot Fourteen is also the site of the Australian Space Discovery Centre.
Also present at the dinner was Damien Kitto, CEO of Business Events Adelaide, who added: “Business events are aligned with the state’s focus areas, demonstrated by its network of innovation districts. Business events are worth more than A$2.5 billion (US$1.7 billion) annually to the state economy, and the South Australian Government recognises their importance as an economic powerhouse.”
This is why Kitto reports directly to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet in South Australia. The importance of business events is also why the State Government increased its funding of Business Events Adelaide in 2023, to help the bureau “secure strategically important events through subventions”, shared Kitto.
Additionally, a business event delegate on average spends A$632 a day, compared to a leisure visitor who averages A$117. Adelaide’s efforts are already yielding results, with over 17,000 international delegates contributing more than A$50 million to the state economy last year.
Aside from boosting the local economy, the ACC also recognises associations’ abilities and desires to leave behind positive legacies. As such, ACC collaborates with Backpacks for SA Kids, a local organisation that helps children leaving domestic violence by providing backpacks filled with essential items; and Trees for Life, a charity committed to rebuilding habitats for endangered animal species in South Australia. These initiatives allow delegates to contribute directly through donations and hands-on activities.
Furthering its commitment to social responsibility, the ACC has also donated over 200,000 unused meals since 2008 to local food rescue organisations Foodbank, OzHarvest, and Faithworks, addressing food waste and supporting those in need.
