Australia’s newest event space has arrived, with Acting Premier, James Merlino announcing Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s (MCEC) expansion site has officially opened. The $205 million expansion was funded by the 2015-16 Victorian State Budget with building works commencing in 2016. The expansion adds 20,000 square metres, increasing MCEC’s total size to 70,000 square metres, heralding the venue as Australia’s…
Following extensive lobbying by the Business Events Council of Australia (BECA), of which PCOA is a member, the economic value of business events to the Australian economy has received significant further recognition in the Federal Government’s tourism policy. The Hon. Steven Ciobo, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, has announced Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund Program will receive $12m…
The associations sector of business tourism not only needs new funding sources to replace falling membership, it also is finding it more difficult to attract sponsors, with those vital supporters demanding a better return for their investment in conferences and meetings. “The demand by many sponsors today is the ability to demonstrate their products and services to justify the fees…
Alec Gilbert the retiring chief executive of the Adelaide Convention Centre has been awarded the PCO Association Presidents Award for his services to Adelaide Convention Centre and the business events sector in South Australia and Australia. Barry Neame, president of the PCO Association, announced the Award at a luncheon of business events professionals in Canberra last week. The award is…
Last night PCOA president Barry Neame joined the hundreds of invited guests to the spectacular opening of the state-of-the-art newly completed Adelaide Convention Centre East Building. Neame said, “the launch of the new East Building is another piece of significant infrastructure for the conference & events industry”. With a 3500 seat capacity, the Hall can be divided into more than 15…
The NSW Government has released the much-anticipated NSW Regional Conferencing Strategy & Action Plan, which it says will drive more business events and visitors to rural and regional NSW. Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Adam Marshall, and Member for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson, launched the $6 million strategy with the aim of securing more conventions, meetings and…
The sell-out is the fifth in a row for the event and came five months ahead of the conference, to be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre between 26 and 28 November 2017. Barry Neame, the PCO association president, said the clamour for the 60 booths illustrated the value suppliers placed on being able to build a…
Are you Accredited – PCOA President, Barry Neame says the PCO Accreditation program was established in 2009 to provide individuals and businesses with a set of standards that are recognised as the minimum standard level of service and business practices. “The PCO Association offers two types of Accreditation that provide individuals and businesses with a set of standards that are…
Twelve months ago the PCO Association established a Hotel Advisory Committee. One of the committee’s objectives was to improve dialogue between PCO’s, Hotel Sales Teams and Hotel Revenue Managers and to work towards ways of improving the level of communication and standard of professionalism between all parties. Over the course of Advisory meetings many discussions took place on the issues…