The newly-extended Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) was officially opened on January 26th -  the same date the venue reopened after the floods a year earlier.

The Hon. Rachel Nolan, Minister for Finance, Natural Resources and The Arts,opened the five level, AUD140m boutique expansion and said it further confirmed Brisbane’s determination to recover and rebuild.

With its first events starting in the middle of February, BCEC, on Grey Street, is already holding bookings for 292 events and has confirmed conventions to date which will generate in excess of AUD70M in economic benefit to Brisbane and Queensland.

With the completion of the 25,000 sqm development, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre is now equal in size to Australia’s largest convention venue and, based on enquiries, is forecasting a minimum additional 300 events on top of the 1,000 events it hosts annually.

BCEC general manager, Bob O’Keeffe said: “The addition of Grey Street to the Centre’s existing resources generates a robust dynamic into the ultra-competitive global market mix. The boutique nature of Grey Street is proving attractive to international and national meeting planners, with bookings exceeding targets.”

Pictured: South Bank Corporation chairman Steve Wilson and minister for the Arts Rachel Nolan officially open BCEC on Grey Street