Business travel to Brisbane jumped by more than 20 percent in the past financial year.
Brisbane Economic Development Agency General Manager Tourism, Business & Major Events Lorelle Chittick the latest data from Tourism Research Australia showed business travel in the River City rose 20.5 percent in the 12 months to June 2024.
Ms Chittick said the year-on-year growth marked a decisive shift in Brisbane’s business travel landscape.
“Brisbane’s global reputation as a place to live, visit and do business continues to strengthen, with business travel reaching its highest levels since COVID-19,” she said.
“Brisbane is a world leader in science, health, technology, agriculture and energy which also makes our city an attractive destination for the brightest minds in the world to come together for global conferences.”
Ms Chittick said with the 2032 Games on the horizon, the city was on track to become Australia’s number one “bleisure” travel destination, combining business and leisure offerings.
“As we prepare for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Brisbane has an unprecedented opportunity to showcase its appeal on the world stage.”
She said the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) had played a key role in the growth of business events, with the 2023/24 financial year seeing BCEC deliver its second-best result in the venue’s 30-year history.
BCEC General Manager Kym Guesdon said the Centre had witnessed a substantial rise in client spending and buoyancy of conference sponsorship levels.
“A determined focus leading up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be a key accelerator for future achievements,” Ms Guesdon said.
Queensland Hotels Association CEO Bernie Hogan said the Queensland capital was on the brink of becoming a national leader for corporate travel with growth across the sector set to swell further.
“In the past, corporate travellers would typically head north or south for a holiday post conference,” Mr Hogan said.
“But business travellers are now staying longer and experiencing more. That’s underpinned by flexible work arrangements, a growing sophisticated mix of accommodation options and our ability to tap into the power of both corporate and large-scale events to bolster business tourism.”
