The Gold Coast will host  the 2012 Professional Conference Organiser’s Association (PCO) conference from 29 November this year bringing more than 300 attendees and potentailly thousands of delegates in future to the destination.

More than 300 of Australia and New Zealand’s key influencers within the National and International corporate meetings and associations sectors will attend the PCO Conference, which represents a pinnacle gathering within the meetings industry.

The three day conference at Jupiters Hotel & Casino provides a tremendous opportunity for the Gold Coast to showcase its local venues, attractions, suppliers and services to a targeted group of actual buyers, who act on behalf of multi-national corporations and companies on a regular basis.

“Competitive proposals were received from numerous destinations across Australia and our decision was based on overall value for money in the collective Gold Coast proposition,” said PCO Association president, Rob Henshaw.

“The availability of all other attractions including the islands to the north-east of the City, the theme parks, abundance of restaurants and many other fun-filled experiences were other contributing factors.

“Jupiters venue space is the right fit for the educational and networking sessions of the conference and has an excellent area for our trade exhibition all on the one level.”

The PCO conference will contribute a quarter of a million dollars to local business, but it’s the major gains that come inherent with hosting such an influential group of professionals that is most enticing.

“This is our time to shine in front of the biggest assembled network of meetings industry decision makers in Australia and New Zealand,” said Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter.

“That will be incentive enough for local businesses as the City also looks to highlight its outright experience and expertise in the marine, recreation, education, medical, sporting, food and wine, creative, technology and environmental sectors.”

In 2010/11 the Gold Coast attracted 1,203 domestic and international business events, marking an increase of 103 meetings, year on year from June 2010. But the number which really speaks volumes about the Gold Coast’s popularity as a business events destination is that the City attracted almost 50 per cent more delegates to business events than any other destination in Queensland. Delegates stayed an average 4.5 days on the Gold Coast which is almost twice the average for most other destinations.