By Gwen O’Toole

The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) is celebrating five years of business and special events industry by revealing over 1,500 events have attracted nearly 1.2 million guests.

After undergoing a 40 million dollar extension in January 2009, the Centre now boasts an extra two exhibition halls, a registration office, three meeting rooms and three new kitchens. The centre can now accommodate a banquet for over 3,500 diners, conventions up to 6,000 delegates and exhibition space for up to 500 booths.

The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
is celebrating its fifth year

Over the past five years, the GCCEC has rocked to the tunes of Jamiroquai, Stevie Nicks, Missy Higgins, The Presets, Silverchair, Pink, Powderfinger, 50 Cent and Human Nature to name just a few. Local visitors have also enjoyed the Australian Motorcycle Expo, the Gold Coast Bulletin Home Show and the celebration of high school formals and university graduations.

The centre has come alight with colour for the Australian Fashion Design Awards, Breakfast with Jane Fonda, a night with Jerry Lewis and the Billy Connolly Tour ‘Too Old To Die Young’. Heading into the third season hosting the Gold Coast Blaze Basketball team, and multiple appearances from the Professional Bull Riding Challenge, and World Rodeo Championships the centre has developed a reputation as a strong sporting venue.

Conventions, incentives and meetings continue to be the core business for the GCCEC with over 981 events held since opening.

The venue has won 19 industry state and national awards including the best Meeting Venue More than 500 Delegates three years in a row (2005, 2006, and 2007) placing the Centre into the Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) Hall of Fame.

“If we can’t produce a good product then we won’t do it. Everything we do at GCCEC is for the event experience,” said GCCEC general manager Adrienne Readings.

“We are proud of our success over the past five years, but there’s always room for more. We continually look for new ways to deliver on service, present a creative dish, or provide new technology that will contribute towards an event. It’s our job to make our clients look good,” she said.

For more information on holding your next event at the GCCEC click here.