Adelaide Convention Bureau (ACB) has kicked off its calendar of interstate and international business events with Destination South Australia this week, welcoming around 100 event planners, local suppliers and trade media from around the country.

Held at Adelaide Convention Centre from 23 to 25 February, the event showcases the best South Australia has to offer for planners looking to host their business events, meetings and incentive programs in the state.

With borders finally open and flights returning to normal, ACB chief executive Damien Kitto said Adelaide was back open for interstate and international events.

“Adelaide has been leading the way throughout 2021 with a return to face-to-face business events, and its reputation for holding COVID SAfe business events is now enabling it to create strong momentum for the local sector with 97 domestic business events worth $218 million in economic value to the State already scheduled for the year,” Kitto said.

“We are proud at the ACB that even in 2021 we managed to hold Australia’s first large national face to face business event in Ozwater and that momentum has continued into 2022.”

The three-day event, themed ‘Adelaide – be surprised’, is expected to attract around 39 business events, equating to $78 million in economic benefit to South Australia.

“Many guests remain surprised by how much quality and choice Adelaide has to offer business delegates in 2022, and it is all readily available in an easily walkable, yet spacious city – a city where we keep being told by delegates every person they meet is incredibly friendly and helpful – such a reputation is invaluable as we rebuild post COVID,” Kitto said.

While the business events sector was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic, Kitto said delegates are desperate to return to the face-to-face knowledge transfer and no one should be negative about a strong turnaround.

“It is happening. Yes it will be some months before we begin to see the results of the hard work we have undertaken during COVID to secure business events out past 2025, but our business event venues and our hotels will be full again with delegates, and the economic return we deliver to the city and state is strong with an ROI of 40:1.”