[The Victorian Connection / Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre]
Brett Ince, Executive Director - Tourism Greater Geelong & The Bellarine
The Geelong Convention Exhibition Centre it’s very multi-purposed.
So when you think about conventions up to a thousand people with that thousand plenary, but it’s also very adaptive, that you’ll be able to have different people use the space in different ways.
[Vision: Artist impression of the inside of the convention centre]
The 200 room luxury hotel is a significant opportunity for the region.
It’ll be very complementary to the centre, but what’s really important about today is the fact that that additional $120m will also drive the revitalisation of the western beach precinct of the waterfront.
[Vision: View of the waterfront and people walking along the concourse, statues]
We know that that will connect delegates, visitors, people that are using the centre with the waterfront, and it’s such an iconic location so we’re really, really excited about that.
[Vision: Close-up view of the statues and waterfront with fishermen fishing off pier.
Expanded view of the statues with the waterfront behind. Man kayaking and views of the beach and waterfront]
We’re really blessed with the way in which we’ve got so many different experiences in the region.
[Vision: Cyclist riding along concourse. View of Geelong CBD showing café and waterfront and yachts. View of entrance to Avalon Airport and planes]
The nature experiences, the food and wine experiences, the way that Geelong CBD is transforming, the waterfront of Geelong, and we’re also blessed by the fact that we have Avalon Airport too, so the fact that we have those connections to interstate.
[Vision: View of the waterfront and ferris-wheel, people playing volley ball on the beach and rollerblading. View of yachts moored and people walking along the concourse]
So, our summer peak period is through that sort of December, January, February, and what we do throughout the year is really try and drive other visitation sets, and business travel, and business visitation is one of those.
What you do find with business events travellers or business travellers in general is that they do spend more in the region, so they’re high-yielding visitors.
[Vision: Overall view of the waterfront and yachts]
This will be an absolute game-changer for the region.
[This project is funded as part of the Geelong City Deal. Australian Government. Victoria State Government Australia. City of Greater Geelong]
[The Victorian Connection, people, communities and the economy. For more news and stories go to connection.vic.gov.au]
[Victoria State Government / The Victorian Connection. Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne]
For the full article please refer back to Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre - building a bright future for the visitor economy
