Seminars and company events
The Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) offers 44 meeting and event spaces under one roof, from executive boardrooms to four exhibition halls and auditoria with capacities of 620 and 430. It hosts national and international conventions, trade shows, gala dinners and company meetings in South Brisbane, in the South Bank district of the city.
The centre has run events since it opened in 1995. It is a South Bank Corporation venue managed by Legends Global, which also operates the Great Hall as an entertainment venue. For organisers this means one team handles rooms, catering and technology. Audio visual and IT services are provided in-house, and Speakers Presentation Centres give presenters a place to load and check their slides before a session.
A large congress can combine a plenary in one of the auditoria with breakout sessions on other levels and an exhibition in the halls below. A smaller group can book one of the executive boardrooms for a board meeting or a strategy day without having to deal with the scale of the building.
Rooms and capacities
The spaces are spread across seven levels: Arbour, Boulevard, Concord, Foyer, Mezzanine, Plaza and Sky. The Great Hall, on the Foyer level, is a flexible hall with seating that can be raised. The Plaza Ballroom is a versatile room fitted with current presentation technology. The Plaza Gallery is a more intimate room surrounded by artworks, suited to receptions and smaller dinners.
On the top level, the Sky Room and its terrace look out over the city. The Boulevard Room has an LED ceiling. Other spaces include the Arbour Lounge, the Boulevard Auditorium, the Concord boardrooms and the Mezzanine M2 Theatre. The four exhibition halls are used for trade fairs and public exhibitions and can be booked together with meeting rooms for a congress with an exhibition floor.
A floor plan brochure with full specifications is available from the venue. Capacities for each room and layout should be confirmed with the events team before a proposal is drawn up.
Catering
Food is prepared in the centre's own kitchens. The Seasoned by Queensland menu was created by executive chef Matthew Arnold and the culinary team, with priority given to Queensland produce according to the season, and to other Australian suppliers when an item is not available locally. The menus cover breakfast, breaks, daily chef's menus, lunch, canapes and bowls, dinner and beverages. The kitchen caters for dietary needs, allergens and religious and lifestyle choices, and staff are trained in identifying and labelling allergens. The venue cites 80 catering awards and holds ISO certification for quality and food safety.
History and setting
BCEC opened in 1995 on the South Bank side of the city. Galleries, performing arts venues, restaurants, hotels and parkland are within walking distance, so delegates can move between sessions, dinners and their hotels on foot. The centre holds EarthCheck Master Certification, earned after 15 consecutive years of audited sustainability practice, a point that many corporate and association clients now ask about when choosing a venue.
Getting there
Public transport is within walking distance of the building. Brisbane Airport serves interstate and international delegates. Hotels in South Bank and across the river in the city centre make it possible to house large groups close to the venue.
