The Australian Convention Centre Group (ACCG), comprising representatives from the nation’s leading convention and exhibition centres, have passed a resolution to support the amalgamation of relevant industry associations, in the interest of the broader event sector.

This follows a similar resolution by the Exhibitions and Events Association of Australia (EEAA) in December, when EEAA members unanimously moved a motion to allow its Board to merge with the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) and Australian Convention Centre Group (ACCG), creating a new entity. Yesterday, the AACB also unanimously passed the same motion.

The ACCG, comprised of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, International Convention Centre Sydney, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Cairns Convention Centre, Adelaide Convention Centre and Darwin Convention Centre has echoed the calls from AACB and EEAA to pursue a single, unified voice for the industry.

Business events play an enormous role in Australia’s economy, contributing more than $36 billion nationally in the year prior to COVID-19. But beyond the immediate economic benefits, business events catalyse change and leave lasting legacies, through knowledge exchange, communication of research and subsequent investment in innovation.

Currently, the industry voice is splintered across multiple associations, which can at times make it challenging to advocate the sector’s value.

Advocating for the change, members of the ACCG argued and agree that the business events sector would benefit enormously from a single, amalgamated peak body to support growth and industry development.