Melbourne Convention Centre builds on Victoria’s strengths

MELBOURNE – The new Melbourne Convention Centre has already won Victorians 23 major opportunities to showcase its strengths in research and innovation to the world.

Minister for Innovation, Gavin Jennings said the conventions booked for the new centre will create international exposure for Victoria’s strengths including the biotechnology industry and the new Australian Synchrotron.

“The 23 conventions now secured for the new centre will bring 50,000 delegates to Melbourne and inject AU$327 million (about US$307.86 million) into the Victorian economy,” Jennings said.

The latest international conventions confirmed for the new convention centre include The Darwin Conference (1,000 delegates), Synchroton Radiation

The new Melbourne Convention Centre is due to open for business in 2009. It will have a 5000-seat plenary hall, 32 meeting rooms and a ground floor cocktail space capable of accommodating 8400 people. It is the first convention centre in Australia to be awarded a 6-Star Green Star environmental rating.