Adelaide Convention Centre

The charming yet vibrant Australian city of Adelaide has long been a favoured Asia Pacific conference destination.

The city is convenient, safe and key players in the tourism, events and hospitality work as a team to secure events and provide an exceptional delegate experience.

The multi-award winning Adelaide Convention Centre – the nation’s first – has long been an international benchmark for quality and customer service. With its distinctive curved glass façade, this landmark building sits on the banks of the River Torrens, in the heart of the city.

Within a few steps from its front door are more than 2600 hotel rooms and 300-plus restaurants and cafes. A modern international airport is 10 minutes by taxi; free buses and trams run between popular tourist attractions; and guests can stroll to the Parliament, theatres, the retail hub, and the education and cultural boulevard of North Terrace, a unique stretch of beautifully preserved and gracious Victorian architecture.

The centre is undergoing a $350 million expansion that will render it the most modern conventions and exhibitions facility in Australasia. Three distinct buildings will provide a high degree of event flexibility – depending on what is required, clients will be able to occupy the entire site, a single building or individual halls or meeting rooms.

The style and staging of business events is constantly changing, and so are the expectations of clients. The revamped centre’s design recognises this, and includes a flexible, raked auditorium capable of seating up to 3500; extended exhibition space; meeting halls of varying sizes for gatherings of hundreds rather than thousands; and a plethora of breakout rooms for offices, presentations, boardroom lunches, or more intimate networking sessions. The whole complex will be wired to support the latest information and communications technology.

Even within the existing facility, high calibre and passionate staff can handle events for thousands, or just a dozen – indoors or out. Adelaide’s mild climate is conducive to holding functions in the ‘great Australian outdoors’. The Riverbank Lawn, on the banks of the Torrens, is 1700 square metres of grass carpet that can be transformed for glittering cocktail parties, barbecues or themed events under blue skies during the day, or stars at night.

The centre’s kitchens are famed for their ability to produce restaurant quality food for banquets and its multiethnic chefs create masterpieces with the high quality local produce for which South Australia is widely known. All cultural and dietary requirements are catered for and Sustainable Meetings Packages include regional, organic and low food-mile menus.  

Adelaide is Australia’s ‘green’ conference destination. The city is a leader in renewable energy and South Australia was the first state in Australia to proclaim climate change legislation.

For several years, the Adelaide Convention Centre has been working to reduce the ecological impact of its activities and promote environmental responsibility among its peers, clients, staff and the industry. Its promise is Gold Service. Green Attitude and it has won a string of prestigious national and international awards for its innovative programs. The carbon emissions of all events are accurately calculated – based on up-to-date carbon audits – and can be entirely or partially offset.

Events at the Adelaide Convention Centre can be as public, or as discreet as required. Clients can literally brand the city, or hold a meeting in absolute privacy, with top security.

Transport – Adelaide receives direct flights from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Auckland and regular, daily commuter flights from all other Australian capital cities.

Security – In recent years the centre has hosted two APEC forums, a Council of Australian Governments meeting and top-security defence conferences. Its experienced in-house security team works closely with the SA Police, Federal Police and Military Police. If required, the precinct around the centre, which includes the Intercontinental Hotel next door, can be completely locked down.

Business and politics – South Australia has a robust economy; like the rest of Australia it is politically stable; and Adelaide is cost-competitive and affordable. The State has an advanced manufacturing, technology and research base, and is home to some of the world’s leading companies in the sectors of defence, food and wine, resources, information and communications technology, and automotive. Conferencing aside, it’s a valuable place to meet, greet and talk business ‘offline’.

Tourism – Adelaide is Australia’s wine capital and the ‘gateway to the Outback’. Because it’s so accessible, conference-related social events aren’t limited to the CBD. The Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, River Murray or Fleurieu Peninsula ¬– all within an hour of the city – offer excellent venues and experiences.
    
Expansion project – The carefully planned two-stage construction phase will ensure that building will cause minimal disruption to patrons. Stage One is due for completion in 2014 and Stage Two, in 2016.

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