Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones has opened the $10 million Sunshine Coast Convention Centre at Novotel Twin Waters Resort.
Ms Jones said the project would create up to 100 jobs on the Sunshine Coast in the future.
“Conferences and business events are a multi-million-dollar global industry. This new centre allows the Sunshine Coast to tap into this rapidly growing sub-sector of the tourism market,” she said.
Ms Jones said the new 3300 square metre convention centre, capable of hosting more than 1000 delegates, would be a game-changer for the region.
“This centre has enough capacity to house 200 trade stands at once. It will be instrumental in securing events the Sunshine Coast has never been able to host in the past,” she said.
“With the expansion of the Sunshine Coast airport and millions of dollars in new tourism infrastructure developments under way, the local tourism industry is booming.”
Positioned in the grounds of the Novotel Twin Waters Resort, the convention centre gives delegates access to the natural bushland and surrounding ocean, river and lagoon water features accessing playing fields and two premium golf courses.
The Minyama and Wandiny function rooms acknowledge the local Indigenous Gubbi Gubbi people.
Ms Jones said the owners of the convention centre and the 361-room resort, Shakespeare Property Group, set the ambitious goal of increasing delegate numbers by 30 per cent within two years.
“More delegates mean more jobs for locals – that’s why we’re getting behind this campaign,” she said.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said the new facility would reinforce the region’s growing reputation as a destination of choice for business and leisure.
“This facility will certainly play a key role in helping our Sunshine Coast continue on its upward trajectory as one of the nation’s highest performing regional economies and leading visitor destinations,” he said.
