NAME: (OF EVENT) AHRI NATIONAL CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION 2016
TYPE: Conference & Exhibition
BY: AHRI (Australian Human Resources Institute) Events Team
VENUE: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
PAX: 1,677 delegates and 3,349 total registrations across the three-day conference and
exhibition program
NO. ON ORGANISTING TEAM: Four
What you did:
AHRI National Convention and Exhibition, the flagship event for the Australian HR sector,
having been held in Sydney and Melbourne for the past 14 years, returned to Brisbane and
BCEC in 2016. Due to the event’s record success Brisbane will now be included in future
rotations.
The 2016 Brisbane event attracted a record number of conference delegates and total
registrants across the three day conference and exhibition program, with 80% of attendees at
HR manager, influencer or decision-maker level, confirming this event as the predominant
HR industry meeting.
The convention program comprised plenary and keynote concurrent sessions, workshops,
public sector symposium, and webcasts made available to HR professionals unable to attend
the conference and speakers’ program. The accompanying 100+ stand exhibition provided
delegates with the latest products and services in the HR field.
F&B:
The official welcome reception took on a grand fiesta theme, with organisers working with
BCEC Chefs to deliver South American style food for 900 delegates who enjoyed valuable
networking time and interaction with exhibitors.
The enthusiasm generated by coming to Brisbane led to the Gala Dinner being
oversubscribed, with more than 1,200 attending a jungle themed dinner in the Centre’s Plaza
Ballroom. BCEC extended the dinner, adding a second zone for dancing and the after party
in the Plaza Terrace Room with dessert buffet stations providing the link between the Plaza
Ballroom’s jazz band entertainment and the more energetic after party.
Difficulties:
Potential difficulties in attracting high delegate numbers to the event host state, Queensland,
were overcome by:
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Implementing a segmented marketing strategy with tailored state and sector
messaging
Early marketing and corporate sales activity
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Working with BCEC to promote the event to the local delegates, sponsors and
exhibitors
Leveraging other external partnerships including BCEC’s and Brisbane Marketing’s
digital and social networks
The outcome was the highest delegate attendance at any AHRI National Convention and
Exhibition.
At the close of Early-Bird registrations delegate numbers exceeded expectations. Delegate
satchels already en-route to the event were not going to suffice. Additional satchels in a
standard colour were ordered and allocated to full package delegates providing them with a
point of difference to all other attendees.
Special Touches:
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Marketing strategies took on new avenues resulting in higher engagement
Sell-out Gala Dinner in the Centre’s Plaza Ballroom and Plaza Terrace Room which
wowed guests
Exhibition and sponsorship packages sold out
50% increase in traffic to the official Convention website, while the Convention App
had higher engagement than in previous years
The venue of choice, BCEC was recently named The World’s Best Convention
Centre, an accolade they worked very hard to uphold during the delivery of the event.
The venue was easily navigable for delegates given the close proximity of the spaces
used with plenty of back of house spaces for staff and crew to work
BCEC staff worked tirelessly to ensure our event was delivered seamlessly, bending
over backwards to assist with onsite troubleshooting and special delegate and
speaker requests
Client’s Quote:
“AHRI’s annual National Convention and Exhibition was back in Brisbane for the first time in
14 years. We were delighted with the warm welcome and outstanding services we received
from BCEC, and a very spirited convention showing of about 2,500 HR leaders and
practitioners, including over 1,400 delegates from across Australia to the main program
featuring global thought leaders on HR and the future of work. We look forward to returning
to the Sunshine State to run Australia’s leading HR event”.
Lyn Goodear, Chief Executive Officer - AHRI
Enquiries: Gail Sawyer, Marketing and Communications Manager
T: +61 7 3308 3023 M: 0439 733 509 E: [email protected]
Date published: November 2016
About BCEC: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre is owned by South Bank Corporation and proudly
managed by leading international venue management specialists AEG Ogden.
About AEG Ogden: AEG Ogden is a joint venture between Australia-based venue management interests and
AEG Facilities of the United States.
AEG Ogden manages venues throughout the Asia Pacific region, including convention centres in Brisbane,
Cairns, Darwin, Kuala Lumpur, Oman, Hyderabad (currently in design), International Convention Centre Sydney
(opening December 2016), and the Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island; Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane; and
arenas including the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and adjacent Sports Centre, Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena,
the Newcastle Entertainment Centre, and Perth Arena. AEG Ogden is also the owner of National Basketball
League (NBL) team, the Sydney Kings. aegogden.com
In addition, AEG Facilities operates the Los Angeles Convention Centre, Hawaii Convention Centre, and Puerto
Rico Convention Centre. aegworldwide.com