AEG Ogden Gets International Awards

Two Queensland venues managed by AEG Ogden have received prestigious international accolades.

Both the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre and the Cairns Convention Centre were confirmed as two of the three finalists for this World's Best Congress Centre award for 2007 at the recent annual General Assembly of the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC) in Singapore.

The Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre was adjudged the eventual winner.

Brussels-based AIPC is the international association of 160 of the world's leading convention and exhibition centres across 53 countries. Its brief is to support, encourage and recognise excellence in convention centre operation and management.

AIPC presents its Apex Awards annually following an extensive and rigorous assessment of the nominated facilities. A total of 18 finalists were determined before a shortlist of three for the ultimate award was announced.

The awards are made on the basis of a confidential performance and customer satisfaction analysis carried out by a team from the University of Brussels Business School.

AEG Ogden Chief Executive Harvey Lister says the recognition for both centres was of considerable significance for the Brisbane-based company and for Queensland's and Australia's reputation as a premier meetings destination, stating "recognition via this award is regarded throughout the industry as representing a true international standard of excellence."

Both Cairns and Brisbane Centres have featured prominently in these awards for a number of years with Cairns having won the Worldâs Best award in 2004 and Brisbane maintaining a top three position for three of the last four years.

AEG Ogden is a joint venture with the Los Angeles-based Anschutz Entertainment Group with a family of 65 venues worldwide making AEG one of the largest venue and events businesses in the world.

Image: Cairns Convention Centre