Gold Coast Airport boosts Marathon with three-year sponsorship

The Gold Coast Airport has extended its naming rights sponsorship of the annual Gold Coast Marathon for a further three years.
Making the announcement Queensland Premier Anna Bligh stated "Gold Coast Airport will continue as naming rights sponsor of the award winning and internationally acclaimed Gold Coast Airport Marathon in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Gold Coast Airport first signed on as naming rights sponsor for the 2003 Marathon and the new deal will take its sponsorship of the event through to a 12th year in 2014.
Premier Bligh said the partnership would continue to deliver more visitors to the Gold Coast, adding "the Queensland Government will continue to back the Gold Coast Airport Marathon.
"Gold Coast Airport has made a significant investment in this major Queensland event and I thank them for their commitment to an event that continues to grow and draw visitors from interstate and overseas.
"Since Gold Coast Airport commenced its sponsorship, entries have risen from 9,494 in 2002 to 24,725 last year.
"The sponsorship by Gold Coast Airport has enabled the event to increase its numbers significantly from interstate and reach key international markets particularly Japan, New Zealand and South East Asia.
"Last year this led the Gold Coast Airport Marathon to deliver an economic impact of $39.45 million for Queensland including nearly 50,000 visitor nights.
"Hosting major events like this are part of our plan to continue building Queensland's bright future,
"With the continued support of the Gold Coast Airport, the Gold Coast Airport Marathon will continue to be one of the City's international showcase events in the lead-up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games."
Gold Coast Airport Managing Director Dennis Chant said the Gold Coast Airport was very proud of its 10 year partnership with the Gold Coast Airport Marathon.
Chant explained "both Gold Coast Airport and the Gold Coast Airport Marathon have enjoyed rapid growth since our first year as naming rights sponsor and we continue to share our main goals - to grow tourism for the region and set benchmarks in our respective industries that attract worldwide attention.
"The Gold Coast Airport Marathon allows Gold Coast Airport to demonstrate to other corporate entities a commitment to fostering events that showcase this region to the world and involve the community as a whole.
"Sponsorship of this event has certainly helped our airport grow and is credited with helping us secure direct daily flights to Japan, after we started with charter services specifically for the marathon some years ago.
"Gold Coast Airport management and staff are thrilled to continue our sponsorship of this iconic event and look forward to continuing our strong working relationship with Events Queensland."
Events Queensland Chief Executive John O'Sullivan said the sponsorship by Gold Coast Airport would cement the Gold Coast Airport Marathon's reputation as a key event on the Queensland calendar.
O'Sullivan concluded "the support of Gold Coast Airport over the past 10 years has helped elevate the Gold Coast Airport Marathon to become one of the world's most desirable running events.
"Events help build resilience in tourism and this is a great example of how an event and a sponsor can work together towards this goal."
The Gold Coast Airport Marathon is owned and managed by Events Queensland Gold Coast, a subsidiary of Events Queensland on behalf of the Queensland Government.
Gold Coast Airport is a key component of the portfolio of airports owned by Queensland Airports Limited that also includes the gateways of Townsville and Mount Isa.
The 34th annual Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be held on 30th June and 1st July this year.
The Gold Coast Airport Marathon is a finalist in the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards to be held on 2nd March.

http://www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au