New Business Events Manager appointed to lead Business Events Sunshine Coast

Maureen Brennan, a highly experienced business events and tourism executive, has been appointed Business Events Manager for Business Events Sunshine Coast (BESC).

As the convention bureau for the Sunshine Coast, BESC is involved with bidding for major conferences and events, assisting members with event planning and delivery, and elevating the region’s profile as one of Australia’s leading boutique business events destinations.

Business events has contributed significantly to the Sunshine Coast’s tourism growth in recent years, with the region hosting a number of major international and national conferences and events including the TCI Oceania Conference, Australian Amusement Leisure & Recreation Association Conference, Australian Events Awards, Australian Cruise Conference, and Australian Association of Convention Bureaux Annual Conference.

Brennan brings over 20 years experience in the industry to the role having run her own business, Incentive Connect International, since 2006, based out of Brisbane, and prior to that held positions with Tourism Auckland, Hilton International and the Carlton Hotel Group.

As the elected Chairperson of the NZ Convention Bureau, Brennan produced and published a training handbook on the MICE market for NZ Bureaux Managers. Brennan was also an elected Board member for the International Association of the Society Incentive Travel Executives NZ chapter.

Announcing the appointment, Visit Sunshine Coast Chief Executive, Simon Latchford, said that Brennan’s appointment came at an exciting time in the future of the Sunshine Coast’s business events sector.

Latchford explained “we are very fortunate to be able to attract such a well-credentialed industry professional as Maureen, and her experience and contacts will prove highly valuable as the Sunshine Coast enters a new era of tourism development.

“With the new runway at Sunshine Coast Airport underway, two new upmarket, full-service hotels with substantial conference facilities recently approved, and with a landscape that is ideal for high-end incentives, the Sunshine Coast has enormous potential to grow its business events sector.

“Maureen will work closely with the convention and events team at Sunshine Coast Council, Tourism Events Queensland, and business events operators across the Sunshine Coast to build our position in the market even further. We have the benefit of our own airport being serviced directly by major business centres in Australia and New Zealand, as well as ease of access from Brisbane, complemented by one of Australia’s ‘sunniest’ and ‘naturally refreshing’ environments for business events. It’s a winning combination.”

Images: Maureen Brennan (top) and breakfast on a Sunshine Coast sandbar (below).