31st Asia-Pacific Venue Industry Congress

Visit some of Brisbane's most iconic venues for a behind-the-scenes look.

Venue Tour 1 - Performing Arts - Queensland Performing Arts Centre

Time: 9am to 10:30am, Sunday 19th May

Experience a behind-the-scenes tour of one of Brisbane's most renowned cultural landmarks: the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). Delve into the fascinating history, stories and architecture of QPAC’s four venues and enjoy and sneak peek of the much-anticipated fifth theatre, currently under development. Once complete, QPAC will be one of the world’s largest performing arts centres under one roof.

Limit: Up to 30 people


Venue Tour 2 - Multi Sports Complex - Sleeman Sports Complex (Limited Spots)

• Bus departs BCEC, Southbank at 11:15 am
• Bus arrives SSC (Anna Meares Velodrome) approx. 12:10 pm
• Lunch and welcome/introduction 12:10 – 12:30 pm
• Venue walk around 12:30 pm – 2 pm
• Bus picks up from Car Park 3 (other end of precinct) 2:00 -2:10 pm
• Return to Southbank 2:45-3:00 pm

Proudly sponsored by PMY Group.
LIV Golf's emergence onto the international golf stage signals a profound shift, blending sports with technology and innovation. In this groundbreaking exploration, Paul Yeomans, CEO of PMY Group and Gabriel Clark, Vice President of Event Operations and Workflow at LIV Golf will explore the disruptive impact of LIV Golf, showcasing its revolutionary event formats enriched with cutting-edge data analytics. Is this the dawn of a transformative era in global golf? Join us for an exclusive glimpse into the LIV Golf journey, with a focus on enhancing the fan experience.

Proudly sponsored by AXS Australia & NZ: Fan engagement stands as a cornerstone and is paramount for the success and sustainability of sports and entertainment venues. From leveraging emerging technologies to understanding cultural nuances, our panel of experts will bring an international perspective, dissect current trends and future directions in fan interaction and how this can impact your venue, and deliver actionable insights to navigate the evolving landscape of fan engagement on a global scale.

Managing multi-purpose venues comes with a unique set of challenges – you are a landlord, major event host, promoter and public authority. Tampa Sports Authority, in Florida, controls Raymond James Stadium, three city golf courses and the Hillsborough County Tournament Sportsplex as well as the landlord for George Steinbrenner Field and the Amalie Arena. Eric Hart’s job description encompasses maintaining and managing a comprehensive and complex group of sports and recreational facilities for the Tampa Bay area, all while facing the ultimate level of transparency and scrutiny – having your operating budget publicly available online.

Join us in an engaging discussion with some of Australia's leading theatrical producers as we delve in to the reality of bringing blockbuster productions to the stage.

With many new productions hitting Australia's shores in 2024 and beyond we will look at what it takes to produce new work in today's world. What is the commercial viability of a new show versus remounting a tried-and-true classic? What is the secret to getting the public to spend money on an unknown product? And importantly how can venues work closer with producers to allow for more new work to take to our stages and succeed?

Over the past decade, Australia and NZ has witnessed a significant resurgence in heritage venues such as The Tivoli and Princess Theatre in Brisbane, the Northcote in Melbourne, and theatres across Newcastle, Sydney, Perth, and Adelaide. In this session, industry experts will explore the driving forces behind this revival, discussing challenges, successes, and strategies for preserving and revitalizing these historic spaces.

Attendees will gain insights into adaptive reuse projects, innovative programming, and community engagement initiatives that have breathed new life into these cherished cultural landmarks. Join us to celebrate the enduring appeal and potential of heritage venues.

Proudly sponsored by VITEC - Join us for a forward-looking session on the future of venue management, exploring key trends and their impacts on the industry. Discuss the role of technology in shaping venue management and data analytics for predictive insights. Explore sustainability initiatives, virtual and augmented reality applications, and advanced security systems in enhancing venue operations. From economic shifts to technological advancements and unforeseen events, the panel of international experts will analyse how these factors influence the industry landscape and what it means for you.