Australian Business Events Association

Home
Australia
Chatswood, NSW
Australian Business Events Association

ABEA is committed to representing and supporting the Australian Business Events Sector. Who is the Australian Business Events Association? How was it formed?

What is the Business Events Industry

The Business Events Industry has a critical role to play in our economy’s success. Business events are an enabler for all industries to come together to do business, innovate, develop workforces and trade – we foster the prosperity of our economy and society. Size of the industry

The Australian Business Events Industry generates $36 billion annually in di

rect economic benefit and employs an estimated 300,000 people directly and thousands more indirectly. It comprises tens of thousands of businesses ranging from multinationals to ‘mum and dad’ small businesses; it is far more wide-reaching than convention centres and event organisers. The Australian Business Events Association Ltd (ABEA) is the leading industry body responsible for representing and supporting the prosperity of the organisations and people that work in, or benefit from the Australian Business Events Sector. ABEA represents the unified ambitions of the Australian business events industry and its people. We will drive real impact regarding sector growth and development through advocacy, member support and innovation. The work to spearhead the new Association has been led by a Project Development Group, comprised of directors from the three Associations. They have announced that widely respected industry stalwart, Peter King has been appointed as Chair. King was most recently the CEO of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) was formed by the unification of the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB), the Australian Convention Centres Group (ACCG), and the Exhibition & Events Association of Australasia Ltd (EEAA). Why was the Australian Business Events Association founded? The business events industry of Australia called over many years to unify the sector. The most recent research conducted in 2022 revealed that 84% of survey respondents wanted a unified body representing the sector to government, and the broader business community. It was deemed that the duplication of services by numerous associations resulted in inefficient use of industry funds, with multiple advocacy voices creating confusion with stakeholders and diluting industry messaging. Multiple consultations revealed the industry wanted one organisation to:

- Educate and develop professionalism throughout the industry via unified and commercially viable conferences, events, awards, training and education programs
- Support key national issues such as workforce challenges, WHS, sustainability and leadership development
- Build a strong, mutually beneficial national community of event professionals that attracts others
- Represent the sector to state and federal governments
- Commission research to build strong advocacy, policy and economic positions
- Raise awareness and understanding of the sector, its impacts and importance
- Directly feed the state and territory-based challenges and solutions into the national conversation

02/09/2026

Hot off the press: Ways to Partner for ABEA 2026 is now available.

ABEA 2026: Sharing What Works lands at the Adelaide Convention Centre from 30 November to 2 December, and we are open for partnership opportunities. This year's prospectus is built on an experience-led model, giving partners three ways to connect with the business events sector, with options starting from just $3,000:

📍Signature Partnerships: premium visibility and association with flagship conference moments

📍 Experience-Led Partnerships: immersive touchpoints that put your brand directly in front of delegates

📍 Visibility Partnerships: targeted exposure for organisations building their profile in the sector

Whatever your budget, there's a package built for you.

Business events touches every state and territory in this country. ABEA 2026 is where the sector's decision-makers gather to shape what comes next, and partnership here puts your brand in the room.

📄 Read the full Ways to Partner guide: https://bit.ly/463t8hh

Packages are limited and priority access applies. To secure your package, contact Hayley Beveridge now.

28/08/2026

The ABEA Training Program 2026/2027 is underway, delivered in partnership with Leading Well and proudly supported by Business Events Australia.

Session one brought participants together for two full days of learning modules and coaching circles, building the mindsets and skills required to lead self and others through change. The response confirmed what we already knew: leadership development in this sector isn't a nice-to-have, it's a competitive necessity.

If you or someone on your team is ready to build capability in systemic leadership, feedback, and managing wellbeing at scale: now is the time to act. Scholarship places are limited, and this is your chance to invest in the leaders who will shape the next phase of our industry. Session two lands in Adelaide from 30 November to 1 December, running alongside the ABEA 2026 Conference.

Reach out today to secure a spot for Adelaide - https://bit.ly/4wSu5DY

25/08/2026

💥 Domestic business events pipeline set to deliver more than $1 billion in delegate spend 💥

The Australian Business Events Association has released the Domestic Forward Calendar 2026, revealing more than $1 billion in estimated delegate spend from business events is already secured across Australia up until 2033.

The report provides a national view of domestic business events secured by Australia’s convention bureaux, with 806 events scheduled from July 2026, representing 3,031 event days and more than 451,000 delegates currently on the forward calendar.

Together, these events are expected to generate $1.041 billion in delegate spend, including $952.7 million from domestic delegates and $88.4 million from international delegates.

Read more here 👉 https://bit.ly/4grxN2N

24/08/2026

Australia's Business Events Future: A National Vision Summit took place on Friday 21 August at , bringing together platinum and key stakeholder members of , , and the . The day was built around three working sessions, moving from the industry's starting point, through what a genuine national business events industry vision could look like, to the advocacy priorities and actions needed to get there.

Across the day, the room worked toward a shared long-term ambition for the industry and the government support required to reach it, alongside a clearer, ranked set of advocacy priorities to take forward together. Rather than a list of individual asks, the goal was a single, aligned position the industry can carry into conversations with government.

The ABEA team will work through the detailed outcomes, including a credible ambition figure and a 12 to 24 month advocacy proposal, which will be brought back to members for feedback in the coming weeks. Thank you to everyone who contributed in the lead-up and on the day.

07/08/2026

Regional business events play such an important role in supporting local economies. There are also many passionate people working to strengthen events in regional Australia. ABEA recently welcomed the Association of Agricultural Field Days of Australasia (AAFDA) to our community and we held our first regional networking event.

On Friday 31 July, ABEA hosted a Regional Community Connect on the NSW North Coast: a relaxed session with one shared focus, growing a stronger, more connected business events community.

Thanks to Sarah McPhail and Belinda Iseppi for co-hosting, and to for their generosity in hosting us.

The morning brought together venues, councils, event organisers, suppliers, tourism bodies, universities and more. What stood out wasn't the venue or the coffee. It was the conversations: building meaningful connections, collaborating rather than competing, and keeping regional voices represented in Australia's business events industry.

Off the back of that success, ABEA will be back on the North Coast:

📅 Thursday 12 November
⏰ 12:00pm – 2:00pm
📍 Baske Room, C.ex Group, Coffs
Free to attend, open to anyone in the region.

🔗 Register here - https://bit.ly/457THl4

03/08/2026

🌟 REMINDER - Leading Well® for Emerging Leaders -Sydney

We have two remaining spots for this excellent course for emerging leaders in the business events industry.

📆 18-19 August
🏢 Sydney
👉 For more details and registration - https://www.abea.org.au/eventdetails/38327/leading-well-for-emerging-leaders-sydney

31/07/2026

Your hotel’s Meetings & Events business matters. But is its full value being seen .... or measured?

Every day, hotels host meetings, conferences, training programs, corporate functions and business events that generate revenue, support jobs and drive broader hotel performance.

Yet much of this activity is missing from the data used to measure Australia’s events industry.

That gap matters. Without reliable market intelligence, it is harder for hotel teams to:
✓ Benchmark performance
✓ Make informed pricing and revenue decisions
✓ Structure sales teams and marketing investment
✓ Plan future venue and product development
✓ Demonstrate the sector’s true value to owners, investors and government

Join Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) and Emekeli Research for a practical discussion about why hotel Meetings & Events data matters, and how better intelligence can help hotels make stronger commercial decisions and identify future growth opportunities.

This webinar is particularly relevant for hotel general managers, commercial leaders, revenue managers, sales teams and Meetings & Events professionals.

📅 Tuesday, 25 August 2026
⏰ 2.00–3.00pm AEST
💻 Online

Your Meetings & Events business is not a side story in hotel performance. It is a critical part of the picture.

👉 Register here - https://bit.ly/4bVaCeh

27/07/2026

Australian Business Events Association appoints Samantha Glass to Board.

Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) has appointed Samantha Glass, Founder and Principal of Glass Advisory, to its Board, following the resignation of Penny Lion GAICD due to other professional commitments.

A recognised leader in corporate affairs, government engagement and industry advocacy, Samantha brings to the Board more than 20 years' experience spanning business events, strategic communications and stakeholder engagement.

The team and Board are pleased to welcome Sam back to the Board and look forward to working with her.

👉 Read more here - https://www.abea.org.au/news-item/24235/australian-business-events-association-appoints-samantha-glass-to-board

21/07/2026

🪴 There is something very special growing within ABEA - a truly national community of emerging leaders who are connecting, supporting one another and keen to shape the future of Australia’s business events industry.

Our recent national Emerging Leaders Coffee Catch-Ups ☕ brought together more than 160 people across Australia’s major cities. Seeing so many early- and mid-career professionals sharing ideas, experiences and ambitions was a powerful reminder of the talent, energy and enthusiasm coming through our industry.

For the first time, we also have Emerging Leaders Council members representing every Australian state and territory - giving this community a genuinely national voice and ensuring local connections and opportunities continue to grow.

A huge thank you 🙏 to our Council members, the organisations supporting them and everyone who attended or helped bring these gatherings to life.

We would love to welcome even more ABEA members and guests to future Coffee Catch-Ups. Whether you are new to the industry, building your career or ready to expand your professional network, these events are a relaxed and welcoming way to find your community. Investing in the next generation is an important priority for ABEA.

We still have a couple of places available for our Leading Well® for Emerging Leaders program in Sydney on 18–19 August. Now in its fourth series, the program combines practical leadership development, relationship building, wellbeing, feedback skills and individual coaching - and has already supported more than 100 ABEA alumni.

Learn more or register here:
👉 https://www.abea.org.au/eventdetails/38327/leading-well-for-emerging-leaders-sydney

For those unable to attend the Sydney program, we also have a small number of places available for Leading Well in Adelaide, held in the lead-up to the ABEA Conference.

We look forward to seeing this community continue to connect, grow and lead.

14/07/2026

Every industry has its pioneers. The smartest professionals don't just admire them, they learn from them.

- 35 Years. 1,500 Events. Your Questions, Live with Peter Jones AM -

👏 Don't miss this webinar if you want to spend time with someone who has helped build the event industry in Australia.

We can always do courses and read about AI and other innovation to help move us forward in our roles and industry, however it's the years of experience of others that guides us on what direction to take, what to look out for, what's critically important to success.

Peter is giving us an hour of his time to answer any questions in relation to his career, events he's delivered, his involvement in education, and his support of the business events industry. You can ask him for footy and golf tips too 😁

👉 For more info and registration, click here - https://bit.ly/452YGDo

Address

Chatswood, NSW

Telephone

+61435505467

Website

http://www.abea.org.au/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Australian Business Events Association posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Chatswood?