Why Gold Coast is the ideal host city

Here’s a couple of questions to consider as the year nears its end and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) loom large on the Queensland horizon: Why is the Gold Coast a great city to host a major event like GC2018? How can hosting GC2018 benefit the city into the future?

Two of Griffith University’s leading researchers on the Gold Coast will combine their academic powers to provide answers at an event to be hosted by City of Gold Coast Libraries on Wednesday, December 6.

City of Gold Coast Libraries presents 2018 Inside Scoop at Robina Library and Community Centre where Professor Paul Burton, Director, Cities Research Institute, and Professor Susanne Becken, Director, Griffith Institute for Tourism, will bring their expertise to bear on two of the prevailing themes surrounding the build-up to next year’s major event on the Gold Coast.

“The city has the infrastructure and a great track record of successfully hosting major events,” Professor Burton said. “The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games has given us the opportunity to not only raise our game but also to showcase the other attractions the city offers to new residents, visitors and investors.”

Understanding Australian cities and the urbanisation of the Gold Coast are among the research and teaching areas central to Professor Burton’s work. Expanding markets and understanding how business and community prosperity can be facilitated are at the core of Professor Becken’s tourism expertise.

“As a tourist destination you always have to reinvigorate and reinvent,” she said. “I see the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games as a catalyst to achieving something that might otherwise take ten years. It brings a wonderful opportunity to establish the Gold Coast as a truly world-class destination.”

Through the 2018 Inside Scoop series the City of Gold Coast Libraries takes a public audience behind the scenes of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Seven exclusive events, covering themes including infrastructure, sustainability and media, are being hosted in association with Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) and Griffith University.

The fourth instalment, featuring Paul Burton and Susanne Becken, starts at 6.30pm at Robina Library.

To be among the public audience on the night, book online.