2012 started well for the team at the Darwin Convention Centre - it was awarded by the AIPC with Gold Certification, the highest possible achievement in its Quality Standards Program. Darwin Convention Centre successfully completed a rigorous external audit, joining a select group of only 18 AIPC convention facilities to have successfully achieved this certification to date.

Darwin Convention Centre General Manager Malu Barrios says the certification is a reflection of her team’s passion and commitment to put Darwin on the global map of business events.

“I’m extremely proud of our team who are driven to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients while almost oblivious that we are operating among the best in the world,” she said.

“The certification honours everyone’s efforts to continually look for new ways to deliver excellence in all aspects of our operations”, she added.

AIPC President Edgar Hirt congratulated the Darwin Convention Centre for its successful accomplishment of the AIPC Quality Standards Certification particularly at the top level of achievement and said, “It demonstrates to owners, colleagues and clients that the Centre is addressing international standards of performance in their management procedures.”

The Program is notable in that it is an industry-specific certification addressing the unique factors that distinguish convention centre operations. The audit involves strict assessment of ten key areas including customer service, quality of facilities and operations, employee relations, health, safety, security and emergency response, financial integrity, community relations, environmental responsibility, industry relations and supplier relations. It is process oriented with a strong emphasis on the client perspective.

The Darwin Convention Centre is a relatively young venue but has an enviable track record, establishing itself within the league of the world’s best venues within three years of operation. In the last 18 months, it has been recognised with five prestigious industry awards including the esteemed 2010 and 2011 Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Awards, and was a finalist at the 2011 AIPC Innovation Award.

Last year, the Centre also gained the ISO 9001 accreditation for quality management systems from Lloyds Register Quality Assurance Ltd.