The National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) Convention in Adelaide may only have ended last week, but planning is already under way for next year’s event.

CEO Dallas Booth says attendance in Adelaide, including delegates, exhibitors and sponsors, was about 1200, although free-entry traffic has yet to be calculated.

Free entry to the exhibition hall was introduced at last year’s convention in Melbourne.

Mr Booth says the initiative proved popular with brokers in Adelaide and will be continued at next year’s conference, in Melbourne again from September 6-8.

“Even spending just a couple of hours [at the exhibition] gives brokers an enormous opportunity to learn and to network,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“It’s a substantial learning experience at no cost to brokers and broker firms.”

Mr Booth says last year’s event at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre attracted a total attendance of 1800.

He says the Victorian organising committee has begun planning for next year.

“By the end of February we will have a full conference proposal to take to sponsors and exhibitors, including keynote speakers and topics,” he said.