The centre was expanded at a cost of $40 million in early 2009. The makeover was funded by the Queensland Government, adding two extra exhibition halls, a registration office, three meeting rooms, three new kitchens and an extra 3,000 square metres of floor space in total. The Queensland Government commenced construction proceedings as a result of the increasing demand on the Gold Coast for larger space and concurrent sessions during national and international conventions and incentives. The final product required over 124,000 man hours, 1,550 m3 (2,030 cu yd) of concrete poured, 375 t (413 tons) of structural steel erected and 7,000 L (1,500 imp gal; 1,800 US gal) of paint.[3]
In 2007, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) hosted its first-ever World Cup event at the GCCEC, pitting 5 nations of bull riders against each other in a team format; the event was won by team Brazil.
The convention center was also home to the 12th Congress of APSR in 2007 held between 30 November - 4 December 2007.[4]
In October 2017, EB Games Expo was held there, with Regurgitator playing a concert playing their album Unit in full at the expo, the day before the event.
The Centre hosted the Netball competition at the 2018 Commonwealth Games which are being held on the Gold Coast, as well as host the accredited media centre for the event.
On 8 and 9 February 2019, it hosted the Eurovision 2019 Australia Decides contest, the first venue for the contest. The centre once again hosted the contest a year later in 2020.
In December 2019, the Gold Coast Convention Centre was meant to host the first Eurovision Asia Song Contest, however due to production issues the contest had been cancelled.
The GCCEC has won more than 20 awards over the past decade, including winner of the 2012 Meetings and Events Industry Awards – National Meeting Venue 500 Delegates or More [6] and 2010 Meetings and Business Tourism Category at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.[7]