Despite being more than three years away from completion, the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) is already kicking goals with considerable interest being expressed by potential national and international clients.
Business Events Sydney (BESydney) in conjunction with the ICC Sydney operators, AEG Ogden, have moved quickly to position the venue and the city itself as a leading player in the business and events industries from when construction is completed in December 2016.
ICC Sydney and the Darling Harbour Live project were showcased recently at the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME) in Melbourne where a full model of the precinct was on show.
Further industry and media briefings will be undertaken by BESydney staff this month at IMEX, a worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events, in Frankfurt, Germany.
Lyn Lewis-Smith, the Chief Executive Officer of Business Events Sydney – the organisation responsible for promoting Sydney and New South Wales as business events destinations – described the interest from Australian and global markets as “fantastic”.
“BESydney has already secured two major events for ICC Sydney – including the International Bar Association annual conference in 2017 worth a combined $19 million in estimated economic impact.
“In addition, we are already holding space for 88 events at ICC Sydney from 2017 – 2022.
“The work of BESydney is long-term which means we need to be bidding for events now. But the feeling is overwhelmingly positive and our whole-of-city approach to securing events is a proven success.
“Sydney’s venue options are diverse, flexible and abundant. The city is well and truly open for business, now and throughout the redevelopment period. Our future is bright,” Lyn-Lewis said.
AEG Ogden’s director of convention centres, Geoff Donaghy will also assume the role as Chief Executive Officer of the new venue’s management company when the pre-opening period and construction commences in December this year.
“We are thrilled at the level of awareness shown in ICC Sydney even at this very early stage, and demand is already strong.
“AEG Ogden looks forward to working closely with BESydney to continue developing the identity and awareness of this exciting new venue and precinct,” Donaghy said.
