The Hotel Motel and Accommodation Association (HMAA), has welcomed the NSW Opposition’s decision to chase major sporting and entertainment events if it gains government.

Sydney Opera House

“This is wonderful news for our members,” said HMAA Chief Executive Lorraine Duffy. “The sooner New South Wales recovers the vigour it had before the Sydney Olympics the better the whole country will be.

Duffy was commenting on NSW Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell’s promise to aggressively pursue a calendar of major sporting and entertainment events if voted into power next month.

“Sydney used to see itself as number one for big ticket events,” she said. “As the gateway to our country it’s critical the city reclaims this title to get the wheels turning again on hotel and infrastructure development

“Research by the Business Events Council shows Australia is facing increasingly aggressive global competition that can only be countered by the sort of support being promised by the Opposition.”

Duffy said HMAA also welcomed O’Farrell’s promise to give the city a new 10,000-seat concert and meeting centre at Darling Harbour.

“This sort of thinking is just what the accommodation sector needs to wipe the cobwebs from our industry,” she said.