The recent expansion of the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre means it is now the biggest integrated conference and exhibition centre in Australia.
Around £23m was spent on building the Convention Centre South – a self-contained centre linked to the former existing facilities of Convention Centre North and the Exhibition Centre.
The centre, which was completed in October, includes an auditorium for up to 1,000 delegates, Sydney’s largest ballroom, 2,200sq metres of exhibition space and eight meeting rooms.
Undoubtedly the expansion has gone some way towards alleviating demand for meeting space in the city, particularly in the run-up to the Olympics and for the millennium.
Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau managing director Jon Hutchinson explained: “Sydney needed more convention and exhibition space to match the tremendous demand we are experiencing. However, we also wanted something more intimate and suitable for smaller meetings and exhibitions with exhibition and meeting space close together to mirror international trends.”
Around 23 UK conference and incentive travel groups visited Australia last year constituting 52% of the European total and bookings for 2000 look positive.
Australian Tourist Commission manager, meetings, conventions and incentives Sheila Ainscough said: “We project that visitor figures in 2000 will far outstrip any other year. UK conference and incentive bookings have already matched business in 1999.
“Although Sydney will be the main beneficiary in the group market, the rest of Australia will benefit too. Groups very rarely come all the way from the UK to Australia just to visit Sydney.”
However, with 37% share of the domestic and international convention market, Sydney is undoubtedly the preferred destination for meetings in Australia and new openings in preparation for the Olympic Games means added facilities and meeting space.
“With Sydney set to experience its biggest year ever for conventions, we must ensure that the city’s infrastructure and facilities remain state-of-the-art,” said Hutchinson.
The 417-room Westin Hotel, which opened in September 1999 as a conversion from the former General Post Office, has a grand ballroom that seats up to 1,500 people and is the largest hotel facility in Sydney. It also has a number of meeting rooms including a 400sq metres ballroom (See Hotel Check).
The 531-room Regent has also been refurbished to the tune of £15m. Reopened in September 1999, it has five meeting rooms and a ballroom holding 1,000 people theatre style.
In the same month, Pier One on Sydney Harbour opened as the 165-room Pier One Parkroyal Hotel. The hotel is Sydney’s first waterfront hotel with views overlooking the Bridge and Luna Park.
Meanwhile, Merchant Court Hotel opened in November in the town centre above the Grace Bros department store. It has 361 rooms spread over 15 levels, including four interconnecting Merchant Club floors specially catering for business travellers.
Groups can also use the city’s new sporting venues including The Sydney Superdome in which 5,000 to 20,000 people can be seated.
The International Aquatic Centre is also proving popular for special events. The depth of one of its 50-metre swimming pools can be altered to just a few inches to give the impression of people walking on water and create a spectacular show. For organisers, the venue choice in Sydney has widened and, like many Olympic host countries, Australia looks set to be one of the most popular destinations in the new millennium.