Eager to impress

First impressions count and, when delegates get their initial taste of Sydney, they’re often spoilt for many other destinations.

There’s no argument that Sydney is one of the world’s great cities. By reputation it stands alongside Paris, London and New York, but if there’s a single quantifiable difference from its international competitors, it’s that Sydney is an exceptionally beautiful city. Stretched around Sydney Harbour, with such icons as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House as backdrops, residents take justifiable pride in their city and visitors are spellbound by its myriad opportunities.

Sydney hosts many large-scale, high profile conventions and congresses, as well as untold numbers of smaller meetings. The range of facilities is truly outstanding, from central CBD hotels and smaller suburban conference centres, to vast sporting arenas and informal gatherings held outdoors or on a harbour location. There’s something for every group and every budget. Variety is the spice of meetings life in Sydney.





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This year is certainly no different, with big events including the Sibos Finance Forum in October, expected to attract some 4,000 delegates and generate an estimated $42 million for the local economy. Other large-scale gatherings will be the International Congress on Obesity in September (with 3,000 delegates) and the World Congress of Occupational Therapists in July (3,500 delegates).

Built to scale
In March, Sydney celebrated the announcement that some 22,000 delegates would arrive in 2014 for the Rotary International Convention. From this one event, more than $63 million in spending is expected. The economics of the conference industry is never more obvious than at these times.



What is it that so entrances delegates? The range of activities that make great use of the harbour, waterways and beaches is a starting point. And plenty more: lunch or dinner cruises; yachting regattas; scaling some of the city’s grand icons; cocktail functions in historic settings; cruising the streets in classic cars; motorcycle jaunts to the countryside; hustling high above the harbour in fighter jets or graceful flying boats; horse riding through Centennial Park; or tracing the steps of Olympic athletes in vast stadiums... Sydney’s options are never ending.

Delegates can easily access Sydney via a range of top-class international and domestic airlines. Sydney Airport, which handles 28 million passengers and more than 286,000 aircraft annually, is a modern facility currently in the middle of a major expansion project.

Capacity to impress
For international delegates, their main business focus will undoubtedly be Darling Harbour. A number of interesting and unique venues are available within its confines, including the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Australian National Maritime Museum, Dockside at Cockle Bay, the Star Room atop the IMAX theatre complex and, nearby, the Powerhouse Museum.

The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre has recently unveiled four new soundproof and climate-controlled exhibitor lounges above Halls 2, 3, 4 and 5. Handling large numbers is not a challenge at the centre – in early 2005, such claims were put to the test with an Amway event bringing in 13,250 delegates in four waves over a three week period. The centre hosted the Amway delegates from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan in four one day business sessions and four gala dinners, each for 3,500 people.

In the suburbs, the choice for convention groups is just as compelling as the CBD. The Sydney Olympic Park Authority oversees the many outstanding sporting facilities put into place for the 2000 Olympic Games, while such individual venues as Telstra Stadium, the C2 Connection Centre and WatervieW Convention Centre also lay claim to great facilities and service.
Beachside suburbs such as Manly and Coogee spin an altogether different spell when it comes to groups. The fresh sea air and pristine expanses of sand perfect for group activities such as surfing lessons or beach Olympics, mix with a leisurely holiday atmosphere that puts delegates at ease away from the hustle of everyday office life.