SYDNEY’S WOW FACTOR

Sydney stands tall among the great port cities of the world that truly excite the senses of everyone who visits them – for a meeting or a welcome leisure break.

As a meeting destination, this city really works, as was so evident during the Sydney Olympic Games of 2000. The crucial infrastructure of hotels, convention centres, efficient transportation and a workforce that is well attuned to the requirements of meeting and events planners, is all in place.

This was clearly proven in early 2005, when some 13,000 guests of Amway flooded into the city for an intense few days of motivation, sightseeing and shopping. This entire event, which is normally several years in the making, was put together and delivered in a space of three months – an achievement second to none.

>> Conference & meeting venues Sydney, NSW

Of course, the vast majority of meetings and events are much smaller in delegate numbers, and planners have a superb array of venues to choose from. Unlike some of the smaller Australian cities, Sydney has the scale to allow for many different scenarios and isn’t reliant on just a few tried-and-tested venues.

All the hotel brands that matter are in Sydney – Hyatt, Shangri-La, Sheraton, Four Seasons, Hilton, Westin, Sofitel and Novotel. In addition, there are many smaller, hip hotels offering meeting space for smaller, corporate events.

Sydney’s newest attraction is the $50 million WildlifeWorld, which adjoins the Sydney Aquarium at Darling Harbour. The venue, open seven days to 10pm, gives visitors the chance to experience Australian wildlife in a variety of habitats. Sydney’s various “eat streets” are ideal for casual evenings, where visitors can get a taste of Sydney life as experienced by the locals. They range from the upmarket Woolloomooloo Bay Wharf, the restaurants of Circular Quay to King Street Wharf, Stanley Street, Cockle Bay and Chinatown.

There is almost as much entertainment on the harbour as around its edges, with a wide variety of high-quality cruising options, which combined with fireworks displays and some innovative themes, can result in nights about which the participants will have a lifelong glow.

Off-site venues are another way to give visitors a taste of Sydney. The Bennelong Lawns above the Sydney Opera House, the Mrs Macquarie’s Chair area of the Royal Botanical Gardens, or a marquee on historic Hyde Park, sparkle when set up for special events. Most function organisers have set locations and will provide all services and requirements, including the marquee for your event.

While the five star hotels have excellent banqueting facilities, there are many unique venues, such as the Australian National Maritime Museum, Customs House, Powerhouse Museum, and Paddington Town Hall, which lend a sense of history to a truly special occasion.

Then there are such activities as jet boating and match racing on high-performance yachts; dinners on Fort Denison or Clark Island in the harbour; Beach Olympics at Bondi; or a trip to the Sydney Fish Markets.

Out west, the managers of Sydney Olympic Park have no shortage of ideas about how to best use its facilities to your advantage. You have arguably the world’s best collection of sporting facilities, most of which can be used for special events in their own right and corporate hospitality during major sporting occasions.

The completion of the orbital road system around greater Sydney has improved access to the Blue Mountains no end, and this area, with its one million hectares of pristine bushland, valleys, rivers and creeks, is also well equipped to welcome conference delegates.

Sydney’s northern beaches areas, such as Whale Beach, Palm Beach, Pittwater, Avalon and Newport, all lend themselves for beachside fine dining, parties or casual surf carnivals.