Following its opening in December 2016, International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) has gone from strength to strength, helping to drive Australia’s reputation as one of the world’s most desirable meeting destinations.
The numbers speak for themselves. In 2017 alone, ICC Sydney welcomed a significant 1.3 million visitors to 755 events including 36 major international events, 151 national conventions, 71 exhibitions and 56 concerts. A few highlights included the 10th World Chambers Congress, which came to Sydney for the first time, and the International Bar Association Annual Conference, the largest event in the international law calendar which was attended by 4,500 delegates from 128 countries.
Innovation: A Key Driver for Success
ICC Sydney places innovation at its very heart: it has been the first conference venue in Australia to introduce a virtual reality video experience and the first to pilot a mobile airline check-in and baggage drop service. Its industry-first Feeding Your Performance culinary philosophy delivers dishes designed to fuel both body and mind with fresh, local, seasonal produce for optimum event experiences.
Geoff Donaghy, CEO of ICC Sydney and Director of Conventions Centres for AEG Ogden, adds: “The innovation focus will continue with our unique multi-streamed Legacy Program now underway. Spanning four streams, the approach has been designed to provide clients with an opportunity to partner with locals in a meaningful way through four diverse streams – Innovators & Entrepreneurs, Generation Next, First Australians and Sustainable Events.”
Looking ahead, the ICC Sydney team is focused on ensuring that everything they do consistently reaches a world class standard, elevating Australia’s position on the global stage while fostering powerful long-term benefits for clients, visitors and the community, which are felt long after our events take place.
Harnessing the Power of Technology
Underpinning this success has been a commitment to harnessing the power of technology to deliver inspiring meetings. ICC Sydney is a purpose-built, digital venue established on a 10Gbps optical fibre backbone which not only supports the needs of today, but also has the capability to flex for decades to come across all types of events.
Its infrastructure was put to the test with the annual Salesforce World Tour to Australia, which saw the venue’s technical expertise and ICT structure play a crucial role in delivering for the client’s expectations. ICC Sydney attracted more than 13,500 registrations while accommodating more than 5,200 concurrent Wi-Fi users across 150 sessions. As a result, the event was even welcomed back a second time to ICC Sydney where three of the venue’s Exhibition Centre halls transformed into the ultimate space for innovation and collaboration.
ICC Sydney is also supporting the next generation of technical professionals: it has launched its paid Audio Visual (AV) Graduate Program, designed to provide unparalleled vocational training and development opportunities. As part of the initiative, five exceptional graduates are gaining exposure to a year-round calendar of events, exhibitions and conventions, working across all areas of ICC Sydney’s AV and production services including rigging, audio, lighting and vision.