December 1, 2021 | By Bronwen Largier
ICC Sydney has around 60 events on the books to be delivered before 2021 is out and more than 250 events confirmed for the first half of 2022, as Sydney’s reopening continues, with more restrictions expected to ease in two weeks on December 15.
Event numbers are also on the rise to pre-pandemic levels, with 1,000 people attending the Property Council of Australia’s Women in Property Lunch at ICC Sydney this week. The Council’s Christmas lunch and its national Innovation and Excellence Awards are also slated for delivery this month at the venue.
With larger numbers of events and attendees returning face-to-face, ICC Sydney CEO Geoff Donaghy highlighted the impact this has on the community and the wider economy.
“Event organisers, talent, attendees and exhibitors invest the majority of their economic impact in our hotels, restaurants, bars, retail outlets and tourist attractions, and more than that, the research and development discussed at conferences have the potential to attract ongoing business investment for our academic centres,” he said.
“In convening an increased number of face to face meetings and events, ICC Sydney and the industry we operate in will play an important role in revitalising Sydney’s CBD. Our events have far reaching benefits for the local economy and into the regions through our extensive supply chains.”
For their part the Property Council of Australia is comfortable bringing larger events back to a face-to-face format.
As we have made great strides in our recovery journey, we are ready to proceed with our COVID safe event plans with great confidence at ICC Sydney,” said the Property Council of Australia’s NSW Executive Director, Luke Achterstraat.
Achterstraat said the organisation’s events are selling out, proving the appetite for face-to-face events.
“People are eager to get back to face-to-face events, reconnect with their peers and networks, and embrace a sense of the new normal. This level of confidence demonstrates that considered event planning for COVID safe events is exactly what people are after as we take huge leaps towards a vibrant and activated city.”