Daily News & Opinion

Victoria’s capital has beaten the likes of Moscow and Hamburg to secure the world’s largest public transport event, Transports Publics (UITP) Global Public Transport Summit 2021. 2000 delegates from around the world will flock to the MCEC for the summit, which is predicted to deliver a $9.4 million boost to the Victorian economy. The event will allow the sector’s most influential minds to network, develop partnerships and establish investment for new projects.

Sydney has reigned supreme in Cvent’s Top Meeting Hotels in the Asia Pacific report, with Hyatt Regency Sydney and Shangri-La Hotel Sydney taking out the top spots respectively. The annual report is informed by group booking activity harvested through Cvent’s Supplier Network, which supported more than 715,000 worldwide events last year. Other winners included Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay, which came in third, Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore, which achieved fourth place and Hilton Tokyo which took out the fifth spot.

300 special guests gathered at coastal resort Sails Port Macquarie by Rydges on May 11 to witness the venue’s multi-million-dollar transformation. Visitors were greeted by the sounds of a grand baby piano as they toured the new event spaces, the work of Gold Coast based architects Hamilton, Hayes, Henderson Architecture. The resort’s new look includes fresh white gables, tropical gardens and a grand three-storey atrium. Rydges hope the revamp will secure the venue’s place as a premier business events destination.

MCEC has announced that its $200 million expansion site is under two months away from completion. The 20,000 square metre expansion includes 9000 square metres of exhibition space, a 1000 seat plenary theatre, meeting rooms, a banquet room and the Goldfields Café and Bar. Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren said the expansion, which will see MCEC become the largest convention and exhibition space in the country, will cement Melbourne as the business events capital of Australia.

Business Events Australia and 17 national partners are showcasing Australia’s incentive offerings at IMEX Frankfurt this week. The worldwide MICE exhibition, which started on Monday and will wrap up today, has brought together influential buyers with convention bureau, convention centres and accommodation and service providers. Managing director of Tourism Australia John O’Sullivan said that in addition to our friendly people and unique natural landscapes, the conference will further the perception of Australia the ideal business events location.

IMEX Frankfurt was also the setting for the Univeristy of Technology Sydney (UTS) to announce its findings on a study regarding ICC Sydney’s Feeding Your Performance (FYP) program. The initiative, which aims to feed ICC Sydney’s stakeholders with a New South Wales-focused supply chain, found that the venue delivered $8.3 million to the state’s economy last year through its food and wine purchases. The research also found that the program is driving employment growth opportunities.

In a move that marks a drastic shift for the future of business events, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre has partnered up with creative juggernaut C2 International. The alliance, which was announced at the IMEX trade show in Frankfurt yesterday, will grant MCEC access to the company’s immersive offerings, including their signature sky labs. Melbourne Convention Bureau has welcomed news of the partnership, claiming it has strengthened the state’s reputation as Australia’s innovation capital.

ICC Sydney was crowned Best Public Building at the Property Council of Australia and the Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Awards on May 11. The venue was praised for its innovative design and placement at the epicentre of the A$3.4 billion redevelopment of the Darling Harbour precinct. Minister for Finance, Services and Property, Victor Dominello said “The venue has enriched Darling Harbour and made Sydney one of the most sought after destinations for conferences in the Asia Pacific region.”