Australia and New Zealand Have a New Bigger-Is-Better Pitch for Conventions
Photo Credit: A promotional photo of the ballroom at International Convention Centre Sydney. ICC Sydney
Skift Take
Australasia’s major convention centers are undergoing significant redevelopments. They’re getting bigger and better to cope with the growth of mega-meetings, delegates demanding experiences, and the need to save the planet.
Australasia is a region with a distinct flavor for visitors, but the growing meetings and events sector in Australia and New Zealand has evolved to take advantage of the global boom in demand for events in unique destinations.
The region’s largest venue, the International Convention Centre Sydney, was reopened in December 2016 on the site of the old entertainment center at Darling Harbour, which International Convention Centre Sydney marketing executive Lauren Minosora said had served Sydney since the 1980s.
“Sydney needed to respond to the substantial improvement in the standard of equivalent facilities in Australia and the Asia Pacific, as well as the needs of the changing business events industry,” said Minosora
One of the changes was the convergence of conventions and exhibitions, with Sydney needing a venue big enough and flexible enough to cater to bigger numbers.
A three-year, $1.09 billion (A$1.5 billion) redevelopment has left International Convention Centre
