Sydney’s convention landscape is undergoing a complete overhaul with the development of the new Sydney International Convention, Exhibition & Entertainment Precinct (SICEEP) in the Darling Harbour area, due for completion by 2017.
The International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) will be the centerpiece of the development and feature a variety of spaces.
“The convention center will be home to Sydney’s largest ballroom and a new outdoor event deck that will overlook our magnificent natural harbor and create a sumptuous atmosphere for cocktail events and gala dinners,” says Kristian Nicholls, general manager of business development at Business Events Sydney (BESydney).
ICC Sydney and an adjacent hotel with up to 650 rooms will be located at the northern end of the precinct. At the southernmost point, The Haymarket will feature shops, cafes, restaurants and green space, while the central portion will feature the ICC Exhibition center and an 8,000-seat entertainment center.
Together, ICC Sydney and ICC Exhibition will have more than 376,000 square feet of exhibition space.
The existing Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, which opened more than 25 years ago and will be closing, was limited by its much smaller capacity.
To accommodate exhibitions during the interim, an exhibition facility is being built at Glebe Island and will debut in February 2014, hosting groups until the end of 2016.
Also in the works is the Barangaroo urban renewal project, designed to transform a former harborside container port on the western edge of the Central Business District into a nearly $6 billion extension of the city center. When complete, Barangaroo will contain event space and a park, as well as retail, dining and office space.
A 350-room luxury hotel with views across Sydney Harbour is also slated for Barangaroo.
“Crown will be behind the $1.5 billion, six-star integrated resort, which will also incorporate luxury penthouse apartments, retail and restaurants,” Nicholls says.
In other developments, ParkRoyal Darling Harbour Sydney recently relaunched after an interior redesign costing close to $20 million.
The racecourse at Royal Randwick also recently underwent an extensive redevelopment, including a new multilevel grandstand. The venue now spans more than 200 acres, with 15 unique indoor and outdoor spaces. Groups can use its 1,000-seat ballroom, corporate suites, Theatre of the Horse amphitheater complex and Owners and Trainers Pavilion.
Meanwhile, a 170-room hotel at Royal Randwick is slated for an early 2015 debut and will include 10 function rooms.
