GLEBE ISLAND EXPO KEEPING SYDNEY NUMBER ONE

Infrastructure NSW announced today that the interim exhibition facility on Glebe Island will be bigger than planned and has been designed to meet the requirements of Sydney’s valuable exhibition and event industry.
Sydney Harbour Expo @Glebe Island has been selected as the preferred tenderer to build, operate and remove the interim facility, which will host exhibitions and events during construction of the Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct (SICEEP) at Darling Harbour between late 2013 to late 2016.
Sydney Harbour Expo @Glebe Island is the company formed by the leading event and equipment hire company, Pages, to deliver Glebe Island Expo.
Pages, which has developed its own in-house design and manufacturing capability, has been a highly successful supplier of event infrastructure in Australia and internationally since 1957.
Infrastructure NSW Project Director Tim Parker said, with Pages on board, we are able to create a fully-enclosed and fully-serviced, marquee-style structure of 25,000 sqm - almost replicating the current exhibition space at Darling Harbour.
“Previously, we asked tenderers for 15,000 sqm of enclosed space, with the extra 10,000 sqm to be available on a temporary basis for the larger shows,” Mr Parker said.
“The plan to have one large space undercover was developed in consultation with and endorsed by the major exhibition organisers that use the current facilities in Darling Harbour. It can be provided at the same cost to the NSW Government.
“Glebe Island will be able to accommodate Sydney’s major exhibitions, which attract more than 500,000 visitors and generate more than $100 million in economic benefit each year.
“We are proposing a strong focus on public transport to Glebe Island Expo. We will introduce shuttle services to Glebe Island on event days – including ferries from Darling Harbour and buses from the CBD.
“This facility is part of a city-wide interim solution which will keep our important conference, meeting and exhibition industry open for business to ensure Sydney remains the number one choice for events during the SICEEP construction period.
“Our interim solution will provide a platform for transition when the new, world-class facilities at Darling Harbour open in late 2016,” Mr Parker said.
Glebe Island Expo will:
-Provide 25,000 sqm of exhibition space.
-Be a destination for local and international visitors, capitalising on the proximity to Sydney Harbour.
-Deliver the experience of a more permanent facility through a uniquely designed solution.
 Provide access for loading, private vehicles, ferries and shuttle buses
Glebe Island's role as an important port facility will continue while Glebe Island Expo is in use. Port activities will continue once the temporary facility is removed when the new convention, exhibition and entertainment facilities open late 2016.
The target for development consent is March 2013, with construction commencing mid next year.
Bookings for Sydney Harbour Expo are currently coordinated through Business Events Sydney, and the transition to the new operator will happen in March 2013.

New South Wales Government announces successful consortium and proposed design for Sydney's new convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct

The Premier of New South Wales (NSW), The Honourable Barry O'Farrell MP, today announced Destination Sydney as the preferred consortium to design, build and operate the new 20-hectare convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct. The Destination Sydney consortium includes AEG Ogden, Lend Lease, Capella Capital and Spotless.

The need for expanded facilities, enhanced venue flexibility and the ability to accommodate coinciding events were key considerations in the proposed design. The precinct, which has been given the working title 'Darling Harbour Live', will incorporate the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) and a red carpet entertainment venue with an innovative fan-shaped layout, and a hotel complex of up to 900 rooms.

Business Events Sydney (BESydney) CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith welcomes this long-awaited and anticipated news, commenting, "Sydney needs an iconic, contemporary and versatile meetings precinct befit of Australia's global city. We will have this and more! This innovation hub in the heart of Sydney will create opportunities to host more international events that help to drive our knowledge economy. The precinct will also be a hive of residential and retail, leisure spaces and more. It will connect our educational, creative and multicultural precincts. Above all, it will have the character, dynamism and energy for which Sydney is renowned.

The proposed design will equip Sydney with flexible and versatile spaces required to accommodate changing meeting architecture and continuously evolving technology. Set for completion in late 2016, 'Darling Harbour Live' is destined to be Australia's largest and first fully integrated exhibition, convention and entertainment space. Construction will commence in late 2013, following the closure of the existing Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Visit www.siceep.com for information on the development, including a video fly-over and image gallery.

The Premier of NSW, The Honourable Barry O'Farrell MP, commented, "Along with the development of Barangaroo, this project will transform the western fringe of Sydney's Central Business District and is the biggest and most exciting change to Darling Harbour in 25 years."

BESydney will continue to manage booking enquiries at bookings@besydney.com.au or via
1300 141 583 until early next year.

SICEEP to ‘blow away’ MCEC

 THE NSW Tourism Minister has declared the redeveloped Sydney Convention + Exhibition Centre (SCEC) will not just rival that of Victoria’s prime conference venue, but “blow Melbourne out of the water” when it opens by 2017. Speaking with BEN, George Souris - who is also the Minister for Major Events - referred to the size of the project as “humongous”, enabling Sydney to offer greater competition to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. “It’s going to be a long year, but we are building something twice the size of what we were initially planning,” Souris said. Facilities include what’s billed as Australia’s largest exhibition space, at 40,000sqm, and the country’s biggest convention hall capacity for 10,000 people over four different spaces. While the Sydney International Convention, Exhibition & Entertainment Precinct’s design is still to be finalised, the Minister confirmed the project was likely to result in events being turned away during the rebuild stage. Questioned if the substitute Glebe Island facility - along with other alternative venues across the city - would result in conferences being hosted intrastate, Souris said “I’d say so.” “We’re hoping to make sure we cover the bases, but there will be events that will say ‘We’ll be back in a years time”. He said the SICEEP would take the better part of two years to construct, with the existing SCEC closing from Dec next year. Classed for all intents and purposes as a ‘pull down, start again’ project, Souris believes the SICEEP design will integrate some of the existing halls of the SCEC during its redevelopment.Within the project is a brand new build hotel for Sydney, sitting just below the 5-star standard. Souris was unable to comment on which hotel group was linked to the project, but confirmed it would not compete against The Star’s ‘6-star’, The Darling. As detailed in the November update on the SICEEP website, a “hotel use” site is earmarked for the Northern Sector of the precinct near the water at the existing Convention Centre. Two groups of companies have submitted bids to design, plan and operate the new facilities, Destination Sydney and VeNuSW. Among VeNuSW’s partners (via a joint venture with Plenary Group) is Hilton Worldwide. Back in June, Hilton Worldwide announced plans to debut its DoubleTree by Hilton brand in the Australian market with a new build property in Karratha, WA, saying at the time the DoubleTree brand has potential growth prospects in Australasia.

(Source: Business Events News 5/12/12)

Entertainment Centre loses 4000 seats

A plan to build a 12,000-seat stadium to replace the Sydney Entertainment Centre has been dumped in favour of an 8000-seater arena.
Infrastructure NSW is due to present its plans for the new Sydney Convention site to cabinet for approval after receiving proposals from two private consortiums.
Defending the decision to downgrade the ageing Darling Harbour venue, an INSW spokeswoman claims that Sydney already has Allphones Arena at Homebush, which seats 13,500, for bigger concerts.
“It is proposed the new entertainment venue at Darling Harbour will have a minimum seating capacity of 8000 people,” the INSW spokeswoman said.
In the past decade, only a handful of events at the Entertainment Centre were for 8000 people or more.
“While the existing Sydney Entertainment Centre has a capacity of 12,000 people in sports mode, it seats 10,000 people in concert mode,” the spokeswoman said.
Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive John Lee said there was an argument that with The Star casino opening a 4000-seat complex and the Allphones Arena housing 13,500, there needed to be a mid-sized venue.

Source: The Daily Telegraph Friday 23 November 2012 Page 9

BESydney to Manage Bookings for Glebe Island Expo and SICEEP

Business Events Sydney (BESydney) will take on broader responsibility and manage booking enquiries for the Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct (SICEEP) and Glebe Island Expo until operators of the new facilities are appointed.

Glebe Island Expo is the interim facility that will house Sydney's major public exhibitions and trade shows during the development of the 20-hectare Darling Harbour site that will be home to SICEEP - a world-class meeting place for the future. 

Infrastructure NSW, which is delivering SICEEP for the NSW Government, will recommend the successful proponent in December 2012 and the operator for the interim facility is scheduled to be announced in March 2013.

Infrastructure NSW Project Director, Tim Parker commented, "BESydney's team has extensive knowledge of the events market and the expertise to oversee both the enquiry and booking process for both Glebe Island Expo and SICEEP. Our aim is to make the enquiry and booking processes as streamlined and user-friendly as possible. BESydney is already bidding on events for 2017 and beyond that will take place in the new facilities. The company is well placed to manage enquiries."

Lyn Lewis-Smith, CEO of BESydney comments, "The team is pleased to be taking on these new responsibilities. BESydney will be a one-stop shop for business events. Glebe Island Expo is part of the Sydney-wide interim solution that will enable Sydney to remain a vibrant hub for business events whilst SICEEP is constructed. The new facilities will deliver great opportunities for business events in the city, both now and in the future, and the team is looking forward to working closely with the industry to ensure their success."

"We already have a dedicated Event Delivery department that assists clients with sourcing venue options for their events. BESydney has been working closely over the past months to re-home the conferences and congresses it secured for Sydney that will be affected by the SICEEP development. This team will be expanded and will have dedicated staff to take on the responsibilities of the Glebe Island Expo and SICEEP." 

Exhibitions that will be affected by the SICEEP development will have first right of refusal for bookings for the interim facility. It is anticipated there will also be scope for additional events to be secured for Glebe Island Expo.
BESydney's Event Delivery team will manage the bookings and Robyn Johnson, General Manager Event Delivery, comments, "Our first priorities will be making sure that planned exhibitions have a home and ensuring that event organisers know Sydney will continue to deliver a world-class event experience during the development period."
Expressions of interest for bookings can be submitted online at www.glebeislandexpo.com. All enquiries should be emailed to bookings@besydney.com.au or call 1300 141 583.  

Glebe Island Expo was announced yesterday by Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Brad Hazzard and Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing, George Souris. Infrastructure NSW will soon issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to companies interested in designing, building, operating and then removing the interim facility. Detailed designs have yet to be developed, yet it is aimed Glebe Island Expo will provide:

• Pavilion-style exhibition space of 15,000 square metres in a high quality, air-conditioned, fully serviced interim facility
• An adjacent flat space of 10,000 square metres for exhibitors to temporarily expand the space for larger public exhibitions and trade shows
• A weather-proofed and climate controlled environment
• Flexible space that can create reception areas and meeting rooms
• Close proximity to the CBD and a unique location on Sydney Harbour
• Availability for the entire construction period
• Event-related food and beverage facilities, such as pop-up cafes and restaurants
• Full 'back of house' facilities, such as loading-dock, external storage and waste management facilities. 

For further information: 

Rebecca Mills, Marketing and Communications Manager
Business Events Sydney
rmills@besydney.com.au
Tel: +61 2 9332 5218
Mob: +61 420 960 108