Exhibiton Trade Fairs Says Event Expos Will Stay At SCEC Until 2014

Two of the event industry's leading exhibitions, the Australian Business Events Expo and Sydney's Event Showcase will continue to be held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre (SCEC) for 2012 and 2013 following the Centre's closure announcement last week.

In a statement from the event's organisers, Exhibition & Trade Fairs (ETF)  general manager & CEO Jodie Richmond, the organisation confirmed that both shows would remain at SCEC this year and next.

"The recent announcement by Premier Barry O’Farrell to close the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre for three years, whilst it is being rebuilt, delivers certainty for the industry.  We at Exhibitions and Trade Fairs are very excited about the government’s commitment to creating a world class precinct for the future of business events and special events in Sydney," she said.

"We believe this will have a huge positive impact on the New South Wales economy and the contribution of the event industry throughout Australia.

The new facilities will help us all develop events worthy of our global reputation as leaders in event management.

Sydney’s Event Showcase and Australian Business Events Expo will continue to be hosted at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre this year and next. We are already discussing new locations and opportunities to host the shows thereafter.

We are also considering reinventing the style and format of the shows for 2014 – 2016 to highlight the dynamic and fluid nature of the industry. We believe Sydney’s Event Showcase and Australian Business Events Expo will be more important than ever in connecting people, ideas and the industry during the closure period and in supporting Event Planners explore their myriad of options for managing events.

We will keep you up to date on any developments we make to the location of the shows during 2014-2016."

Exhibiton Trade Fairs Says Event Expos Will Stay At SCEC Until 2014

$1 Billion Makeover: Sydney Entertainment Centre To Be Knocked Down

The Sydney Entertainment Centre will be demolished and the Convention and Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour closed for up to three years as the precinct undergoes a $1 billion makeover.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell today announced the development of an integrated exhibition and entertainment precinct in the city's CBD.

The fully integrated convention centre will increase the size of the existing precinct by two-thirds to 20 hectares and will include the largest exhibition space in Australia at 40,000 square metres.

"The project will mean a complete facelift for Darling Harbour - as well as the world-class facilities," Mr O'Farrell said today.

Up to 3500 jobs are expected to be created during the construction.

The 30-year-old Sydney Entertainment Centre is to be demolished while the exhibition and convention facilities will be closed from late 2013 to late 2016.

The project is aimed at boosting the competitiveness of the major events industry in the state, particularly in terms of the Asia-Pacific.

"They will bring NSW an economic benefit of more than $1 billion over five years," Mr O'Farrell said.

"NSW has already lost $150 million in economic benefit over the four years to 2010-11 because the current facilities have not been able to accommodate 169 conventions and 12 exhibitions," Mr O'Farrell said.

The new facilities will include the biggest meeting room space in Australia at 6000sq m and the biggest Australian convention hall capacity.

There will be a red-carpet premium entertainment facility with a capacity of at least 8000 people, suitable for international entertainment events and 'mega' conferences.

"The NSW government is creating a vibrant world-class convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct at Darling Harbour that will keep Sydney centre stage as Australia's global city," Mr O'Farrell said.

Infrastructure NSW (INSW) will lead the delivery of the new facilities as part of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) tailored for the project.

During the three-year construction period, Sydney's major events industry will remain open for business, Mr O'Farrell said.

Sydney Olympic Park, Moore Park, the Australian Technology Park at Eveleigh and various Sydney hotels will play an expanded role in hosting events during the construction period.

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