Packed event schedule highlights Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre's Success

The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre will next year welcome more than a million people through its doors in one of its biggest periods for conferences, incentives and exhibitions in recent years.

More than 120 events are already confirmed in 2013, including international conferences like the World Congress on Lung Cancer for 5000 delegates in October, the World Congress on Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology for 1500 delegates in October, the International Red Cross General Assembly for 1300 delegates in November and the Congress of the International Liver Transplant Society for 1000 delegates in June.

Major corporate and incentive bookings next year include a 3500-delegate event for the Perfect China direct-sell group in July.

The Centre will also become part of public celebrations across Sydney Harbour when it hosts the Pacific2013 International Maritime Exposition and Seapower naval conference for 1000 delegates in October, coinciding with the spectacle of an international fleet review to mark the 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy’s first arrival in Sydney.

Centre Chief Executive Ton van Amerongen said it was fitting for Sydney to host a packed calendar of events at a time when it was preparing for a redevelopment of its convention and entertainment precinct at Darling Harbour.

“The success of the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre has brought us to the point where we now look to bigger and more advanced facilities, and nothing demonstrates our achievements more than the busy schedule of events we have in 2013,” Mr van Amerongen said. “Sydney undoubtedly has a new impetus behind its events sector and the Centre is dedicating more energy than ever to the success of our upcoming events.”

Mr van Amerongen said it was encouraging to welcome corporate events like the US-based Teradata software company which will bring 800 delegates to Sydney in February, indicating a renewed confidence from the US corporate market.  At the same time, large Asian delegations like the Perfect China event pointed to Sydney’s ongoing appeal as an incentive destination.

The New South Wales Government has announced a A$1 billion redevelopment of the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and neighbouring Sydney Entertainment Centre, creating the largest and most advanced facilities in Australia.