One Great City

Three Great Hotels

Metro Hotel on Pitt    

Metro Hotel Sydney Central 

                                 

Aspire Hotel Sydney

Are you a………………

•     Professional conference organiser?
•     Event Management company?
•     National or State Association / Institute?
•     Not-for-profit organisation?
•     Private enterprise?
•     Government department?

And, do you need to book hotel accommodation from time to time for………………

•     Conferences & seminars
•     Training workshops
•     Annual General Meetings
•     Special events
•     Staff functions
•     Sales meetings

…..or any other event?

If you do then the Metro Hotels would like you to consider our two flagship properties located in Sydney’s central business district:-

1.    Metro Hotel on Pitt <embed link to property page on our web site>
2.    Metro Hotel Sydney Central <embed link to property page on our web site>
3.    Aspire Hotel Sydney <embed link to property page on our web site>

Each property offers convenient and quality accommodation at an affordable price.

Metro Hotel Sydney Central and Aspire Hotel Sydney also offer meeting facilities ideal for hosting small to medium events.

The Metro Hotel on Pitt is centrally located near the corner of Bathurst and Pitt Streets and is only a 2 minute walk to Sydney Town Hall. This property has undergone a soft refurbishment over the past twelve months and it is now seen by many organisations as an ideal accommodation venue for their events.

The Metro Hotel Sydney Central has recently completed major refurbishment of 88 rooms with the remaining 132 rooms confirmed for refurbishment by April 2013. Located on the corner of Bathurst and Pitt Streets (directly opposite the iconic Capitol Theatre) this 220 room hotel offers a convenient and affordable accommodation alternative for many organisations.

The Aspire Hotel Sydney provides ideal hotel Accommodation for travellers attending events at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre and Sydney Entertainment Centre or escaping to Sydney for a short getaway.
Aspire Hotel Sydney offers guest's the best Sydney has to offer like the Powerhouse Museum, Chinatown, IMAX Theatre, Star City Casino, Paddy's Markets, Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Entertainment Centre; all within walking distance of the hotel.

Further details can also be obtained by logging on to our website www.MetroHotels.com.au and clicking on the relevant hotel.

And if you’re still not completely convinced, then why not come and have a look for yourself. As the saying goes “Seeing is Believing” and we would be only too happy to show you around either or both properties.

Do you need more information or want us to quote on your next event or group accommodation needs?

Simply contact: Mr. Richard Amour
            Business Development Manager
            Tel: (02) 9211 1499
            Email: ramour@metrohg.com

Do you need more information or want us to quote on your next function or meeting requirements?

Simply contact: Mr. Div Grover
            Business Development Manager
            Tel: (02) 9282 0140
            Email: dgrover@metrohg.com

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.

Sydney Pitched as Global Talent Hub

 (Media release issued by The Hon Andrew Stoner MP, Deputy Premier of NSW, Minster for Trade & Investment, and Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services on 13 December 2012)
 
Business Event Sydney (BESydney) has been invited to join the Global Talent Hub initiative, which is to be driven by the Committee for Sydney with support from the NSW Government, to build on Sydney's existing advantages to attract more highly capable, internationally mobile talent to Sydney.
 
Sydney's lifestyle appeal, dominance in the finance, ICT and research sectors, world- class education offering and highly skilled multicultural workforce will be key selling points in a new campaign to position the Harbour City as a magnet for global talent.
"The Global Talent Hub initiative will also work with Business Events Sydney to target the thousands of international visitors that attend specialised business events in Sydney each year," Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment, Mr Andrew Stoner MP said.

Source - Business Events Sydney

NSW Tourism Big Winner In "Visionary" Convention Centre Announcement

The $1.5billion plan to transform Darling Harbour into a tourism and convention mecca has been welcomed by the local tourism and accommodation industry.
NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has announced the "Destination Sydney" consortium would deliver a new convention complex featuring a new 900-room hotel and 40,000 square metres of convention space. Tourism Accommodation Australia NSW) director Carol Giuseppi said the plan was exactly what Sydney needed. "We welcome the visionary nature of the project which moves beyond simply a convention and exhibition centre to a design which encompasses the total visitor experience," she said. "The new facilities will ensure that Sydney attracts more of the lucrative business events market."Up to 10% of activity in Sydney hotels is generated from business events, therefore, a modern, state of the art competitive facility is vital. "In particular we welcome the planning for additional 3.5 star hotel rooms on the site."
Ms Giuseppi said she was also pleased with plans for the redevelopment of the Haymarket area. "For too long this has been the neglected part of the city," she said.
"This proposal includes a much-needed creative quarter in that area with a mix of boutiques, special-interest retail and cafes and restaurants. "This makes it even more important that we improve connectivity between this area and the rest of the CBD via light rail. Together with the revitalisation of Chinatown this area will become magnet for visitors."

 (Source: Travmedia 11/12/12)

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 Seat

 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