ICC Sydney announces 2017 exhibition season

Opening in December 2016, ICC Sydney confirmed 35 exhibition events today to launch its 2017 business events season.

NSW Trade and Tourism Minister, the Hon. Stuart Ayres MP, said the state government’s investment in ICC Sydney, a $1.5 billion project within the $3.4 billion revitalisation of Darling Harbour, was attracting serious interest across all of the convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct’s market segments.

“The amount of interest and excitement about ICC Sydney is booming and we are thrilled to see the exhibition industry returning to its rightful home in Darling Harbour.

“A major contributor to the New South Wales economy, the exhibition industry attracts more than half a million people each year and generates about $100 million annually in economic benefit to the state of New South Wales,” Minister Ayres said.

ICC Sydney CEO Geoff Donaghy is delighted with the response from the exhibition industry, and is looking forward to welcoming both long standing and new concepts to the world’s most anticipated convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct after its opening in December this year.

“Exhibitions are critical to the business mix of a global city.  When ICC Sydney opens Sydney will have an international business events venue to suit its status as Australia’s centre of business and innovation.

“In addition to the 35 events we can announce today, we have a further 30 under negotiation. We couldn’t be happier with the strong response from the exhibition industry, its support for the project and the excitement building around ICC Sydney’s opening,” Mr Donaghy said.

Events have been secured with all of the major exhibition operators in Australia, including Reed Exhibitions, Diversified Communications Australia, Expertise Events, Australasian Gaming Expo and Boating Industry Association, which runs the iconic and much loved Sydney International Boat Show.

Boating Industry Association National CEO Howard Glenn said investment in the future of the exhibition industry through the delivery of ICC Sydney would help set his industry up for increased business success in the years ahead.

Having confirmed its flagship events for ICC Sydney, Stephen Steenson, Director of Operations for Reed Exhibitions said the company couldn’t wait to return to Darling Harbour and the new first class facility being unveiled in December.

 “The combination of first class events, an inner city destination and a fantastic new venue at ICC Sydney provides the best opportunity for our customers to realise their business outcomes”, he said.

Diversified Communications Australia General Manager, David Longman said his group is excited to confirm its high profile trade and consumer events for ICC Sydney in 2017, counting Fitness Sydney, Fine Food and FoodPro amongst those being announced today..

According to Cohen, Fine Food alone is expected to attract up to 20,000 visitors across four days and generate in excess of $50 million in economic benefit to the state of New South Wales.

Amongst the events confirmed today by Expertise Events were its Jewellery Fair as well as, a favourite event for regional New South Wales visitors, the Craft and Quilt Fair, which brings in 55 coach tours from regions including Coffs Harbour, Orange and the far South Coast of NSW.

ICC Sydney is being delivered by the NSW Government and is operated by venue management group AEG Ogden.

For more information, visit www.iccsydney.com