AUSTRALASIA – The Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, says the citywide convention bureau, Business Events Sydney (BESydney), has secured 103 business events in the 2011-12 financial year, worth about AU$225m (US$230m) to the New South Wales (NSW) economy.
 
“This is a record number of event wins and a 21 per cent increase on the previous year’s economic impact results,” he says. “In fact, it is third highest economic delivery in the organisation’s history.”
 
He adds: “This great result from our business events sector is a good indicator that the NSW Government’s target to double tourism expenditure by 2020 are ambitious and achievable.”
 
The CEO of BESydney, Lyn Lewis-Smith, says the success of the last financial year can be contributed to the BESydney team, long-term client relationships across the association and incentive sectors, and the strong support of its stakeholders, both public and private. “A collaborative approach is essential,” she adds.
 
Lewis-Smith said the 2011-12 financial year also broke records for BESydney’s expanding Asian business. “Opportunities for the business events sector in Asia continue to grow, and concurrently so does BESydney’s success in this market. We are proactively pursuing the opportunities that exist with savvy organisations in South and North Asia, and our understanding of the market, our citys many selling points and out in-market presence have proved invaluable,” she adds.
 
A total of 33 events with an estimated economic impact of $91m were secured, which will see 18,641 corporate incentive and meeting clients travel from the region in the coming years.
 
Some of the wins include the Perfect China Leadership Seminar 2013 for 3,500 delegates (worth $20.9m in economic impact); the IUCN World Parks Congress 2014 for 3,000 delegates (worth $23.6m); and the 12th Congress of the International Society for Organ Donation and Procurement 2013 for 400 delegates (worth $1.5m).

The creation of a new exhibition, convention and entertainment precinct in Sydney from 2014-2016 will see the opening of the biggest meeting room space in Australia at 6,000sqm, the largest exhibition space in the country at 40,000sqm, and a plenary hall able to accommodate more than 10,000 delegates.
 
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