Geoff Donaghy said here at ICC Sydney, our team shares one vision – our clients’ success is our success.
We have never lost sight of this and know that our achievements to date, and our future success, directly correlates to a strong alignment with not only our clients, but a large network of partners.
Following ICC Sydney’s opening in December 2016, we have worked hard to provide outstanding service and support for clients and share our capabilities so that together, we can deliver world class events.
We are immensely proud of the results of our first year of operation, having welcomed 1.3 million visitors and delivered 755 events while garnering 25 awards and accolades and expanding our talented team to more than 1,700 people.
Alongside our stand-out facilities, the support of PCOs and our people resulted in a 95% delegate satisfaction rating and 93% client satisfaction rating in 2017.
In 2018, we are striving to continue on this path and our overarching philosophy is to consistently make small improvements to deliver an exceptional experience in all that we do.
Putting this into practice, last week we welcomed professional conference organiser (PCO) representatives from across the nation on site at ICC Sydney for the first of our industry updates and roundtables.
An open forum, the event provided an opportunity for the ICC Sydney team to update a diverse range of PCOs on key business developments spanning event planning, food and beverage, audio visual (AV), technology and our multi-streamed Legacy Program.
It was an opportune time to reflect on the progress we have made while engaging in dynamic discussions and robust dialogue to drive continuous improvement across all facets of the business, focused on promoting the best outcomes for everyone.
To better understand the options available to clients, attendees had the opportunity to experience our award-winning Feeding Your Performance food philosophy first hand while hearing about our menu and wine collections from ICC Sydney’s culinary team.
We know food and beverage is of paramount importance, and our latest menu additions reflect our continued efforts to provide a variety of options to suit personal preferences. This includes a new café style breakfast offering, an expanded lunch selection and some delicious sweet and savoury treats.
Our Executive Chef, Tony Panetta, and his team are incredibly passionate about supporting local producers so it was a wonderful opportunity for them to share more about the direct relationships they have forged with suppliers in the city and across regional New South Wales.
While delivering successful events is our key priority at ICC Sydney, it is also important to recognise the broader impact of business events.
The legacy of events has long been measured by financial benefits for host cities, and more recently by academic and research outputs delivered through the knowledge economy. At ICC Sydney, we also believe in a third wave of impact, the social impact of events.
Our clients are socially aware, citizens of the world who are increasingly looking for ways to make a difference through their events. Last year, we launched what we believe to be the first formal legacy program from a convention centre and it was a highlight for attendees to hear about ICC Sydney’s point of difference in this important field for clients.
The roundtable was an ideal opportunity to discuss the approach we have developed to give clients the ability to connect with local organisations and businesses, beyond traditional beneficiaries – from working with First Nation businesses or local entrepreneurs and startups, to calculating the ecological impact of events.
Supported by our newly appointed CSR Executive, Laura Goddard, we are looking forward to working in close alignment with PCOs to help define and respond to client CSR objectives and provide measurable results.
As part of the event, PCOs witnessed the sophistication and impact of the venue’s AV and technology offering. This included a demonstration featuring new equipment acquired by the venue as part of an additional A$1 million investment in technology to support event planners in creating memorable delegate experiences. We are truly fortunate to have some of Australia’s most experienced AV professionals within our in-house team to work with clients.
On the practical front, PCOs and all our clients now have access to a suite of updated event tools to better assist with event planning. This includes refreshed event guidelines and safety guidelines, signage and branding guidelines, exhibitors’ manual and loading dock management system user guide.
It is important to acknowledge that we couldn’t have achieved these results or made improvements without industry support and feedback. Last week’s event was a testament to this and the resoundingly positive reception reaffirmed the commitment from all parties to continue working hand-in-hand to create world class events for clients and visitors alike.
Looking ahead, we will continue to hold PCO and client updates, including an annual PCO Roundtable – an initiative we believe will help move the industry forward and ensure we are always delivering on our vision to be Australia’s premier convention, exhibition and entertainment venue.
For further information contact:
Samantha Glass
Director of Corporate Affairs and Communication
International Convention Centre Sydney
E:sglass@iccsydney.com
ICC Sydney is a PCO Association business partner