ICC Sydney showcased on international stage at IMEX America, Las Vegas

Oktober 2014 – International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), Australia’s first fully integrated convention, exhibition and event precinct, has received a glowing response at IMEX America, one of the world’s largest meetings, events and incentive travel industry shows.

Chief Executive Officer of ICC Sydney, and AEG Ogden Group Director of Convention Centres, Geoff Donaghy said IMEX America provided the perfect platform to showcase Sydney to the world and meet face to face with influential industry stakeholders.

“Decision makers and selected IMEX attendees have received a special preview of ICC Sydney’s developing brand and new website today and we are delighted with the response,” said Mr Donaghy from the show in Las Vegas today.

“Our positioning of Sydney’s premier, integrated convention, exhibition and events precinct has received an overwhelmingly positive reaction from IMEX delegates, further reinforcing the growing excitement and global interest in this landmark project,” he said.

Managed and marketed by AEG Ogden, ICC Sydney benefits from the extensive global experience and connectivity of the group and its representatives’ collective industry knowledge.

“ICC Sydney’s marketing and business development activities are in full swing and I encourage you to make contact with the team at any time and to come along and meet with us at upcoming industry events,” said Mr Donaghy.

ICC Sydney Director of Business Development, Beverley Parker is meeting with delegates at Stand 2633 today alongside Business Events Sydney, the city’s business events bureau.

Find out more about the exciting waterfront venue located in the heart of Sydney and a thriving dining and leisure precinct by visiting iccsydney.com today.

ICC Sydney’s key features include:
• Convention facilities capable of hosting three fully separated, self-sufficient, concurrent events

• Total exhibition capacity of 35,000sqm, including 2,500sqm of flexible space

• An open air event deck of 5,000sqm, including a bar and lounge featuring spectacular city views

• A premier red carpet theatre with a capacity of 8,000 suitable for international entertainment acts and major convention plenary sessions

• A grand ballroom to provide Sydney’s premium banqueting space for more than 2,000 people which, at almost double the previous capacity, will become Australia’s largest ballroom

• 40+ meeting rooms that link to both the convention and exhibition areas

• World’s best practice technology throughout, including wireless connectivity across ICC Sydney

• Prime waterfront location on Darling Harbour in an activated dining and leisure precinct

• A renewed and upgraded public domain, which will include an outdoor event space for up to 27,000 people and improved pedestrian access from Chinatown, Central Station, Ultimo, Pyrmont and the city centre

• Adjacent luxury headquarters hotel with 600+ rooms.

About ICC Sydney
Opening in December 2016, ICC Sydney is Australia’s premier convention, exhibition and event precinct. The showcase international venue presents Australia’s largest and first fully-integrated convention, exhibition and entertainment centre, underpinning Sydney’s place as one of the world’s most desirable meeting and major events destinations. ICC Sydney is the epicentre of a 20-hectare transformation of Darling Harbour by the NSW Government to highlight Sydney as the first choice in Australia and the Asia Pacific region for the major events industry. ICC Sydney is being delivered by Darling Harbour Live, comprising Lend Lease, Hostplus, Capella Capital, AEG Ogden and Spotless, in partnership with the NSW Government.

Infrastructure NSW is the NSW Government agency managing the 20-hectare transformation – Darling Harbour’s most exciting renewal in 25 years. Darling Harbour and the new convention, exhibition and entertainment venues will continue to be publicly owned through Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, which is presenting a dynamic calendar of events during the redevelopment to keep the precinct active and vibrant.

ICC Sydney is operated by globally acclaimed and leading venue manager AEG Ogden, joining the group’s exceptional stable of world-class venues.

About AEG Ogden
AEG Ogden is an Australian controlled joint venture between Australian venue management interests and AEG Facilities of the United States.

AEG Ogden manages venues throughout the Asia Pacific region, including convention centres in Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Kuala Lumpur, Hyderabad (currently in design), Oman (opening 2016), ICC Sydney (opening December 2016) and the Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island; Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane; arenas including the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and the adjacent Sports Centre, Sydney’s Allphones Arena, the Qantas Credit Union Arena (formerly the Sydney Entertainment Centre), the Newcastle Entertainment Centre and Perth Arena; and live theatres including Perth’s His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth Concert Hall, the WA State Theatre Centre, Albany Entertainment Centre, and Subiaco Arts Centre. http://www.aegogden.com

In addition, AEG Facilities was recently announced as operator of both the Los Angeles Convention Centre and Hawaii Convention Centre.

AEG OGDEN ANNOUNCES OMAN CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE GM

AEG OGDEN ANNOUNCES OMAN CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE GM

Internationally respected convention centre executive, Trevor McCartney has been appointed the inaugural General Manager at Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Mr. McCartney’s appointment was announced today by Geoff Donaghy, the Director of Convention Centres for AEG Ogden which manages the venue on behalf of Omran, the company established by the Government of Oman to deliver major projects and manage its assets and investments in the tourism sector.

Mr. McCartney was previously the Director of Business Development at the Qatar National Convention Centre, a role he has held since June 2011.

Before his appointment in Qatar, Mr. McCartney was Chief Executive at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, Malaysia for three years and Director of International Sales and Operations at the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall, Thailand for a further three years. He has also been a key member of pre-opening teams at three major UK conference centres.

Mr Donaghy said there was considerable international interest in the position but the internal promotion of Mr. McCartney was an endorsement of the strength and talent within the AEG Ogden network.

“Trevor is an outstanding and experienced convention centre executive who is well respected throughout the industry globally.

“In the past decade, he has developed a strong understanding of the local cultures and managing congress venues in Asia and the Middle East and is suitably qualified to meet the challenges in the highly competitive business events industry,” Mr. Donaghy said.

Mr. McCartney is excited by his new role.

“The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre is the new kid on the global conventions block and has tremendous potential.

“We look forward to working closely with Omran, the Ministry of Tourism and the local community to deliver first-class events that showcase the traditional and unique Omani hospitality and in creating extensive local employment opportunities,” Mr. McCartney said.

The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre is due for completion in December 2016.

Mr. Donaghy said to date, AEG Ogden had been involved in the design and planning of the Centre and was now utilising its experience, extensive worldwide network and expertise in preparing the Centre for opening and competing for its share of the lucrative business events market.

“There are more than 200 convention and exhibition centres competing on the world stage for a slice of the business events pie but research already undertaken has identified international conventions with the potential to be held in Oman as far ahead as 2024,” he said.

Mr. McCartney will commence his new role in early 2014.

About the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre
Due for completion in late 2016, the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre is located in its own fully integrated precinct only four kilometres from Muscat International Airport.

The design of the Centre will ensure a flow of the meetings space to suit the most discerning conference and exhibition organisers. It also incorporated expansive concourse areas to enable ease of large delegations with floor to ceiling windows overlooking landscaped gardens and water features.

The Centre will feature an elaborate tiered auditorium to seat 3,200 while the exhibition halls will feature 22,000 square metres of column-free exhibition space. Halls 1 and 2 will have a superior fit out, specialised acoustic treatment, advanced lighting and rigging requirements to act as a multi-purpose space for plenary sessions, concerts, performances, gala events on a larger scale of up to 10,000 seated, theatre-style.

The Centre will also include an additional 14 meeting rooms for 70-360 delegates, two well-appointed ballrooms to seat up to 2,360, VIP Pavilion, a spacious food-court and a multi-storey carpark with capacity for 4,000 vehicles.

The Precinct will provide the infrastructure necessary to host successful international, regional and local events and for the enjoyment of the community. These include a five star hotel linked to the convention centre, two four star, and a three star hotel and apartments with a combined total of 1,000 rooms. A business park, retail shopping mall surrounded by a nature reserve which will be a haven for Oman’s exotic birdlife, parklands and wadi (valley) park are also part of this picturesque precinct. http://www.omanconvention.com

About AEG Ogden
AEG Ogden is a joint venture between Australian venue management interests and AEG Facilities of the United States.
AEG Ogden manages venues throughout the Asia Pacific region, including convention centres in Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Kuala Lumpur, Oman (under construction), Sydney (construction commencing 2014) and the Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island (from February 2014); arenas including Sydney’s Allphones Arena, the Sydney Entertainment Centre (from December 2013), the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, the Newcastle Entertainment Centre and Perth Arena; Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane; and live theatres including Perth’s His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth Concert Hall, the WA State Theatre Centre, Albany Entertainment Centre, and Subiaco Arts Centre. http://www.aegogden.com

In addition, AEG Facilities was recently announced as operator of both the Los Angeles Convention Centre and Hawaii Convention Centre.

For more information contact:
Greg Adermann
Group Communications Manager, AEG Ogden