Business Event Sydney (BESydney) and International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) have been leading the way in business events for 65 years (55 years and 10 years respectively). Their trusted leadership in the impact of business events has meant the organisations are at the forefront of a new era of business events that focus on the purpose of business events, beyond direct expenditure.
As BESydney builds on its 10 years of beyond tourism benefit research – calling out knowledge transfer, talent attraction and direct foreign investment so too does ICC Sydney by expanding its Legacy Program year on year that allows its clients to deliver meaningful events that consider sustainability; diversity, equity, and inclusion and focus on First Nations Peoples.
BESydney CEO, Lyn Lewis-Smith said, “There is a global responsibility to delivering business events. As Sydney’s DMO and its leading venue, we work with Associations to deliver impact and deliver it well. We see our role as two-fold by facilitating an event with purpose, social impact and knowledge exchange while also creating an impact foundation that can be built upon at the next meeting – wherever that may be held. We want the change we spark in Sydney to grow globally – hence our Change Starts Here Agenda”.
ICC Sydney CEO and Group Director – Convention Centres, ASM Global (APAC) Geoff Donaghy said, “Reflecting on a decade long milestone, some of ICC Sydney’s greatest achievements have been in connecting our community to the world. We welcome diverse delegates and offer world-class services to accommodate the needs of all. Beyond room nights and job creation, our proudest moments have been making a difference to visitors and businesses. Sharing Australia’s First Nations story, our newly launched Disability Inclusion Action Plan, our leadership in prioritising the planet through sustainability initiatives and giving back to our local and global community”.
“Together we have established great trust with international organisations and strive to continue to be a force for good. Push boundaries in what our industry can and should be doing and to have uncomfortable conversations. Business events bring key stakeholders to the table that can change legislation, researchers to solve medical issues or climate change. We want to facilitate Associations adopting a new approach to delivering for their delegates,” said Lewis-Smith.
“ICC Sydney’s recent research with McCrindle proves that Associations will need to continue to evolve as delegates’ requirements change. We know that social impact outcomes will not be a nice to have, but a standard practice expectation for delegates,” said Donaghy.