EventSafe-exhibition-hall-entrance

Exhibitions Return to ICC Sydney

02 Nov 2020

Australia’s premier convention, exhibition and entertainment venue reveals critical return of exhibition market.

International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) has today announced exhibitions will return to the premier venue, following advice from the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Health that ICC Sydney is able to proceed with public exhibitions, subject to one person per 4 square metres of space and no capacity limit.

ICC Sydney will immediately move ahead with the restart of this important market segment, welcoming two of Sydney’s most popular exhibitions – the Reed Gift Fairs and Life Instyle – in February 2021 over four days.

ICC Sydney CEO, Geoff Donaghy said the exhibition industry plays a fundamental role in the venue’s success.

“The exhibition market accounts for approximately one quarter of our turnover, which in a typical year can be up to 70 events, so this updated advice from the NSW Department of Health is a significant step forward for the business events industry following the impact of COVID-19.”

The return of ICC Sydney’s exhibitions calendar is expected to deliver significant benefits to Sydney and NSW with direct and indirect delegate expenditure boosting the state economy and positively impacting suppliers up and down the business events supply chain. In a stabilised year, exhibition attendees spend more than $340 million in the local economy

Committee for Sydney CEO Gabriel Metcalf said: “This is very welcome news for Sydney and our tourism and events sector which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Attracting investment through trade events and exhibitions keeps people in jobs and is a key driver to our economic recovery.”

The annual economic impact of Reed Gift Fairs and Life Instyle alone is estimated by event organisers to exceed $30 million.

Reed Exhibitions Managing Director, Brian Thomas, said the return of the Reed Gift Fairs and Life Instyle to ICC Sydney in 2021 will be a catalyst for Australia’s recovery to begin.