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Sydney, Australia City Guide

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Sydney Meeting Planning

Sydney Skyline

With a mild climate and plenty of sunshine, Sydney welcomes guests with a laid-back, friendly "G'day." From awards and accolades including the title of World's Best City for the 12th year in a row by highly-respected Conde Nast Traveler magazine's Readers Choice Awards in 2007, it's no surprise that Sydney remains an alluring destination for both vacations and meetings. In fact it has been host to numerous international events, including the 2000 Summer Olympics, the 2003 Rugby World Cup and the 2008 World Youth Day.

The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, the city's main meeting complex, boasts the most extensive exhibition facilities in the Southern Hemisphere, reflecting Sydney's position at the forefront of Asia/Pacific trade and commerce. Located in downtown Sydney in close proximity to over 16,000 hotel rooms, the center is easily accessible by road, monorail and ferry links. The Convention Center has an auditorium capacity of 3,500 and 20 other meeting rooms with the ability to offer catering for 20 to 600 people.

The Link Building Gallery links the conference center to the Exhibition Center, which provides five single-level exhibition halls. Each hall is almost 54,000 square feet, providing a total area of almost 270,000 square feet. The Convention Center has served as host to many notable events, the most recent of which was APEC Australia 2007, a series of political meetings held between the 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Many impressive world leaders were in attendance including Australian Prime Minister John Howard, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and U.S. President George W. Bush.

 Darling Harbour, a centerpiece of the city, has undergone the efforts of a major urban redevelopment project. Originally part of the Port of Sydney, the 1980s found the area largely derelict. After extensive renovations and upgrades, it has emerged as one of the world's foremost tourist precincts with over 15 million visitors a year. The harbour is home to numerous unique venues, including the Star City CasinoStar City Casino
Star City Casino and Chinese Garden of Friendship. Guests can lounge by the water at Cargo Bar, which, among other rooms, offers its entire upper deck for events of up to 600 people, or enjoy an intimate dinner at the Malaya, a flexible venue for groups of 20 to 300 guests.

Luna Park

Looking at the greater city area, over 50 unique venues, many of which feature the water as a backdrop, are available. Groups of 20 to 1,000 people will never forget their once-in-a-lifetime meeting experience at the world-famous Sydney Opera HouseSydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House. For incredible views of the harbor amongst lush, Australian flora and fauna, the Royal Botanical Gardens offer nearly 100 unique lawn settings for marquee events. For a truly original venue with an atmosphere of smiling faces and street performers, the bright lights and excitement at Big Top, located in waterfront amusement park Luna Park, offers a 2,000-seat auditorium and two spacious bars.

As a corporate and financial centre, Sydney's importance extends throughout Australia and well into the Asia Pacific region. Over 90 banks have their headquarters in the city and Sydney is also the regional headquarters of around 500 multinational corporations including Coca Cola, 3M, American Express, IBM and Microsoft. Fox Studios also has a major movie studio in the city. Sydney is also an important center of learning and research and has five large universities offering a wide range of subjects. The oldest of these, the University of Sydney, is currently undergoing an AU$480 million redevelopment and expansion program including the construction of new centers for medical and scientific research.

Key Statistics

About Sydney / Additional Info

Charismatic and self assured, Sydney has rapidly become one of the most beautiful cities in the world and a beacon of national pride; indeed, it's hard to believe this vibrant city is just 220 years old. The first Europeans in Sydney were British convicts shipped to Australia in 1788 to ease the overcrowding in London prisons. At first, the colony floundered, but several gold rushes in the mid-19th century caused the population to soar, and subsequent open immigration policies paved the way for an influx of British, Irish, Scottish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Lebanese, Italian and Indian immigrants, who transformed the city into the multicultural haven it is today. Now, with a population of four million, Sydney is firmly established as the most populous city in Australia and the country's economic hub, providing approximately 25 percent of the country's total gross domestic product.

Queen Victoria Building

Nicknamed "the Harbour City", Sydney hugs the shores of Port Jackson, the largest natural harbor in the world, on Australia's southeast coast. A stunning spot, especially on one of Sydney's numerous sunny days, the harbour is always dotted with hundreds of boats and ferries and occasionally dolphins or a humpback whale or two. Circular Quay ferry terminal is both the gateway to the harbour and the gateway to the city, where grandiose Sydney Sandstone heritage buildings, including the Town Hall and the Queen Victoria Building, nestle among a myriad of glittering skyscrapers, shady parks and pedestrian precincts.

Manly Beach

The name "Sydney" generally brings to mind the city's most famous attractions, the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, but the city is also renowned for its laid-back surf beaches, especially Bondi and Manly beaches, both a mere 30 minutes from downtown. Grab a board and head out to the waves to join the locals in a favorite weekend activity, or simply stretch out on the glittering sands to soak up the sun. Once the sun goes down, wander through Paddington or Surrey Hills at night to see the amazing range of international restaurants, colorful locals and pumping night clubs such as Selina's Nightclub at the historic Coogee Bay Hotel. Or, for a more low-key venue, enjoy serene waterfront dining at one of many restaurants lining the harbour such as popular Catalina in Rose Bay. From days spent lounging on the beach, shopping or meandering through parks and museums to nights of eating, drinking and dancing, Sydney offers guests a world of opportunities to delight, entertain and inspire.