Take Another Look At Sydney And New South Wales

Destination is revitalised with developments in airline, convention, cruise and hotel sectors

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Jan 15, 2013, 09:00 ET

SYDNEY, Jan. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Destination NSW CEO, Sandra Chipchase, today announced that New South Wales has the plan, the people and the passion to lead the tourism and major events sectors in Australia for 2013 and beyond.

"With a new State Government, a new one-stop agency, Destination NSW, to drive tourism and major events and a new Visitor Economy Action Plan, New South Wales is revitalised and keen to do even more business with customers in the United States," Ms Chipchase said.

"The Government has announcement a flagship series of infrastructure projects which will drive business development in New South Wales, including Australia's largest exhibition and convention centre, a new light rail urban transport system in the centre of Sydney and a whole-of-government approach to implementing the Visitor Economy Action Plan."

"Destination NSW is striving to achieve the Government's goal of doubling overnight visitor expenditure by 2020. To deliver this significant goal, we are working with industry to grow capacity and services by implementing strategic partnerships with the airline, business events, cruise ship and accommodation industries."

NEW CONVENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTER

Sydney will have Australia's first fully integrated convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct, at Darling Harbour. The new state-of-the-art, 20-hectare Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct is due to open in late 2016 and will feature:

The largest exhibition space in Australia, at 40,000sqm
The biggest meeting room space in Australia, at 6000sqm
The biggest Australian convention hall capacity, with the ability to accommodate more than 10,000 people over four areas
Two new hotels, with a combined 1000 rooms.

IMPROVED AIRLINE AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Destination NSW and the Sydney Airport Corporation have developed new airline partnerships agreements and increased airline services to Sydney. Sydney Airport Corporation has invested AUD $2 billion over the past decade to improve the airport's quality and capacity. Sydney Airport is developing a strategic program to significantly improve the airport layout by prioritising airlines passengers flying into Sydney.

The New South Wales Government is implementing an AUD $1.6 billion light-rail public transport project to link the city's main thoroughfare, business and education hubs, from Circular Quay, George St, Central Station, Moore Park Gardens and the University of NSW. The light-rail project will revitalise and connect Sydney's major tourism, business, retail, recreation and research precincts.

BARANGAROO: SYDNEY'S NEW BUSINESS HUB

The Government is spearheading the development of the Barangaroo project, which will become Sydney's new financial and business hub. Barangaroo will feature thriving commercial, public and residential precincts, with a new waterfront park on the world's most beautiful harbour:

Barangaroo South will feature new business, tourism, residential and retail areas, including a new 500 -room hotel, due for completion in 2015.
Barangaroo Central will be a cultural and civic focal point for recreation, relaxation, events, festivals, entertainment and leisure activities.
Headland Park will be a new flagship harbour park for Sydney, scheduled to open in 2015.

SYDNEY HARBOUR: CRUISE NEWS

Sydney Harbour is Australia's premier cruise ship destination – and the only port in Australia with two dedicated cruise-passenger terminals. Sydney Ports' AUD $87 million infrastructure development program to support the cruise industry will include a new AUD $57 million terminal at White Bay on Sydney Harbour, and a new master plan for redeveloping the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay, with over AUD $30 million already allocated to ensuring Sydney has the best passenger port facilities in Australia.

NEW HOTEL DEVELOPMENTS

Accommodation in Sydney will grow significantly with several flagship hotel developments, including the Four Points by Sheraton Sydney. The AUD $150 million extension to Four Points will include new office, meeting, convention and exhibition space. On completion, Four Points, Australia's largest hotel at 927 rooms, will become an integral part of the Darling Harbour precinct on Sydney's western edge.

The world famous Park Hyatt Sydney has reopened following a magnificent renovation, including the addition of three luxury penthouse suites, featuring postcard views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

A new, ultra-luxury boutique hotel, Baillies Sydney, designed by award winning architects Tonkin Zuilakha Greer, will open in mid-2014 in The Rocks, Sydney's historic sandstone precinct overlooking the Harbour and Opera House.

QT Sydney has opened in the landmark Gowings building, in the heart of central business district. A funky boutique hotel of 196 rooms, QT Sydney features themed rooms, stylish eccentricity and glorious Art Deco architecture.

ARTS & EVENTS

The visual arts in Sydney has also benefitted, with an AUD $53 million redevelopment of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, to become Australia's major cultural centre for contemporary art and education, while the new John Kaldor Family Gallery at the Art Gallery of NSW is the largest single donation to an Australian public gallery, with 200 examples of contemporary art valued in excess of AUD $35 million.

World-class sports in Sydney will also benefit from major infrastructure projects, with the redevelopment of the Royal Randwick Racecourse. The Royal Randwick will host a magnificent five-level grandstand, with a new 170-room international hotel overlooking the track. The AUD $150 million redevelopment includes an outdoor, tiered amphitheatre, Theatre of the Horse, opening August 2013.

Destination NSW is the New South Wales Government's whole of government agency for developing and managing tourism and major events to double overnight visitor expenditure by 2020. For more detail on any of the information above visit: www.destinationnsw.com.au

SOURCE Destination NSW