International Convention Centre Sydney has announced the expansion of its existing virtual event and broadcast spaces in response to event organizers’ needs to continue to meet and stage their events during this heavily restricted period.
The broadened facilities, known as ICC Sydney Studios, encompass three purpose built virtual event spaces where event organizers and presenters can make full use of ICC Sydney’s quality recording, live streaming and digital solutions—all supported by their passionate team and the ICC Sydney Connect customizable event platform.
ICC Sydney CEO Geoff Donaghy (pictured left) says the desire to meet in-person remained core to the majority of clients, but that the team’s ability to flex to meet interim needs again demonstrated ICC Sydney’s agility and experience. “We understand that for some the show must go on, even during these current health restrictions, which is why we have again flexed our services to meet the needs of our clients.”
ICC Sydney’s Parkside Ballroom and Grand Ballroom house the additional, temporary studios that both feature LED screen technology, which provide an engaging and dynamic backdrop for virtual events. The suite of spaces also features a dedicated, permanent Media Studio fit out with green screen technology, which allows for visual integration of presenters into customizable background content.
The expanded facilities and services will be delivered by the venue’s expert Audio Visual and ICT teams who have executed more than 200 broadcast and hybrid events in the last 12 months, including the Destination Australia, Pathology Update and the Legal Aid NSW Criminal Law conferences, among many others.
ICC Sydney Director of Audio Visual Services Brian Nash (pictured right) says the venue is proud to reinstate and expand its audio visual product suite following positive client feedback and uptake. “Over the last 12 months, we’ve been pleased to be able to support event organizers to find and deliver high quality hybrid and virtual event solutions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. By expanding the range of studio options, we are able to provide the facilities and the experience to organizations, industries and individuals to help them continue to connect during this period.”
ICC Sydney is always looking at ways to expand its products and services to meet client needs. Following the initial success of the broadcast studios set up during the lockdown in 2020, ICC Sydney launched a permanent Media Studio in order to flex to any operational environment and provide clients peace of mind that a virtual delivery of their event can proceed in the safest possible way.
He continues, “Our dedicated team of professionals has demonstrated experience implementing the latest and best in class technology to support organizers with their virtual events in ample and large spaces and with access to other onsite facilities such as COVID safety protocols, proximity to the CBD and onsite parking. We are here to support organizers deliver a seamless event experience for their audiences wherever they may be located.”
Keith Barks, general manager of Informa, has selected ICC Sydney Studios to host 18 virtual and hybrid events in the last 12 months. “Informa Australia produces around 70 live business events across the country each year,” says Barks. “With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were unable to run many of these conferences to a face-to-face audience. We were, however, able to produce and deliver these events virtually as needed. Having looked at various studios and service providers we were enamored by the friendliness and expertise of the ICC Sydney staff. Their facilities are ‘state-of-the-art,’ and the knowledge and experience of the tech crew is unsurpassed.”
He continues, “The technicians worked very effectively with Informa staff in the lead-up to each and every one of our virtual events to ensure the high-quality delivery we desired. They also spent time with our conference speakers to put them at ease and ensure they were comfortable in delivering their virtual presentations. ICC Sydney Studio technicians were consistently adept at ensuring each virtual event was a slick and polished presentation, and for their efforts in helping make our virtual events successful over the last year, we are very grateful.”
ICC Sydney is Australia’s premier convention, exhibition and entertainment venue. The showcase international venue underpins 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. A NSW Government project, ICC Sydney was delivered in partnership with Darling Harbour Live, comprising Lendlease, Hostplus, Aware Super, Capella Capital, ASM Global and Spotless FM. Hassell + Populous were joint venture design consultants for ICC Sydney. For more info, visit www.iccsydney.com.
ASM Global is the world’s leading venue management and services company. The company was formed by the merger of AEG Facilities and SMG, global leaders in venue and event strategy and management. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 300 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues. From Aberdeen to Anchorage, and Sydney to Stockholm, its venues connect people through the unique power of live experiences. For more info, visit asmglobal.com.
