BESydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith welcomed additional funding, which includes an Event Saver Fund to provide immediate support if events are cancelled or disrupted.
Sydney's business events industry has received a multi-million-dollar
boost as part of the NSW Government's new ‘Covid-19 Economic Recovery
Plan’ to drive in-person business events in the harbour city.
Of the more than AU$530 million support package (US$397 million), a
total of AU$6 million is set aside for business events, conferences and
conventions across Greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.
The package also includes an Event Saver Fund to provide immediate
support to organisers if events are cancelled or disrupted by any Public
Health Orders during the 2021-22 summer, and AU$60 million for an
Aviation Attraction Fund to incentivise international airlines to
recommence flights to Sydney.
Business Events Sydney (BESydney) welcomes the monetary stimulus,
which it says will play a significant role in rebuilding business
confidence and incentivising event organisers to book their in-person
meetings — back into the Sydney CBD in particular.
BESydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith said: “With restrictions continuing to
ease, Sydney is coming back to life and the funding will continue the
positive momentum that we are starting to see. People are excited about
reconnecting with friends and family and the prospect of travel as
borders open. We can’t wait to see that same confidence now flow through
to business and to welcome our national and global business delegates
back here soon.”
Meanwhile, Sydney has confirmed 98 events through to 2029, with a
combined value of approximately AU$524 million in direst expenditure,
according to BESydney.
The funding announcement adds to the earlier AU$5.5 million ‘Business
Events Industry Support’ also from the NSW Government, supporting
livelihoods in the accommodation, entertainment, and tourism and
business event sectors.
BESydney will run the funding programme in conjunction with
Destination NSW, on behalf of the NSW Government. Matched funding will
be available by application in rounds, commencing in late November 2021.
Events eligible for funding are conferences, conventions, symposia,
congresses, seminars, training courses, and trade exhibitions attracting
a minimum of 100 delegates to a venue for a gathering of at least one
day’s duration.
Further details will be published at meetinsydney.com.au/offers.