It’s out of this world! Centre opens with UK space talks conference
THE doors have finally opened on Wales’ new International Convention Centre in Newport.
ICC Wales is hosting its first major international event with the UK Space Conference, after three smaller inaugural events last week.
Among the 1,800 delegates attending the three-day conference, which started yesterday, are representatives from NASA, the European Space Agency, the Australian Space Agency, and the UK Space Agency.
Last week ICC Wales welcomed thousands of guests who attended the Association of Stoma Care Nurses conference, an Experience with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the UKIP National Conference.
The £83.7m convention centre is a joint venture between the Celtic Manor and the Welsh Government, with facilities including a 4,000sq m main hall, 1,500seat auditorium and 15 meeting-rooms.
Its double-height glass atrium has views of the surrounding Coldra Woods and the 2,500sq m outdoor plaza.
Once ICC Wales is at full operation it is forecast to bring £70m to the Welsh economy every year and have 150 full-time employees.
Speaking at the start of the UK Space Conference on Tuesday, ICC Wales chief executive Ian Edwards said he is pleased with the finished centre.
“The building is incredible but it is really what is inside the building that is a game-changer,” he said. “It really will help to put Wales on the map, particularly for business tourism.”
“We have had an incredible few weeks. We opened the convention centre for the Association of Stoma Nurses just eight days ago and 750 people came to that event.
“Then Wednesday evening we did an audience with Arnold Schwarzenegger and he brought in excess of 1,300 people for a gala dinner, which is incredible.
“The feedback we had from local people who came to the dinner just blew us away.”
Mr Edwards said the new hourly number 9 bus provided by Newport Bus ferried 1,400 people to and from the city centre and ICC Wales last week.
During busy future conventions, he said, the service is likely to be increased.
“The Celtic Manor runs at a 90% occupancy year round,” he said. “This is really for other hotels in the region who will benefit. Restaurants and bars in the area will also benefit from that.
“While it is great that we will benefit economically during the week of the event what is really more important is that 60% of delegates who come to an event come back with their family and partners.
“That is really where the economic benefit will start to come in. People come to a meeting but then come back to different hotels and different parts of Wales, different restaurants, and really see our culture.
“Not just the history of our culture but what a modern iconic Wales looks like.”
Future events at ICC Wales include the Green Party Autumn Conference 2019, in October, and The Nutcracker on Ice, showing in the auditorium in December and early January.
Ken Skates, Welsh Government Minis