ICC IN-PERSON RESTART

INTERNATIONAL Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney is now getting in touch with clients about confirming upcoming bookings on a fully vaccinated basis, after the business events sector was included in the NSW Government’s vaccination-based roadmap to reopening.

The latest version of the state’s Health Order allows exhibitions and conferences at ICC Sydney to return at levels of one person per four square metres, while entertainment events are allowed to operate at 75% of fixed seating capacity.

ICC Sydney CEO Geoff Donaghy said “we have over 90 events in the diary from Oct through to Christmas, and we’re contacting our customers to ensure they are able to proceed with a fully vaccinated workforce, event attendees, suppliers and contractors - everyone that will need to enter the venue”.

“Our people are keen to get back to doing what they do best, running extraordinary in-person events, and have been sending in their vaccination certificates for some months before last week’s announcement,” he said.

ICC Sydney has updated its EventSafe Operating Guide to reflect the latest requirements, integrating them with the rigorous Venue Shield program developed by parent company ASM Global.

Donaghy said systems to formally check vaccination status are currently being tested by NSW authorities, with the venue advised that they would be “ready for our reopening to inperson events,” with vaccination attendance to be outlined in a forthcoming Health Order.

“In the meantime, we have enough information to start planning the return of events,” he added, noting that ICC Sydney had already previously operated under similar restrictions.

“We will continue our advocacy with decision makers and industry representatives to further relax these conditions over time, such as moving to a one person per two square metre protocol due to the highly controlled nature of business events,” Donaghy said.