ICC Sydney secures Best Major Event Venue Award

The International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) has secured four Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) awards including Best Major Event Venue, Event Legacy Award, Operational Person of the Year and Platinum Event Professional for the Year at the MEA 2019 National Awards on Friday 29th May.

ICC Sydney won Best Event Venue - Capacity over 1500 and the Event Legacy Award, while also proving people are key to its success, with Food and Beverage Services Manager, Marc Singerling, taking home Operational Person of the Year and Platinum Event Professional for the Year.  

The Event Legacy Award was won by ICC Sydney for the implementation of its Legacy Program for SIBOS 2018. The event for over 7,500 people set an industry benchmark for waste diversion, community engagement, donations to local charities and delivered an estimated economic benefit of $40 million to the Australian economy. The event further established ongoing legacy practises that continue to deliver positive impacts for clients and community.

In an industry first, and in response to current gathering restrictions, the awards were broadcast online from ICC Sydney’s virtual event studios. The event combined State and National Awards which recognise those at the top of the meetings and events industry. The reimagined online format set a benchmark for virtual events, with a virtual red carpet, an after party with a live DJ set and in-studio MC, Shelly Horton, all live streamed to over 500 seamlessly connected participants.

ICC Sydney Chief Executive, Geoff Donaghy said the venue’s achievements are a result of hard work and an exceptionally talented team and noted “It is an honour to be recognised with four accolades at our industry’s most celebrated night. The people at ICC Sydney are at the heart of our world class operations so it is wonderful to see Marc and the team’s work and skills recognised tonight. These awards are a reflection of the hard work, passion and professionalism they put into delivering exceptional events”.

Donaghy continued “It has also been hugely rewarding to work with MEA to reimagine the awards ceremony as a virtual event during these challenging times. I am proud that ICC Sydney delivered this seamlessly, setting a benchmark for more virtual events to come”.

MEA Chief Executive, Robyn Johnson, added ICC Sydney is a deserving winner and the successful delivery of the industry’s first ever virtual event is a testament to the dedication of its team. 

“I congratulate ICC Sydney and the team for their award wins, the venue is truly a worthy winner and an industry leader when it comes to event delivery. The MEA Awards bring the industry together to celebrate exceptional talent, to have the ability to innovate and still move forward with the ceremony in this new format was extraordinary and the team at ICC Sydney were able to make it a night to remember.”

ICC Sydney Food and Beverages Services Manager, Marc Singerling, said it was an honour to be recognised by his industry peers with the Operations Person of the Year Award and commented “I am extremely humbled to be recognised with these awards and included in categories with some of the best in our industry. Working at ICC Sydney has given me the amazing opportunity to develop my career in a world class venue, alongside a talented and supportive team. It is an honour to have this recognised with the MEA awards”.

To find out more about ICC Sydney, visit www.iccsydney.com

Images: ICC Sydney Chief Executive, Geoff Donaghy, accepting MEA Award for Best Major Event Venue (top) and ICC Sydney Food and Beverages Services Manager, Marc Singerling (below).