AUSTRALASIA - The NSW Government has announced that Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) members, Pages Hire and Echo Entertainment Group, will deliver Glebe Island Expo, the temporary home for Sydney's trade and consumer exhibitions.
Glebe Island Expo will operate during the three-year construction phase of Darling Harbour and will provide organisers with facilities close to the CBD for events that will be displaced during the closure of Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. It is understood this facility will be known as Sydney Harbour Expo at Glebe Island.
EEAA General Manager, Joyce DiMascio, said Pages Hire had a proven ability to deliver quality temporary infrastructure for major events.
"The announcement today means the exhibition industry can now get on with planning their events and ensuring that the thousands of businesses that have been exhibiting at Darling Harbour will have a new home between 2013 and 2016," says DiMascio.
"The solution put forward by the winning consortium provides the industry with the space needed to deliver everything from the biggest tot he smallest events," she added.
EEAA President Matthew Pearce, said: "With the backing of the Echo Entertainment Group we have confidence that the delivery of hospitality services at the site will be well supported."
EEAA Board Member and CEO of Reed Exhibitions, Debbie Evans, welcomed the announcement saying her company was committed to making the Glebe Island Expo events a success. "Reed Exhibitions appreciates the efforts made by Pages Hire to understand the needs of the industry in developing the solution for Glebe Island Expo."
DiMascio says it will be important to work with the NSW Government agencies, like Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and Business Events Sydney to market the site and ensure visitors know how to get to relocated events.
"We close 2012 with greater clarity around the future of Darling Harbour and also around Glebe Island Expo and this provides the industry with a framework for getting on with the job of delivering events that bring thousands of visitors and business activity to Sydney, NSW and Australia," DiMascio added.
SOURCE / Exhibition World