International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) has today launched a virtual tour of the much anticipated world class venue, on track to open in December 2016, to a global audience in Melbourne at the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME).

Kicking off AIME’s media program this morning, at Australia’s largest business events trade show, ICC Sydney has for the first time provided the industry with an animated movie that explores the sparkling new Sydney city waterfront venue and its magnificent views.

ICC Sydney Chief Executive Officer and Director of Convention Centres for AEG Ogden, Geoff Donaghy said the market presentation blended the latest in 3D modelling with live footage to give the 3,500 hosted buyers, media and visitors to AIME an opportunity to experience the flexibility, connectivity and prime location of Australia’s first fully integrated international convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct.

“Being able to experience a virtual walk through of ICC Sydney is an extremely exciting moment.  The animation allows you to appreciate the scale and superior quality of the rooms, the connectivity provided across the venue, which is essentially three inner-city blocks, and the integration with Darling Harbour’s dynamic business and entertainment precinct. By overlaying the city with animation, the virtual experience is able to highlight the iconic Sydney views afforded by the smart, contemporary design,” Mr Donaghy said.

“We have been working off plans and renders until now so it is terrific to see ICC Sydney come to life in this way, less than two years out from opening,” Mr Donaghy said.

The three minute movie explores key assets across ICC Sydney’s 70 rooms, including:

• Grand Ballroom – set to become Australia’s largest ballroom, this room will accommodate 2,000 people in banquet mode and 3,500 in cocktail mode. Equipped with an elite AV experience, the room breaks out to the top floor of the convention centre featuring spectacular views over Sydney Harbour
• Event Deck – a 5,000sqm open air, rooftop space connected to the upper halls of the exhibition centre.  The deck will host exhibitions, cocktail parties and banquets of up to 1,800 people. The deck also features a permanent bar and lounge that, when not booked for private events, is open to the public
• Plenary theatres – ICC Sydney is capable of holding three concurrent, self-sufficient major conventions, each with their own pre-function, meeting and catering facilities within the convention centre
• The tiered Darling Harbour Theatre seats 2,500, the tiered Pyrmont Theatre seats 1,000 and the flat floor Cockle Bay Room seats 8000
• ICC Sydney Theatre – with an 8,000-seat capacity, this ultramodern theatre will host large international conventions as well as touring entertainment acts, enhancing the active precinct by day and night
• The Gallery – a 2,400sqm room to host exhibitions and cocktail receptions of up to 2,000 people
• Exhibition halls – the venue features a total of 35,000sqm of exhibition space, including The Gallery.  Presented in a smart, stacked layout to capitalise on the inner-city location and provide much improved loading facilities. The halls feature customised registration and ticketing areas and 20 dedicated meeting rooms
• Level 4 halls – 13,600sqm of exhibition space, Level 1 halls – 19,000sqm of exhibition space
• Dedicated meeting rooms, many featuring balconies and views over Tumbalong Park and the city skyline