LETE canned
Luxperience chief executive Helen Logas and former CEO Rosemary Sama have reached an “amicable agreement” regarding the 2013 travel trade show, with plans to host a rival event now on the back burner.
Sama stepped down as chief executive and revoked her business partnership with Logas last year before she revealed plans to stage a rival event, LETE, on the same dates as Luxperience 2013.
However, the pair last month revealed they were back on good terms and that LETE has been cancelled “for 2013 and the future”.
“We are both very pleased that we have been able to come to an amicable agreement. [It] allows Luxperience to build on its success in 2012, and for both of us to focus on our respective futures,” Logas said.
Luxperience will go ahead as planned at the Overseas Passenger Terminal from September 2-4.
Funding boost for Sydney
The City of Sydney last month committed a further $1.5 million to promote Sydney as a top conferencing destination.
The funding will be delivered to Business Events Sydney over the next three years, allowing the firm to focus on attracting, winning and delivering world class conferences and events.
BESydney chief executive Lyn Lewis-Smith congratulated Lord Mayor Clover Moore for recognising the ongoing value of business events.
“The increased support that will now come from the City of Sydney is the final piece in the puzzle and we are very excited by the opportunities this partnership will bring,” she said.
Sydney convention update
Sydney Harbour Expo@Glebe Island has been selected as the preferred tender to build, operate and remove the Glebe Island Expo interim facility.
The facility will include a fully enclosed marquee style structure of 25,000 square metres built in a similar fashion to the current exhibition space at Darling Harbour.
The interim facility is expected to receive planning approval in March, with the construction expected to kick off mid 2013.
Meanwhile, joint venture partners Hassell + Populous have won the contract to design the Sydney Convention Exhibition and Entertainment precinct at Darling Harbour.
Populous designed both the London and Sydney Olympic stadiums and 45 convention and exhibition centres around the world.
