Economic boost from APEC summit already turns to disappointment for hoteliers

While Sydney’s streets appearing to have coped with a practice run of a traffic motorcade for September’s APEC summit, reports in various media over the weekend including The Telegraph and 2GB say that the much-anticipated economic boost from the summit has already turned to disappointment for many of the city’s businesses, in particular hotels, with a less than expected number of delegates booking accommodation during the event.

Pedestrians and private vehicles gave way to a procession of police cars and motorbikes in a mock high security motorcade that will be reserved for the likes of US President George W Bush during the meeting of world leaders from September 7 to 9 and at one stage during the procession a green-light corridor gave the convoy an undisturbed run through the CBD leaving some passers-by wondering what the emergency was.

Organisers said the dress rehearsal was essential to guarantee the transportation of 21 world leaders is a smooth operation in September.

“It’s about ensuring on the day that the motorcade causes as minimal disruption to the community of Sydney and that the roads remain open for as long a period as possible,” APEC security task force member and NSW Police Superintendent Greg Rolph told reporters.

A Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) spokeswoman said there were no incidents reported during the motorcade which started just after 8am (AEST) and wound up about 12.30pm.

Streets through Sydney’s CBD, the suburban inner-west and around the airport were used during the operation which involved personnel from the Australian Defence Force, NSW Police Force, NSW Fire Brigades, NSW Ambulance Service and RTA.

But as emergency personnel continued their security preparations for the September event, Sydney’s hotels expressed disappointment at the drop in expected delegate numbers.

“We actually thought that it would be better than it is, that’s the disappointing factor,” Hotels Association NSW president John Thorpe said.

Organisers initially expected more than 7,000 delegates and media representatives would visit Sydney during the summit, boosting the city’s economy, but the numbers have now been revised to about 5,000.

APEC task force spokeswoman Anne Fulwood today said predicting the number of attendees was an “inexact science”.

“The numbers now are about five thousand and maybe there’s still at least a thousand media but I can’t be specific,” Ms Fulwood said.

“This is an inexact science, you can’t predict, you can’t say specifically how many people are going to come, it’s as simple as that.”

Hotel owners will be working overtime to make sure people remember Sydney is still open for business during the APEC summit.

Only around 4000 delegates are expected to stay in and around the CBD – the figure was originally predicted at more than 6000.

David Elliot from the Australian Hotels Association says they’ve already prepared themselves for a bigger turnout. 

“We’ve now got to work out how we can make sure that the government encourages the message of a welcome mat. That’s going to be a unique challenge with such a short period to go.

“But our message to the people of New South Wales is that Sydney will still be open for business and you can still get a hotel room,” Mr Elliot said.

Report by The Mole