Description of Conduct

On 1 July 2019, Business Events Sydney Limited lodged an application for authorisation on behalf of itself and future signatory members to become party to, and give effect to, an agreement. The agreement sets minimum standards for various terms to be offered by member hotels when supplying accommodation services to delegates of international business events. The terms include release, cancellation, concession, room access, force majeure, lowest rate guarantee and quote validity terms.

Business Events Sydney is an independent not-for-profit organisation that secures business events for the city of Sydney and the state of New South Wales and supplies event tendering and event organising services. It offers membership to hotels and other third party businesses.

On 28 August, the ACCC issued a draft determination proposing to grant authorisation to enable hotels that are members of Business Events Sydney Limited to provide a common set of minimum terms to event organisers and delegates of international business events, where the events have more than 2000 delegates and are expected to result in bookings of ten or more of the members’ hotels for accommodation.

On 25 September 2019, the ACCC issued a determination granting authorisation to Business Events Sydney Limited. If no application for review is lodged to the Australian Competition Tribunal, the ACCC’s determination will come into force on 17 October 2019.

Applicant(s)

  • Business Events Sydney Limited

Authorisation number(s)

  • AA1000446-1