Following the launch of the International Convention Centre Sydney ( ICC Sydney ) late last year , international and domestic interest in Sydney is strong .

New hotels are on their way up to meet the city ’ s demand , while existing hotels are revamping their spaces and even adding more rooms .

Leading the charge in what is said to be Australia ’ s hotel “ room boom ”, Sydney has almost 9000 accommodation rooms in the pipeline across the next five years , about a quarter of which are already under construction .

In prime position directly opposite the ICC Sydney , Sofitel

Sydney Darling Harbour is set to open its doors on November 1 this year . The hotel will feature 590 guest rooms , nine meeting spaces and a ballroom with capacity for up to 450 guests .

It ’ s an exciting development for the city , says general manager Greg Brady .

“ The hotel has a beautiful design , 75 per cent of the rooms have views of Darling Harbour , and we ’ re seconds away from the ICC . So the fact that we ’ re there with that sort of inventory is going to support Sydney in bringing major events to the city ,” he says .

“ We also have a boardroom on

our Club Millesime level , which is on level 35 , that has sweeping views over Darling Harbour and out west to Blackwattle Bay and beyond . That in itself will be Sydney ’ s best luxury boardroom with a view .”

Brady says developments such as Barangaroo are enhancing Sydney ’ s identity as a destination for business and leisure travel .

“ I think the landscape is changing dramatically and it ’ s going to assist in tourism growth for Sydney and as a result of that we ’ re going to win back a lot more incentive business ,” he says .

Late last year , Sydney saw the return of the Hyatt Regency brand to the city , with the opening of the Hyatt Regency Sydney . The former Four Points by Sheraton hotel underwent a $ 250 million transformation and now boasts 892 rooms and almost 3500sqm of event and conference space , making it Australia ’ s largest hotel .

General manager Malcolm Zancanaro says the expanded hotel now allows organisers to stage conferences and events in Sydney that were never possible before .

“ We can now host , in a single hotel , some very large events