Sidney – Catch the Wave

Business meets beach culture in sun-splashed Sydney.

- By Ron Bernthal

Although Melbourne is projected to overtake Sydney as Australia’s largest metropolitan area by 2026 (squeezing by with 6.2 million residents to Sydney’s 6 million), Sydney’s spectacular location between the Tasman Sea and the Blue Mountains and its ongoing economic prosperity will continue to attract millions of business and leisure travelers every year.

For business travelers spending a day — or several weeks — in Sydney, dozens of excellent hotels, meeting venues, restaurants and recreational locations evoke the city’s casual lifestyle. Here, business and leisure activities seem to blend in a uniquely coastal Australian beach culture.

The Ovolo Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf is a deluxe boutique property with a waterside location adjacent to a marina and views of the city skyline. This colorfully designed, 100-room hotel offers a large lobby always buzzing with locals and guests, and the hotel’s fitness center and pool are open 24/7, making it easy to exercise before or after a busy workday. Its signature Alibi Bar is a sleek multipurpose social area designed for business guests to work, network or simply relax with a drink. Business guests can reserve exclusive use of the Alibi for cocktail parties, product launches and client meetings, or book a private meeting space within the hotel.