New Panthers Group CEO weights in on Western Sydney’s business events future
With Western Sydney International Airport set to open to passengers on 25 October 2026, recently appointed Panthers Group CEO, Andrew Hill, says the region is entering a defining period for business travel and events, and the $5 billion airport project is the trigger corporate Australia has been waiting for.
Backed by significant investment, new infrastructure and growing industry support, Western Sydney is increasingly drawing business events that bring visitors, hotel demand and spending into the region. Earlier this year, Business Events Sydney launched a dedicated Western Sydney Meetings Fund designed to attract more conferences and business events to the west, reflecting growing confidence in the region’s potential.
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Panthers Group owns the 168-acre Panthers Precinct in Penrith, anchored by the $110 million development of the Western Sydney Convention Centre and five-star Pullman Sydney Penrith, alongside more than 18 dining and entertainment venues and a range of adventure attractions in a single integrated site.
A 20-minute drive from WSI, Panthers Precinct sets a new benchmark for hospitality in Western Sydney, with the 152-room Pullman Sydney Penrith the first and only 5-star hotel in the region. Last year, Western Sydney Convention Centre also expanded its services, with over 4,000 sqm of event space across the precinct, offering flexible spaces across 11 venues.
Hill, who took the reins as Panthers Group CEO in November 2025, believes the imminent Aerotropolis demands a new model for business travel and events, one that swaps sterile boardrooms for a five-star blend of luxury, leisure, and global accessibility, all within a single walkable footprint.
“The size and scale of Western Sydney is now undeniable,” Hill said. “It’s no longer about wanting to be here, corporate Australia needs to be here. Panthers Group have built the facilities to ensure we are the destination of choice as the region stands up on the global stage.”
That confidence is already being reflected in the events choosing the region. In 2025, the Local Government NSW Annual Conference was hosted at the Western Sydney Convention Centre in Penrith, bringing together council leaders, elected representatives and local government stakeholders from across NSW.
The numbers back this up. Meetings & Events revenue at the Panthers Precinct has almost doubled since 2023, with the Western Sydney Convention Centre driving the increase in MICE business. With active bids for WSCC extending into 2030, international interest has been seen from the USA, UK and Singapore.
“We aren’t just selling bed nights, we’re creating a reason to be here,” Hill says. “You can walk across a hallway from a five-star hotel to a world-class convention centre, then step outside to the Nepean River. It’s about offering a seamless energy that makes doing business in the West efficient and accessible.”
