First Minister Carwyn Jones has marked the start of building work on the new International Convention Centre Wales in a ground breaking ceremony on the site at the Celtic Manor Resort.
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
Once complete in 2019, ICC Wales will provide total floor space for meetings, conferences, exhibitions and events of 26,000sqm – the equivalent size to nearly 4 international rugby pitches.
An £83.7m joint venture between Celtic Manor and Welsh Government, ICC Wales will accommodate 5,000 delegates and includes a 4,000sqm pillar-free main hall, a 1,500 seated auditorium, 12 flexible meeting rooms, a double-height glass atrium and a 2,500sqm outdoor plaza.
First Minister Carwyn Jones said:
“The International Convention Centre Wales is vital to fulfilling our ambition of making Wales a leading international destination for business. In order to compete in a highly competitive international market, Wales needs a convention centre of this quality and size. A world-class venue such as this will allow us to capitalise on Wales’ growing reputation as a destination for major events. The Celtic Manor has already demonstrated its ability to host global events and I’m confident our partnership with them on this project will deliver significant economic benefits for Wales.”
Sir Terry Matthews, Chairman of the Celtic Manor Resort, said:
“ICC Wales will be a game changer for the country on the international business events scene. For far too long, Wales has not had the share of this lucrative market that the country deserves. This is going to change. I’m positive that we have begun a new era in staging major events in Wales and our new state-of-the-art convention centre will continue that momentum for decades to come. It’s an incredibly proud moment for me to see this amazing project start to come to life and I pay tribute to the leadership of our partners in both public and private sectors who have helped to make this dream a reality.”