On Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 October 2024, the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner held its second annual NEON Forum, bringing together local and international industry leaders in placemaking and to discuss the future of 24-hour economies worldwide.
Across more than 50 sessions, 125 experts came together to speak about the latest trends and opportunities in night-time economies, including women’s safety, diversifying night-time entertainment options, cutting regulatory red tape and more.
NEON Forum 2024 featured international guests:
Natalie Mets – Nighttime Advisor, City of Tallinn
Simone d’Antonio – Lead Expert, Cities After Dark, URBACT
Tak Umezawa – Director, Japan Nighttime Economy Association (JNEA)
Michael Kill – CEO, Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) UK
Alicia Scholer – Vice President, Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI)
Andreina Seijas – Principal, Night Tank
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NEON Night-Time Economy Forum 2024 Highlights
The Forum also served as a platform to unveil two of the Office’s latest initiatives designed to empower the going-out economy, Data After Dark and Neon Marketplace.
Data After Dark is a digital platform which consolidates key data sources—including consumer spending, people movement, crime, safety and business activity—to deliver comprehensive, real-time insights into New South Wales' night-time economy. Insights from the platform are provided to the public in a quarterly report.
Neon Marketplace is a business-to-business (B2B) platform that connects NSW Districts (as established by the Uptown District Acceleration Program) and local businesses, creatives, artists, event producers and other players in the going-out economy, to create vibrant local economies.
“We just wrapped on NEON Forum 2024, emphasising Sydney's journey towards a true 24-hour economy. We've come a long way since the lockout days, and with our latest reforms, we're finally ready to take the next big step,” said the Hon. John Graham, Special Minister of State, Minister for Roads, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy and Minister for Jobs and Tourism on LinkedIn.
“Having speakers here from Tokyo, London, Paris and beyond shows we're serious about learning from the world's best. The numbers speak for themselves - our night-time economy is worth $102 billion annually. But this isn't just about late-night venues, it's about supporting all our night workers, from healthcare to transport. We're building a truly global city that works for everyone, at all hours,” Graham added.
Thank you to those who were able to attend, in particular our international guests, and we look forward to hosting you again next year.
To stay in the loop of the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner's events, activities and programs, follow us on LinkedIn.
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