On Wednesday 30 October and Thursday 31 October 2024, The Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner held its second annual NEON Night-Time Economy 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 – Night-time 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
Audiences were introduced to District Coordinators from 16 Uptown Districts across NSW in a Q&A session that highlighted each area's unique value propositions, insights from implementing the District model and opportunities for others to get involved.
The Forum also served as a platform to unveil two of the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner’s latest initiatives, Data After Dark and Neon Marketplace.
“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,” wrote 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.
We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of First Nations Australians. We also acknowledge all of the traditional owners of the land in NSW, and pay respect to First Nations Elders, past and present.
