New South Wales has demonstrated its ability to plan and deliver major international events by hosting three of the world's largest events in recent years – the 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games, 2003 Rugby World Cup and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting in 2007, which brought together leaders from all major regional economies including the United States, Russia, Japan and China.

In 2008, World Youth Day, the world’s largest youth celebration, will take place in Sydney with up to 500,000 visitors expected, including 125,000 visitors from overseas. In 2010 the Lions International Convention will bring an estimated 19,500 delegates and guests to the State.

Travellers to New South Wales can choose from a large range of four and five-star hotels, motels and serviced apartments. The State has the largest number of accommodation bed spaces in Australia, and Sydney has the largest number of five-star beds of any city in Australia.
 
In 2007, Sydney was ranked first in the world for satisfaction with travel services and facilities in the Readers' Travel Awards 2007 by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. According to the magazine: "The city has food to rival any in the world, and is at the forefront of cutting-edge design, with chic hotels and excellent restaurants".