NSW Premier Kristina Keneally and Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell were reportedly among guests at a business function cut short by a "security threat" at a Sydney hotel.
The bomb squad was called to the Hilton Sydney on George Street just after 7.45pm (AEST) on Monday during Ms Keneally's address at the Australia India Business Council dinner.
The hotel was locked down just after a threatening phone call was received by a staff member at reception. "Being evacuated from Hilton Hotel in middle of Premier's speech due to an unspecified 'security threat'," Mr O'Farrell tweeted at the time.
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Another tweet read: "Appears to be a bomb scare - we were evacuated to QVB & event has now been cancelled."
The hotel's general manager, Paul Hutton, said about 540 guests were ushered out onto the street from its events floor while officers scoured the area.
"Unfortunately, (their) evening was ruined," Mr Hutton said of the guests at the function. "They were evacuated out into George street and that was it."
Mr Hutton said the incident affected less than five per cent of the hotel. The tower was not affected.
"It was a little bit of an inconvenience to some of the guests in the lobby and the restaurants and bars, but I am happy to say it was all done and dealt with by 9.45pm."
Police said staff and patrons were allowed back into the secured areas after the search failed to turn up anything adverse.
