No Images? Click here NSW ON SHOW IN CHINAA delegation of 21 of the State’s tourism operators travelled to China this week to showcase Sydney and rural and regional NSW to more than 150 travel trade representatives in Shanghai. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the Greater China Roadshow was the first solo showcase of NSW products and experiences in China. “Chinese visitors are currently worth $3 billion to our overnight visitor economy, making them our most valuable and fastest-growing international market, so it’s important we continue to promote what’s on offer in our great State to international travel agents and buyers,” Mr Marshall said. “NSW sellers this week held one-on-one meetings with travel buyers to help local agents understand their products, providing the NSW tourism industry with the chance to capitalise on the many opportunities presented by the lucrative China market. Mr Marshall said showcasing the State’s products and experiences is an important industry initiative to keep Sydney and NSW at the forefront of travellers’ minds. The event was organised by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. INNOVATIVE EXHIBITION OPENS AT MCAA major new work from innovative Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist opened at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) this week. Pipilotti Rist: Sip my Ocean, incorporates video and sculpture as it explores the relationship between nature, the body and technology. Rist’s work references the history of new media, with her early video work displayed on monitors and more recent works projected onto walls, floors and ceilings. Colour Fields, a pop-up bar inspired by the exhibition, is also now open and features a colourful dining and drinks menu, plus weekly Sunday sessions with Future Classic DJs. The exhibition is exclusive to the Sydney International Art Series (SIAS), which brings the world’s most outstanding art exclusively to Sydney, created by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. Tickets for the exhibition, which runs until 18 February 2018, are on sale now. QINGDAO TO SYDNEY SERVICE BEGINSThe first Capital Airlines service from Qingdao to Sydney arrived this week. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the new service commenced just two months after the NSW Government sealed the deal with Capital Airlines. “With a population of more than nine million people, Qingdao is a hugely important growth market for NSW, and this new service is a fantastic win for our tourism industry, which comes just two months after my meeting with Capital Airlines in Beijing," Mr Marshall said. The inaugural flight was farewelled in Qingdao by a special preview performance by Sydney pop duo Jess + Matt’s Sydney to Me song to industry executives and passengers. Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase, who spearheaded the song said, “The NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency will work with Capital Airlines and travel trade partners to develop and promote itineraries that encourage Chinese visitors to spend time in both Sydney and regional NSW.” FEEDBACK SOUGHT FOR VEIAP REVIEWNSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall recently launched a mid-term review of the NSW Government’s Visitor Economy Industry Action Plan (VEIAP), the blueprint for the State’s Visitor Economy. The review will allow the Government to renew its focus on priorities that deliver the greatest benefit to the State’s visitor economy to 2020 and beyond. The Visitor Economy Taskforce will undertake extensive stakeholder engagement and consultation across metropolitan and rural and regional NSW throughout November to December 2017, and is seeking feedback from the travel industry. To have your say, register to attend an information session or complete an online survey by 8 December. For more information visit the Department of Industry website or email veiap.review@industry.nsw.gov.au. NSW WINS BIG AT NATIONAL FOOD AWARDSRestaurants and catering businesses from NSW picked up awards this week at the 2017 Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering HOSTPLUS National Awards for Excellence, which recognises exceptional service, culinary excellence and value for money. Among the State’s many wins were: Caterer of the Year, Together with Solotel (previously Events by Aria); Restaurant of the Year, Tetsuya’s Restaurant (famous for its dish of Confit of Petuna ocean trout with konbu, daikon and fennel, pictured); Esca Bimbadgen Restaurant in Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley, which won best Restaurant in a Winery; and Wolgan Dining Room at Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley, which picked up the award for Best Restaurant in a Hotel. See the full list of winners. INTEGRATED TICKETING AT NEWCASTLE 500Public transport is the way to go for this month’s inaugural Supercars Coates Hire Newcastle 500, with more than 390 additional bus and train services scheduled for the event weekend and public transport included in the cost of a ticket. Revitalising Newcastle Program Director Michael Cassel said a substantial amount of planning had gone into ensuring the public transport system and the road network could handle an anticipated 150,000 attendees over the course of the event weekend on 24-26 November. “With more than 300 additional bus services and more than 90 additional train services planned in addition to keeping the local transport network running, we are confident that people will be able to get in and out of Newcastle efficiently, and enjoy a memorable weekend,” Mr Cassel said. With a number of changes to the road network, racegoers and the local community are being urged to plan ahead. To find out more information or to plan your journey, visit transportnsw.info. AACTA NOMINEES ANNOUNCEDThe nominees for the 7th AACTA Awards have been announced ahead of the ceremony at The Star Sydney. Oscar-nominated movie Lion leads the field, picking up 12 nominations. Other nominees included TV dramas Blue Murder: Killer Cop; Top Of The Lake: China Girl; and Seven Types of Ambiguity. Of the 17 films that received nominations, five have been nominated for the Best Film Award: Jasper Jones; Hounds Of Love; Ali’s Wedding; Berlin Syndrome; and Lion. This year, a number of nominees have received recognition for their work in both film and television, including Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving, Emma Booth and Ewan Lewis. The AACTA Awards are supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The winners will be announced on Wednesday, 6 December. Buy Tickets to the awards ceremony. SYDNEY HILLS SUMMER SERIES IS BACKThe Hills District in Sydney’s north-west is presenting a season of outdoor entertainment from November to February. Highlights include three events being held at Bella Vista Farm, starting with this weekend’s Movie Under The Stars, a family-friendly outdoor movie night on Sunday. On 18 and 19 November, the Farm hosts the Park Feast, where visitors can choose from more than 20 food trucks and dessert stations, with live music and amusement rides for added entertainment. From 9 December, Shakespeare in the Park features two plays – Measure For Measure and The Servant of Two Masters – being performed on selected dates until 30 December. Find out more information about the Summer Series. B&B IN WORLD TOURISM AWARDSA tourism business from NSW is one of 12 finalists in the 2017 World Travel Market Responsible Tourism Awards. Crystal Creek Meadows, a bed and breakfast in Kangaroo Valley, is a beautiful 16-acre property with four luxury eco lodges. Owner operators, Chris and Sophie Warren are thrilled by their nomination. Talking to the South Coast Register newspaper, Mr Warren said, “This demonstrates what we can and are doing in the Shoalhaven. Businesses here can operate to world’s best practices.” The property has a solar farm and firewood plantation, collects green energy and rainwater, and buys as much local produce as possible to reduce its carbon footprint. The award winners will be announced in London next week. Book your stay. EXPERIENCE SYDNEY ON WECHATSocial media giant Tencent has unveiled a new way for Chinese visitors to experience Sydney via its popular WeChat app. Launched yesterday, the pilot WeChat City Experience Sydney Mini Program acts a travel guide and itinerary builder, featuring some of the city’s top attractions. Chinese travellers can select an attraction and view the contact details, map and a brief description and audio tour in both English and Mandarin. Developed by WeChat in partnership with Destination NSW and Tourism Australia, the Pilot Program uses content provided by Tourism Australia and Destination NSW. NEW VENUE AT DARLING HARBOURA new waterfront entertaining venue is opening in Sydney next week. The Endeavour Pavilion at the Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour, is a bespoke marquee which can be adapted to suit any function size or style. The venue can cater to large sit-down dinners for up to 200 seated guests or 350 people at a cocktail function, plus product launches and parties. Featuring a choice of four furniture ranges, the Endeavour Pavilion is available for hire from 10 November. Visit the Australian National Maritime Museum website to find out more. COASTAL TOUR LICENSE RENEWEDAfter a successful one-year trial, Barefoot Downunder tours has been granted a three-year license to operate its unique Figure Eight Pools Coastal Adventure and Hike Tour. The guided tour includes a hike along the Coast Track in the Royal National Park in Sydney’s south, to the awe-inspiring Figure of Eight Pools, taking in Burning Palms Beach and Garie Beach. There are also stops along the way for a picnic lunch and exploring and swimming at Wattamolla Lagoon and Beach and Bald Hill Lookout at Stanwell Tops. To find out more and book your experience, visit the Barefoot Downunder website. ZOOM TO THE SUPERCARSSupercars Travel is offering special chartered return flights with Virgin Australia to fly fans to the Coates Hire Newcastle 500, when it zooms into the coastal city from 24 to 26 November. The day trip package, which starts at $395pp, includes same-day return flights, transfers, trackside tickets and more. The Newcastle 500 features 16 teams competing along a 2.6km street circuit that runs through the eastern end of Newcastle CBD, passing some of the city’s well-known landmarks To book, contact Supercars Travel. GET REAL AT A PENRITH FESTIVALThe Real Festival returns to the Nepean River this weekend with an expanded program of free events. Held at riverside Tench Reserve in Penrith, the packed festival agenda includes live music, roaming performers, large-scale illuminated interactive artworks, a planetarium, craft activities, craft and food stalls, art, music and photography workshops, silent disco, kayaking and boat cruises, wildlife and bush tucker tours. Over-water action includes a jet-pack display, fire-jet display and dragon boat racing. Find out more. BLAK MARKETS ON BARE ISLANDThis weekend marks the first of a series of art workshops to be run on Bare Island in La Perouse, every Sunday in November. The inaugural Art month will be launched as part of this Sunday’s Blak Markets, which will feature arts and craft stallholders as well as artwork from and workshops hosted by Aboriginal art centres. The Blak Markets will begin with a Welcome to Country, a smoking ceremony and a new dance performance inspired by fire and water, presented by local Aboriginal children. Find out more. |