No Images? Click here MANLY SET FOR BLOCKBUSTER SURFING COMPETITIONThe world’s best surfers will hit the water off Manly Beach for nine days from tomorrow as more than 200 surfers take to the waves in the inaugural Vissla Sydney Surf Pro. Supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, the Vissla Sydney Surf Pro combines a Pro Junior event with men’s and women’s World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 6000 events. NSW Member for Manly James Griffin said he expected a festival-like atmosphere in Manly with a range of activities and events scheduled to complement the action in the water. “There are 6,000 QS points up for grabs for the men and women as well as valuable ranking points in the Pro Junior event, ensuring the competition will be fierce and spectators guaranteed to see some spectacular surfing,” Mr Griffin said. “We expect close to 1,000 visitors will travel for the event, boosting the local economy by an estimated $800,000, and providing a great opportunity for local businesses and tourism operators to capitalise on the influx of visitors and interest in surfing.” The Vissla Sydney Pro will be held at Manly Beach from 24 February to 4 March 2018. Manly Beach is popular with more than just surfers; this week travel planning and booking site TripAdvisor announced the winners of its Travellers’ Choice Awards for global beaches, with Manly Beach taking the number one spot in the Australian beach category. Photo credit: Hamilton Lund SPOTLIGHT ON NSW AT AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST EVENTS EXPOThe conference and meeting facilities of regional NSW were showcased to over 4,000 event suppliers and planners this week at the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME). NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said AIME offered more than 11,000 face-to-face-meetings across a two-day schedule, and promoted more than 330 venues to event organisers. “From the bush to the coast, we want every conference planner to know that regional NSW can offer delegates both an opportunity to do business and the chance to explore our fantastic tourism offerings,” Mr Marshall said. The team from Destination NSW’s Regional Conferencing Unit were on hand at AIME to support NSW exhibitors and provide conferencing advice to delegates from the Meet in Regional NSW conference stand. NSW regional conferencing exhibitors were well represented and included Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Newcastle Business Events, The Anchorage Port Stephens, Destination Wollongong, Ballina Airport, Byron Business Events Bureau, Elements of Byron Bay, Coffs Coast Tourism, Coffs Harbour Opal Cove Resort as well as Business Events Sydney. Find out more about regional NSW’s conferencing locations and meeting facilities at the Meet in Regional NSW website. LISMORE HITS A HOME RUN THANKS TO NSW GOVERNMENT FUNDINGNSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro and Member for Lismore Thomas George this week announced $4.95 million in NSW Government funding to upgrade the Albert Park Baseball Complex in Lismore. The funding is in addition to $1 million from the Commonwealth’s Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure program, and will be used to enhance the current playing and spectator facilities, and help to attract more regional, national and international baseball events to NSW. Mr Barilaro said he was proud to announce that Lismore would soon be able to deliver major league games. “Today’s announcement is a huge win for regional NSW, and cements Lismore’s position as the home of baseball in Australia,” Mr Barilaro said. “The funding means Lismore will have the very best baseball facilities in the country, capable of drawing more major baseball events and tournaments to the regional town. “With more high-profile baseball events coming to Lismore, the region will enjoy a significant boost to the local tourism sector and economy.” Lismore has been the proud host city for the Australia Little League and Senior League Championships since 2016, with the event secured by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, for five years until 2020. APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR INCUBATOR EVENT FUNDOrganisers of new and second-year events, held between July and December 2018, are being encouraged to apply for the NSW Government’s 2018 Incubator Event Fund, which supports events held in rural and regional NSW. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the Fund offers a one-off grant of up to $20,000 to assist with activities such as marketing, public relations, venue hire and attendee research. “Right across our regions, we’re focused on getting tourism booming by making it easier for tourism operators to access vital grants to get their initiatives off the ground, and the Incubator Event Fund is a perfect example of this,” Mr Marshall said. “The Fund is one of three streams included in the Regional Flagship Events Program and is part of our record $43 million investment aimed at increasing overnight visitation and expenditure across rural and regional NSW.” Applications for round two of the 2018 Incubator Event Fund are open until Sunday, 18 March 2018. To lodge an application and to view the criteria visit, destinationnsw.com.au/rfep. The Regional Flagship Events Program is managed and administered through the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. Image credit: Riverina Regional Tourism NSW REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH MEAThe NSW Government has announced it will partner with Australia’s peak industry body for business events, Meetings and Events Australia (MEA), to support aspiring event managers in rural and regional NSW. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the partnership was part of the Government’s Regional Conferencing Strategy & Action Plan, launched in Tamworth last year. “Whether you’ve just finished Year 12, are working in the events industry or looking for a career change, we are offering six regional Diploma of Event Management scholarships to ensure the future success of this booming sector,” Mr Marshall said. “This initiative will upskill our rural and regional workforce in an industry that plays such an important role in helping MEA Chief Executive Officer Robyn Johnson said the business events industry is a growing economic contributor to regional communities, and that the partnership is a reflection of the close relationship with the NSW Government. “We are thrilled to be collaborating with the NSW Government, via Destination NSW, to bring more job opportunities into rural and regional NSW. I also look forward to meeting with the Destination Networks this year to work together to grow business events across the State,” Ms Johnson said. For further information and to apply, visit www.meetinnsw.com.au/scholarships. WORLD’S BEST WOMEN GOLFERS TEE OFF IN BONVILLENSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro welcomed some of the world’s best female golfers to Coffs Harbour this week, for the inaugural Australian Ladies Classic – Bonville which kicked off yesterday. Mr Barilaro said the brand new event on the Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG) Tour will see more than 140 Australian and international golfers take to the Bonville Golf Resort course. “The event has brought some of the best players in the world to Coffs Harbour, who will be showcasing their talents on the incredible Bonville course,” Mr Barilaro said. “The NSW Government is committed to growing tourism in rural and regional NSW and securing major events like this one, is a crucial way to achieving that. “This is one of two women’s professional golf events secured exclusively for regional NSW, and along with the Women’s NSW Open, around 16,000 domestic and international visitors are expected to travel to these events over the next five years, boosting the NSW visitor economy by approximately $8 million.” The Australian Ladies Classic – Bonville is on until this Sunday at Bonville Golf Resort, with tickets still available via eventbrite.com.au. Following the Classic, the Women’s NSW Open will run from 1 to 4 March 2018 at Coffs Harbour Golf Club. Both events were secured by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. Image: L-R: Players Annabel Dimmock, Whitney Hillier and Holly Clyburn, with Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Craig Patterson of Bonville Golf Resort. LOCKOUT EXEMPTION FOR MARDI GRASThe NSW Government this week announced it will provide an exemption to lockout requirements at venues in the Oxford Street area for the 40th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. The one-off exemption means patrons can continue to be admitted at venues in the area beyond the usual 1.30am or 2am restrictions. Supported by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is an internationally renowned event that attracts visitors from all over the world and injects around $40 million into the NSW economy each year. Visit the official website. BANNISTERS TO OPEN IN PORT STEPHENSCoastal luxury boutique hotel, Bannisters will expand across NSW, with the opening of Bannisters Port Stephens in late 2018. On the beachfront site of the former Salamander Shores at Soldiers Point, the 4.5-star hotel will have 80 guestrooms (50 with bay views over the Karuah River), including four luxury suites and a penthouse. The hotel will feature a double-height lobby opening onto an infinity pool and bar, there will be a pub for casual dining plus a signature restaurant from celebrated chef and TV presenter, Rick Stein. Bannisters currently operates two luxury boutique hotels in Mollymook on the South Coast. DATA WAREHOUSE WORKSHOP IN KIAMADestination Kiama is holding a day of workshops to show tourism businesses and event owners how to post a free listing on the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) and Destination NSW’s Get Connected program. ATDW feeds more than 200 websites, including Sydney.com and Visitnsw.com. Each session will run for approximately one hour and each participant will have access to a computer and the internet. Click the link below to register. NEW SYDNEY BUSH TRAIL OPENSSydney’s newest coastal bush trail has officially opened, with visitors and nature-lovers now able to take in more of the city’s breathtaking coast line. The Western Walking Track opens up the western section of Malabar Headland National Park, and is a joint initiative between Randwick City Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. The trail runs from Pioneers Park at Malabar to Arthur Byrne Reserve, South Maroubra, and then links to the coastal Eastern Walking Track (also referred to as the Boora Point Walking Track) which follows the coastline, creating an optional circular four-kilometre loop. CANOE CREWS COMPETE IN SYDNEYThe 2018 Sydney Harbour Challenge begins tomorrow when 80 international canoe crews set off from Manly. The outrigger canoe event is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. Crews from Australia, California, Hawaii, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore will compete in the challenge, with boats following a course through Sydney Harbour to Milsons Point before returning to Manly. The event is free to watch and will take place from 7:30am to approximately 5pm tomorrow. ICC'S FIRST YEAR IS A GREAT SUCCESSAustralia’s premier convention, exhibition and entertainment venue, the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) has generated $785 million in direct expenditure and created 3,700 jobs for the NSW economy in its first year of operation. NSW Minister for Finance, Services and Property Victor Dominello applauded the venue for outperforming the State’s target of $200 million in economic benefits. “In just its first year ICC Sydney welcomed 1.3 million visitors across 755 different events, alongside a delegate satisfaction rating of 95 per cent and client satisfaction rating of 93 per cent,” he said. |