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MAKE MEMORIES IN THE MURRAY: 'BEST SHARED' CAMPAIGN
Member for Albury Justin Clancy launched the Best Shared campaign this week which is all about creating remarkable moments you’ll want to share, and is designed to encourage more people to visit The Murray region.
Aptly named The Murray - Best Shared, the campaign is the result of a collaborative effort between the NSW Government its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, Destination Riverina Murray and Murray Regional Tourism.
It will focus on three key themes: Food and Wine, Nature and Outdoors, and Golf.
Mr Clancy said it’s an ideal time to book in a short Spring break to The Murray.
“Our region has so many wonderful experiences for visitors to discover. Revel in the spectacular natural scenery surrounding the mighty Murray River, where you can also enjoy a breadth of river-based activities such as riding paddle-steamers, fishing, canoeing and water-skiing."
Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres said the campaign has been made possible through Destination NSW’s Regional Tourism Fund, which matched Destination Riverina Murray’s $85,000 contribution dollar-for-dollar.
“Tourism is a top priority for the NSW Government, particularly in rural and regional areas, where more heads on beds and more diners in local restaurants turbocharges local economies, and in turn, benefits the entire State’s economy,” Minister Ayres said.
The 11-week campaign will primarily feature on Facebook and Instagram and will be complemented by PR activity.
See the campaign video here: visitthemurray.com.au
CHICAGO TURNS ON RAZZLE DAZZLE AT CAPITOL THEATRE
Musical theatre blockbuster Chicago opened this week to rave reviews from local critics, and with a star-studded Gala event on Wednesday at Capitol Theatre.
Among Australia’s top names in theatre, television and music to walk the red carpet were entertainment icon Barry Humphries AO, singer Samantha Jade, presenters Lisa Wilkinson, Melissa Doyle and Kerri-Anne Kennerley, John Paul Young, actress Penny McNamee and former politician Bronwyn Bishop.
The original stage musical has won six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy Award, and has been seen by millions of people worldwide. This latest production, premiering in Sydney, stars Natalie Bassingthwaighte as Roxie Hart, Alinta Chidzey as Velma Kelly and Casey Donovan as Matron ‘Mama’ Morton. The season continues until October 20. For tickets, chicagothemusical.com.au
COOL SNOWTUNES TO ROCK SNOWY MOUNTAINS
The Southern Hemisphere’s biggest snow music festival Snowtunes kicks off today, bringing together thousands of fans, artists, skiers and snowboarders in Jindabyne.
The Snowy Mountains will be transformed through performances by platinum-record selling pop songstress Vera Blue, 2015 triple j Hottest 100 winners and multi-ARIA Award nominated indie rock band The Rubens, Australian electronic music due The Presets, Australian rock band The Delta Riggs and many more. Across two stages the acts will bring the coolest live indie, rock and electronic music to the snow, creating a winter wonderland for thousands of visitors.
Snowtunes is surrounded by the natural beauty of NSW’s Snowy Mountains, with the ski slopes of Thredbo, Perisher and Blue Cow all in close proximity.
NIGHT RACING BACK IN SYDNEY - 2020 SUPERCARS CALENDAR RELEASED
New South Wales will host night racing and two major regional street circuits of the 2020 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship calendar, released today. Night racing will return to Sydney Motorsport Park on August 28-30, 2020 following the redevelopment of the venue including permanent lights.
Regional NSW will continue to enjoy the high-octane action – and draw visitors from around the country – with the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 to be held October 8-11, 2020, and the Coates Hire Newcastle 500 from December 4-6, 2020. Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres said NSW will host the hallmark events of the Supercars Championship calendar in 2020.
“This will be the second time SMSP hosts night racing, and is one of only two Supercars events under lights on the Australian eastern seaboard which is a huge drawcard – there’s nothing like seeing fast cars flying around the track at night. The inaugural Sydney SuperNight in 2018 delivered an impressive $2.6 million in overnight visitor expenditure for NSW. Our two street circuits in Bathurst and Newcastle are also fan favourites, with Mount Panorama regarded an Australian icon and Newcastle being the highly anticipated season closer,” Minister Ayres said. Read full details here
INTRODUCING SHELLHARBOUR AIRPORT
Shellharbour City Council has renamed Illawarra Regional Airport to Shellharbour Airport. The updated name better reflects the ownership and locality of one of the city’s most important assets. The new name and logo more accurately capture the airport’s location within the Shellharbour City local government area.
Mayor of Shellharbour City, Councillor Marianne Saliba, is thrilled with the airport’s new identity. To celebrate, the Mayor announced Council is offering free parking at the airport for the next three months. The promotion further encourages travellers who live local to fly local.
“Our community is extremely fortunate to have an airport located within our beautiful city,” Cr Saliba said. “As part of cementing our identity as a rapidly growing tourism and transport hub, it is important our largest assets - including the Shellharbour Marina - promote Shellharbour City as a destination. I know plenty of people from the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands have enjoyed flying with the airline.”
Fly Corporate provides 32 flights per week direct to Melbourne and Brisbane. In early 2019, Shellharbour City Council secured $15.97 million funding from the NSW Government’s Growing Local Economies program, as part of the Regional Growth Fund, for additions and upgrades to the airport. Follow Shellharbour Airport on Instagram.
BUSINESSES BOOSTED BY NSW FIRST
A new video released by Destination NSW this month demonstrates how four NSW tourism businesses have benefitted from the trailblazing NSW First Program. The program, delivered by Destination NSW since 2013, includes workshops, webcasts, resources and assistance from industry leaders for the State’s tourism businesses. The aim of NSW First is to assist the NSW industry to develop, promote and sell tourism products and experiences. Workshops include a focus on product development, digital marketing tips, targeting international visitors and seller training for trade events. To access the NSW First guides, workshop calendar or to sign up for updates, visit destinationnsw.com.au/nswfirst.
QUEST'S REGIONAL NSW GROWTH CONTINUES
Quest Apartment Hotels is set to open its latest regional property in NSW’s Southern Tablelands with the launch of Quest Goulburn this November. Valued at approximately $20 million, the five-story apartment hotel property will feature conference facilities, 38 car-parking spaces and 63 premium serviced apartments located in the commercial centre of the Goulburn-Mulwaree region. “As a key regional city within the Southern Tablelands, Goulburn acts as a business centre and major population catchment for health, banking, retail and education,” Quest Apartment Hotels General Manager – Growth James Shields said. To book www.questapartments.co.uk
AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL TOURISM CONVENTION PROGRAM RELEASED
Regional tourism operators will have the opportunity to learn about labour and skills challenges, touring routes and journeys, business events, accessible tourism and more at the Australian Regional Tourism Convention. The convention, held from October 21-23 in Devonport, Tasmania, will provide participants with professional development seminars, discussion panels and networking opportunities to strengthen their businesses. Destination NSW will be among the presenters. Early bird registrations close tomorrow: regionaltourism.com.au
ICC SYDNEY CELEBRATES THE BEST OF HUNTER VALLEY WINES
International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) attended the annual Hunter Valley Wine Show this month, raising a glass to the region’s award-winning wines and deepening relations with new and existing suppliers from the area. Representatives from the venue attended the prestigious CCL Label 2019 Hunter Valley Wine Show Celebrations Luncheon to celebrate medal winners and meet with producers – ICC Sydney has purchased 70,000 bottles of Hunter Valley wines since opening in December 2016 and 92% of the venue’s wine collection is sourced from NSW. To find out more about ICC Sydney, visit the website.
VIVID MUSIC EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST NOW OPEN FOR 2020
Vivid Sydney, the largest festival of light, music and ideas in the Southern Hemisphere, is inviting musicians, producers, music promoters and venues to be part of the Vivid Music program for 2020. Vivid Music delivers an extensive program of live contemporary and experimental music featuring collaborations and performances from local and international artists at venues across Sydney providing festival goers with an array of options. In 2019, over 100,000 people attended a Vivid Music performance – there were more than 243 events across 32 venues including headline acts The Cure as part of Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House and FKA Twigs at Carriageworks. To register an event: vividsydney.com
SLEEP UNDERGROUND AND SEE ABORIGINAL ROCK ART FOR LESS
Outback explorers who book a new, two-day outback snapshot tour in far western NSW will receive a 10 per cent saving on accommodation in Broken Hill. Tri State Tours – owned by outback NSW tourism company, Out of the Ordinary Outback - is now offering a one-night, on-demand ‘Opal and Art Tour’ from Broken Hill, taking in the quirky, underground opal mining hamlet of White Cliffs and some of Australia’s best Aboriginal rock art sites in a restricted access area only accessible with accredited tour guides like those from Tri State Safaris. Guests will stay in an underground motel, fossick for opals, tour mines and meet the local. For more information outoftheordinaryoutback.com.au
