No Images? Click here
JESS + MATT DAZZLE DELEGATES AT ATE17
Sydney pop sensations Jess + Matt serenaded ATE delegates to a special performance of their smash hit Sydney to Me last night at the NSW Café.
Hosted by Destination NSW, the Happy Hour was attended by more than 150 NSW tourism operators who networked with international travel wholesalers while enjoying some of the State’s finest produce and beverages.
Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said ATE presents a great opportunity to bring the tourism industry together.
“There is so much happening during ATE and we are delighted to be hosting these fun and informal events, providing delegates with a hard-earned break from their busy schedules while continuing to showcase everything on offer in NSW,” Ms Chipchase said.
“Sony recording artists Jess + Matt are Sydney locals who sing the praises of this wonderful city, making them a perfect musical accompaniment to the State’s world-class tourism offerings.
"The couple also recently participated in a photo shoot to feature romantic getaways in regional NSW and they took the time to get engaged in the Blue Mountains."
Jess + Matt performed Sydney to Me and other songs from their Belmont Street EP, released earlier this year. Click here to download the album.
POST-ATE FAMILS KICK OFF TOMORROW
More than 190 international buyers will set off tomorrow on a familiarisation trip to regional NSW, continuing their ATE journey.
Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said in addition to Sydney, delegates are getting the opportunity to explore other NSW destinations, spreading the benefits of ATE around the State.
“As the business end of ATE comes to a close, delegates can look forward to experiencing NSW first-hand through our post-ATE familiarisation program which showcases the impressive diversity of tourism products on offer,” Ms Chipchase said.
Developed in partnership with industry, the NSW familiarisation program provides export-ready tourism businesses with the chance to showcase their products, attractions and experiences to international buyers, who in turn promote these businesses to their customer bases around the world.
The post-ATE familiarisation program includes itineraries in the Blue Mountains, North Coast, Country and Outback NSW and will wrap up on 23 May.
UPSKILLING RURAL & REGIONAL TOURISM OPERATORS
The NSW Government has announced it will triple the number of free webcasts for NSW tourism operators this year, in response to the growing need for online learning among rural and regional tourism operators.
NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said, “NSW First provides free online webcasts and webinars which aim to help NSW tourism businesses develop, promote and sell their products, no matter where they are in NSW.”
“The expanded program this year will help further develop the offerings of Sydney and rural and regional tourism businesses by including 18 interactive online training events, which is three times more than what was offered in 2016.
“As a result of last year’s NSW First program and the advice and support of experts from the State’s tourism agency, we are now seeing 37 new tourism products being offered in international markets, and more than half of those new tourism products come from rural and regional NSW."
The NSW First program, run by Destination NSW, has a practical focus with advice on how to access funding, engage traditional and digital media, target specific sectors, and become export-ready.
To view the initial list of 2017 workshops and register, go to www.destinationnsw.com.au/nswfirst.
DESTINATION NSW CAMPAIGN WINS AWARD
A co-operative marketing campaign to drive visitation to Sydney and regional NSW has won ‘Australia & New Zealand Campaign of the Year’ at the Expedia Media Solutions 2017 Asia Pacific (APAC) Partner Awards.
Presented to Destination NSW’s Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase at ATE, the Awards acknowledge campaigns that demonstrate innovation, creativity and achievement in travel marketing.
Ms Chipchase said the campaign’s success was a great example of what can be achieved through collaboration.
“For the award-winning campaign, Expedia developed a bespoke digital hub that featured inspirational videos and images alongside recommended hotels, allowing audiences to instantly book their Sydney or regional NSW holiday.”
“The campaign was a success in driving strong business leads to featured hotels and travel to Sydney and regional destinations, including the North and South Coast, Hunter, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Orange and the Southern Highlands.
To see the campaign, go to https://dnsw.expedia.com.au.
PACKED CALENDAR OF SPORTING EVENTS ATTRACTING MILLIONS TO NSW
NSW’s packed calendar of sporting events is attracting millions of tourists to NSW, with more than 3.5 million domestic and international overnight visitors travelling to NSW in the past year to participate in or attend a sporting event.
Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said, “In 2016, the millions of international and domestic overnight visitors, and day-trip visitors that came to the State to participate in or watch sport, represented a rise of almost 7 per cent on the previous year’s figures.
“These visitors stayed in NSW for 2.6 million nights, and contributed more than $909 million to the local visitor economy. This is a fantastic result and means more heads on beds for NSW hotels, increased restaurant reservations, and visitors to our State’s attractions in Sydney and rural and regional NSW.
“There are still plenty of great sporting events on the 2017 calendar with three of the biggest sporting events to be staged in NSW in the coming months.
“English Premier League giants, Liverpool FC will make a return to Sydney on 24 May to take on A-League winners Sydney FC, preceding Arsenal FC who will travel here for the first time to play two almost-sold-out matches against Sydney FC on 13 July and Western Sydney Wanderers on 15 July at ANZ Stadium. The College Football Sydney Cup is also returning with Stanford University taking on the Rice University at Allianz Stadium on 27 August."
All of these events are set to contribute to another stellar year of domestic and international visitation to NSW, maintaining the State’s spot as Australia’s number-one major events and tourism destination, and providing ample opportunity for the State’s tourism operators and industry to capitalise.
 |  |  |