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DESTINATION NSW TAKES MEDIA ON VIRTUAL YOGA RETREAT ACROSS NSW
Destination NSW this week treated national travel and lifestyle media to a virtual sunset yoga session at the iconic Bondi Icebergs.
This was the first in Destination NSW’s new series of #LoveNSW virtual workshops for media, with this particular event promoting the state’s many health and wellness experiences and products.
Sydney yoga instructor Evangeline Yuen led the session for 52 media, using a downloadable Destination NSW Zoom backdrop of Bondi Icebergs as the setting for her practice.
Participants were invited to ‘take some time out' from #iso to engage in the virtual experience so they could share it with their audiences and inspire future visitors to enjoy such activities in person when it’s safe to do so.
The yoga practice will continue over the coming six weeks, during which Evangeline will use different virtual backdrops to take the class to different inspiring and calming locations across NSW. Under normal circumstances Evangeline conducts yoga retreats in regional NSW, with the next session scheduled to be held in the Hunter Valley later this year.
To complement the session, Destination NSW also offered tips about how to transform the home environment into a holiday spa with a selection of take-home treasures from NSW wellness retreats and holistic hotspots. Suggestions included Kakadu Brightening Serum from Gaia Retreat & Spa in Byron Bay, stay-at-home PJs from Edited and Co in Mudgee, and a volcanic stone diffuser from Curators Collective in Jugiong.
NSW CONTINUES TO SHINE ONLINE
While Australians dream about where their next NSW adventure might be, many of the State’s tourism operators are helping keep the NSW conversation alive in the world of virtual reality. Below are just some of the many innovative ways in which businesses are showcasing their products and experiences:
Sydney Dance Company: Anyone looking to keep their body moving, spirits up and mind at ease can enjoy Sydney Dance Company’s Virtual Studio. There’s a dance class for everyone, at any experience level. Download the Sydney Dance Company app to book and schedule a Virtual Studio class.
Mudgee Region Tourism: As a further show of support for local businesses, Mudgee Region Tourism has unveiled ‘Feel the Love Virtually’, an innovative pivot of its ‘Feel The Love’ campaign launched earlier this year. ‘Feel the Love Virtually’ features a dedicated website offering more than 30 visitor experiences, online sales, wine master classes, cooking segments, Q&A with businesses and much more.
Symbio Zoo: This family-owned and operated zoo has launched a ‘Letters of Happiness’ app, a new initiative which gives children an opportunity to write a letter to their favourite animal and receive a personalised response. A great activity for the kids these school holidays!
Destination NSW features innovative businesses and attractions like these in each edition of Insights with the aim of inspiring other tourism operators to develop new and different ways to promote their products and experiences to audiences worldwide.
If your business has a virtual tour or online experience you’d like to share with the thousands of Insights readers please email product@dnsw.com.au.
Alternatively, if you know of other experiences not promoted here, please join the movement and share them on social media using the hashtag #LoveNSW.
Please follow VisitNSW (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) and Sydney (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) for holiday inspiration and a showcase of NSW’s best attractions and experiences.
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT GUARANTEES DOMESTIC AVIATION NETWORK
Qantas and Virgin Australia Groups will operate a minimum domestic network servicing the most critical metropolitan and regional routes in Australia as a result of a $165 million investment from the Federal Government.
Underwriting the cost of the network, which includes all state and territory capital cities and major NSW regional centres such as Albury, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga, comes in addition to the more than $1 billion of Federal Government support for Australia’s aviation industry in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As Australians are asked to stay home unless absolutely necessary, we are ensuring secure and affordable access for passengers who need to travel, including our essential workers such as frontline medical personnel and defence personnel, as well as supporting the movement of essential freight such as critical medicine and personal protective equipment,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said.
The arrangements will be reviewed after an initial eight-week period.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO HELP AUSTRALIAN EXPORTERS BOUNCE BACK
Australian exporters impacted by the COVID-19 crisis now have access to business-saving loans between $250,000 and $50 million under a new capital facility program administered by Export Finance Australia.
The new COVID-19 Export Capital Facility will support loans for established and previously profitable exporters including tourism businesses which, due to COVID-19, are unable to gain finance from commercial sources.
“These are tough times for many trade-exposed businesses…rising export costs, disruptions to supply-chains and loss of markets are some of the factors that are making it difficult for exporters to access vital commercial finance,” Federal Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham said.
“This critical financial assistance will help exporters to get back on their feet through helping to re-establish markets, or provide working capital support or help exporters purchase new equipment to expand their operations.”
The COVID-19 Export Capital Facility complements other initiatives including the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Guarantee Scheme that will support up to $40 billion of lending to SMEs (including sole traders and not-for-profits). Under this scheme, the Government will guarantee 50 per cent of new loans issued by eligible lenders to SME up to $250,000.
For more information or to apply for finance, go to Export Finance Australia or read the fact sheet.
NSW GOVERNMENT TO BOOST RESILIENCE IN REGIONAL NSW AMID COVID-19
Vital infrastructure projects will be fast-tracked in regional NSW to help local industries, councils and communities rebuild and recover from the impacts of drought, bushfire and COVID-19.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said more than $100 million of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 stimulus package would go towards the expansion of plantation nurseries to boost production, infrastructure repairs in State forests, the rebuild of local showgrounds, and vital upgrades to regional hospitals, courthouses and Aboriginal housing.
“The NSW Government is responding to the needs of regional communities and this funding will help to protect jobs, support business, upgrade infrastructure and support the regions’ most vulnerable,” Mr Barilaro said.
Funding committed under the COVID-19 stimulus package includes $46 million as an equity injection into Forestry Corporation to repair damaged public infrastructure, expand Blowering and Grafton nurseries and begin planting activities in bushfire affected State forests, and $25 million for local councils to rebuild and refurbish infrastructure for up to 171 local showgrounds.
For more information, visit nsw.gov.au
ATEC ROAD TO RECOVERY TOURISM TUTORIALS
According to Australian Tourism Export Council, there has never been a better time for industry operators to work on their businesses so they have launched an extensive online tourism tutorial series to guide operators through the process.
ATEC has developed the ‘Road to Recovery’ Tourism Tutorial Series, a 36-week program designed to provide the tourism industry with all the necessary tools in order to be ready for the bounce back.
Road to Recovery Tourism Tutorials are free, 45-minute sessions, every Thursday at 2pm (AEST).
The sessions, led by industry professionals, will cover social media best practice; how to use email marketing to grow your business; how to refine your digital shopfront and e-commerce platform; and how to work with Online Travel Agents.
Next Thursday 23 April, Tourism Australia Global Project Executive, Experiences Nicole Mitchell will present on building your road to recovery checklist.
For more information about the upcoming tutorials or to register, go to ATEC.net.au
INCREASED TRADING FOR PUBS, CLUBS AND SMALL BARS ALLOWED ON ANZAC DAY
Clubs, pubs, small bars, cafes and restaurants can now sell takeaway food and alcohol this ANZAC Day in a move to help businesses impacted by COVID-19.
Liquor & Gaming NSW and NSW Fair Trading have issued a Statement of Regulatory Intent to allow the changes.
Executive Director of Policy and Strategy, John Tansey, said while businesses can’t get back all their lost days, lifting the holiday alcohol restrictions would create an opportunity for trade.
“This is for the businesses doing it tough and people at home doing the right thing to protect their communities,” Mr Tansey said.
“ANZAC Day is normally a restricted day for trade, but given the circumstances it’s a chance for some of our most impacted businesses to maintain operations and keep their staff employed.”
On ANZAC Day, pubs, clubs, small bars, restaurants and cafes with liquor licences can sell alcohol during their usual trading hours, and packaged liquor licensees can open as usual from 1pm until normal close of trade.
More information about ANZAC Day liquor licence trading is available at Liquor & Gaming NSW.
BUSINESS CONNECT EVENTS BOOST LOCAL LEARNING
More than 60 free online workshops and webinars are now available through Business Connect to help NSW small businesses manage cashflow, change business models, sell goods and services online and market businesses in a challenging environment. Some sessions are available in multiple languages; some are tailored to specific industries such as hospitality or multicultural businesses; while others involve a series of events such as the ‘COVID-19 rediscover your business eight week masterclass’. The events will continue via online delivery from April to July. For more details and to register, visit the NSW Government Business Connect website.
MANAGING REFUNDS AND CANCELLATIONS: ACCC ADVICE
Businesses are reminded to be aware of their rights and obligations when it comes to managing refunds and cancellations in light of COVID-19. The consumer watchdog has issued guidance to assist small businesses to understand their rights and obligations under the Australian Consumer Law. “We know a lot of small businesses are facing a very challenging time, but they still want to do the right thing by their customers,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said. The guide outlines small business rights and obligations relating to issues such as cancelled functions and events and pricing of goods and services. The ACCC’s guidance for consumers may also be relevant for small business, which, under Australian Consumer Law, may be legally defined as consumers when engaging with other businesses.
NEW YORK: RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC
Committee for Sydney continues its charter as an independent think-tank by presenting a live Q&A with leading U.S. change maker on urban and regional policy, Tom Wright of the Regional Plan Association (RPA). As part of the online event series, Committee for Sydney LIVE, the RPA President and Chief Executive Officer will talk about the current situation in New York and how the city can recover from the pandemic. RPA is America’s oldest independent metropolitan research, planning and advocacy organisation that works to improve the prosperity, infrastructure, sustainability and quality of life of the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut metropolitan region. The free session will be held on Wednesday 22 April, 9am-10am (AEST). Register online.
