No Images? Click here NSW BREAKS TOURISM RECORDSNSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Adam Marshall, this week announced NSW has made Australian tourism history, setting several new national records and a series of NSW all-time records for overseas visitation. Mr Marshall said no other State has ever achieved such strong results in an International Visitor Survey, with NSW welcoming just over four million overseas visitors, who spent $10.1 billion in the State, in the year ending June 2017. “This momentous achievement is a credit to the strength of our tourism strategies, the quality of our tourism industry and our ability to attract and secure major events,” Mr Marshall said. “We will continue to focus on driving international visitation into Sydney and out to rural and regional NSW communities, putting tourism dollars into local economies, generating jobs and driving investment in the regions.” To find out more, go to Destination NSW. APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR INCUBATOR EVENT FUNDOrganisers of new or second-year events in rural and regional NSW, which are planned for January to June next year, can now apply for funding under round one of the 2018 Incubator Event Fund. Run by Destination NSW, the Fund offers annual grants of up to $20,000 to new and existing smaller-scale events, to assist in areas such as marketing, public relations, venue hire and attendee research. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the NSW Government recognises the value events bring to local communities. “The Incubator Fund is part of the NSW Government’s $43 million record investment in rural and regional tourism, and aims to support new or second-year community events across the state, with a pathway for future growth and development,” Mr Marshall said. Applications are now open and close on Sunday, 1 October. DAILY SYDNEY TO HOUSTON FLIGHTS BEGIN IN JANUARYUnited Airlines has announced it will commence a daily Houston to Sydney service from January next year. The new service will provide an important connection with the largest city in the south of the United States. Sydney Airport Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Mather said, “With Sydney Airport facilitating 58% of the passenger movements between the US and Australia, we’re delighted to welcome United Airlines’ new service." “Houston is an extremely powerful transport hub, with this service connecting Sydney to 70 cities in key US and South American destinations. The flight will operate on the next generation Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft with 252 seats, adding 184,000 seats per annum. The first flight will commence on NSW SKI SEASON CONTINUESSkiers and snowboarders have had an amazing season this Winter, with the Snowy Mountains region experiencing the best snow conditions in years. Two metres of snow fell last month alone, sending ski bunnies hopping to the NSW resorts to carve up and play in the white stuff. There’s plenty more snow on the way this Spring, and Perisher has extended its season by a week, to 8 October. As well as skiing and snowboarding, visitors to the Snowies will enjoy a great range of snow activities including snow tubing, snow shoeing, night skiing and scenic chairlift rides. Start planning your Spring visit to the NSW Snowy Mountains. Image: Skiiers on Front Valley, Perisher. Credit: Perisher THE BASH IS BACK FOR SUMMERCricket fans in regional NSW will again be thrilled by the excitement of Big Bash cricket this Summer. NSW Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres has welcomed the return of the Border Bash to Albury, where the Sydney Thunder men’s and women’s teams will take on the Melbourne Stars on 12 December. On the same day, the women’s Sydney Sixers will compete against the Perth Scorchers, and the men’s Sixers play the Hobart Hurricanes in Wollongong. “These two events will be a phenomenal day of cricket for fans in Albury and Wollongong, particularly for families and junior players who continue to be inspired by the fast pace of T20,” Mr Ayres said. Entry for the Wollongong match is free of charge. For more information, go to sydneysixers.com.au. Fans can buy tickets for the Albury match at borderbash.com.au. Image: Players from Sydney Thunder and the Melbourne Stars at the Border Bash launch. TOP AUSSIE GOLFER TO PLAY IN SYDNEYAustralia’s top-rated golfer and former world number one, Jason Day, will play in the 2017 Emirates Australian Open this November. The NSW Government, through Destination NSW, has secured the Australian Open for Sydney until 2023. It’s been four years since Day last contested the national championship, and he is itching to win the Stonehaven Cup at The Australian Golf Club. “The Australian Open holds a special spot in my heart. I’d love to get my name on that trophy one day – hopefully this November,” Day said. “It’s a tournament I’ve always cherished. To win our national Open would be a dream come true.” Tickets are on sale now. For event information go to golf.org.au/ausopen. Image: Golfer Jason Day. 2017 NRL FINALS SERIES LAUNCHThe 2017 NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series was launched this week with stars from all eight Finals Series teams coming together at ANZ Stadium. The NSW Government has once again secured the NRL Grand Final for Sydney through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW. The Series begins tonight when the Sydney Roosters take on the Brisbane Broncos in the Qualifying Final at Allianz Stadium. NRL Chief Executive Officer Todd Greenberg said it will be a fitting way to kick off the Finals Series. Tickets are on sale now. Image: NSW Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres MP, Genelle Sharples of Telstra and NRL CEO Todd Greenberg with players at the Finals Series Launch. AMERICAN MEDIA PLAY ON THE CENTRAL COASTImages of some of the Central Coast’s popular tourism attractions and experiences will be enjoyed by viewers and readers in the US thanks to a media visit secured by Destination NSW. Presenters from American TV show In Season, blogger The Blonde Side and a journalist from entertainment magazine Culture Map hit the Central Coast for horse riding, quad biking, pelican feeding and bush walking following last month’s College Football Sydney Cup. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Scot MacDonald, said the coverage resulting from these media visits will encourage American millennials to travel to the region. “The broadcast and online stories will showcase our stunning beaches, national parks and great food and wine scene, to encourage overnight visitation and boost the local economy,” Mr MacDonald said. In Season will air in the US in mid 2018. Image: In Season stars quad biking at Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures. JOBS AT DESTINATION NSWAfter six years as General Manager, Marketing, Anthony Laver is rejoining private enterprise. Applications are now invited for a General Manager, Marketing at Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency. This senior leadership role reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer, and is responsible for leading the marketing function and developing strategies to promote Sydney and regional NSW. To find out more, read the full job description. REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONDestination NSW is inviting expressions of interest from facilitators and workshop recorders as part of stakeholder consultation for its new NSW Food and Wine Tourism Strategy and Action Plan. Roundtable workshops are planned for various locations throughout NSW in late October. The Plan will provide a blueprint for new food and wine tourism experiences and support further development of the sector. For a copy of the Request For Quote, email SYDNEY VOTED BEST CITY FOR PEOPLECondé Nast Traveller UK magazine has announced the winners of its 2017 Readers’ Travel Awards, with Sydney voted Best City for People. The award celebrates the friendly Sydneysiders who make the city popular with visiting travellers. Sydney was also the leading Australian destination in the Best Cities in the World category, ranked ninth. The results were announced in London this week and the full list of winners will appear in the October 2017 issue of the magazine. DESERT DISCO DIVASBroken Hill will erupt in a riot of dance, drag queens and disco this weekend at the Broken Heel Festival, a three-day celebration of the cult movie, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Fans will pack iconic Outback pubs, the Palace Hotel in Broken Hill and the Silverton Hotel for live music, comedy, drag performances and more. TIME FOR TULIPSOne of Australia’s favourite floral festivals comes to the Southern Highlands next week when Tulip Time opens in Bowral. The award-winning festival is best known for its spectacular display of more than 75,000 bulbs and 15,000 annuals in bloom at Corbett Gardens, and is now in its 57th year. FOOD FIGHTIt will be BBQ tongs at 20 paces tomorrow at the Australian BBQ Wars in Port Macquarie. Australia’s biggest BBQ competition sees more than 100 local and international teams compete for a big prize pot. The event, which is free for spectators, also features BBQ food trucks, live music and more. SPRING GOES BANGA blaze of colour will light up the night sky over Gunning tomorrow at the annual Fireworks Festival. A popular local event, the fireworks display builds to a massive pyrotechnical show, showcasing the latest special effects. The Festival will also feature food stalls and live entertainment. The fireworks start at 6.30pm. IT'S GOOD TO GRAZEVisitors to NSW will be greeted with sparkling wine and canapes tomorrow night at Go Grazing in Mudgee. Guests will then move onto a selection of small bites, served in three distinct courses, prepared by local Mudgee chefs and paired with award-winning local wines. Go Grazing will be held at Mudgee Showground. A GEM OF A RACEWomen mountain bikers will be hitting five kilometres of single track and bush trails at Cooranbong tomorrow for Diamonds in the Dirt. This friendly event is for women who love to ride, whether they are regulars, or first-timers. The event takes place at the Awaba Mountain Bike Park near Watagans National Park on the Central Coast. |