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NSW SECURES AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE OF 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL
The NSW Government has further bolstered the State’s stellar line-up of world-class events, after securing the Australian premiere of 9 to 5 The Musical.
Based on the iconic 1980 film by the same name, 9 to 5 The Musical is coming to the Sydney Lyric Theatre in April 2020 and will feature the music and lyrics of American country music star Dolly Parton.
Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres said securing 9 to 5 The Musical for Sydney is a big win for the NSW visitor economy.
“Major events like this are crucial in helping to drive significant levels of visitation to our State, which in turn turbocharges local economies, generates jobs and drives investment,” Mr Ayres said.
“We anticipate that this season of 9 to 5 The Musical from April 2020 will attract more than 27,000 visitors to Sydney who will stay more than 73,800 nights and spend close to $23 million.
“Dolly Parton is embedded in global pop culture, so I am delighted NSW has secured this Australian premiere of 9 to 5 The Musical. It joins the recently announced Hamilton and Disney’s Frozen in a long-list of world-class musicals and theatre productions the NSW Government has secured for our State since 2011.”
Producers John Frost and Suzanne Jones said, “We are thrilled to be bringing 9 to 5 The Musical to Australia and to hold the Australian premiere in Sydney. The response from audiences and critics to the show in the UK has been incredible, with the West End season extended multiple times. Dolly Parton’s wonderful musical has been embraced worldwide.”
Tickets on sale from Friday 13 September at 4pm. Head to 9to5themusical.com.au for details.
SYDNEY SET FOR SUPER 2019 NRL GRAND FINAL
Anticipation is building as the 2019 NRL Grand Final at ANZ Stadium draws closer, with the Finals Series launched this week ahead of the opening matches this weekend.
Captains from the league’s leading men’s teams gathered in Sydney, eager to return to the Harbour City for the NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final on 6 October.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said Sydney would welcome NRL enthusiasts from around the country next month.
“The Grand Final is certainly the holy grail for the country’s rugby league fans, and in the past five years more than 400,000 people have seen the action unfold live at ANZ Stadium,” Mr Ayres said.
“More than a quarter of these have been visitors to Sydney, who have stayed for a night, putting heads on beds, and spending in our restaurants, bars and precincts.
“Over $108 million in tourism related expenditure has been generated for our State’s economy through the NRL grand final in the past five years.”
NSW is the home of major rugby league events, with a stellar line up of matches and tournaments still to come in 2019 including the inaugural Rugby League World Cup 9s and the Trans-Tasman Test, both in October.
Minister for Sport John Sidoti said the 2019 Grand Final would offer spectators a full schedule of entertainment.
“For the first time the women’s and men’s Grand Finals will be played back-to-back following the Intrust Super State Championship Grand Final,” Mr Sidoti said.
“I can’t wait to see the best women’s and men’s teams competing for Grand Final glory on October 6. This will be a rugby league feast showcasing the best this brilliant game has to offer.”
NRL chief executive officer Todd Greenberg said while it’s been a brilliant season so far, the past 25 rounds don’t matter.
“Nothing is certain, and the fate of every team could change in a moment. All of our teams have so much going for them,” Mr Greenberg said.
Tickets for the NRL Grand Final are on sale.
HAVE YOUR SAY: NSW TOURISM INDUSTRY SENTIMENT SURVEY
Businesses in the NSW visitor economy are being encouraged to have their say by participating in a new industry sentiment survey.
The survey is part of the NSW Government’s Visitor Economy Index (VEX) - an initiative of the Visitor Economy Industry Action Plan 2030 (VEIAP) which provides insights into the overall performance of the State’s visitor economy.
“Tourism has grown significantly throughout NSW over the past decade and that is largely due to the collective efforts of those who are on-the-ground and see the workings of our industry day in and day out,” Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres said.
“The industry sentiment survey forms a key part of the Visitor Economy Index, which is crucial in not only seeing where our tourism industry has excelled, but also pinpointing areas we can bolster and focus our attention on.”
The survey is online and will be open until Friday 18 October 2019.
YASS VALLEY LEAPS INTO THE NEW SEASON
Spring is one of the best times of year to visit Yass Valley, in the southwest slopes of NSW, with exciting spring events for all ages and interests.
The event calendar launches with the Irish & Celtic Music Festival in Yass from 13 to 15 September 2019. With a heritage rich in Irish and Celtic beginnings, the town centre comes to life with music, poetry, dance and Celtic markets spread throughout the town’s unique venues. As the third oldest town in NSW, the Yass community is proud to celebrate its origins of Irish settlement.
Other upcoming events in Yass Valley include the Murrumbateman Moving Feast and Gundaroo Music Festival in October, and Classic Yass, Bowning Country Fair and Hills of Hall in November.
Find out more about the upcoming events in Yass and plan your stay to explore the local food and wine, gardens, music and history in Southern NSW.
SPRING INTO THE GARDENS ACROSS SYDNEY
Spring displays from the Harbour to Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains are now in bloom, showcasing some of the most spectacular spring garden displays.
Spring bedding at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney is at its best throughout September, with the Garden’s famous Spring Walk in bloom. This year’s display features Buttercups, China Pinks, Snap dragons and Pansies, as well as the South African Rothmania globose, Wisteria, Orchids and Clivias.
The Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan’s most iconic spring display, the Western Australian Paper Daisy display, also runs throughout September through to the end of October. This year’s display features more than one million flowers that will create a lush carpet of pink, yellow and white.
The Wild about Waratahs Festival kicks off at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden at Mount Tomah on 28 September and features entries from the Australian waratah growers competition from around the country. Plan your trip using Garden Explorer or read more about the gardens in Spring.
LIFE OUTBACK IS NEVER A DRAG - VISIT BROKEN HEEL
Hold on to your boa – Broken Heel festival is back this weekend bringing sparkle, showstopping performances and glamour to the stages of Outback NSW. Broken Hill will welcome the nation’s best Showgirls, Bio Queens, Drag Queens, Drag Kings and DJs for a non-stop party from today until Sunday, all paying homage to the iconic cult movie and stage musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
Join the festivities at the Town Square for the Main Drag In Drag street parade on Saturday 14 September where the entire community of Broken Hill comes together in celebration. Other highlights include the So You Think You Can Drag competition running over the course of the weekend and countless comedy, cabaret, live music and social activities for everyone to enjoy.
Hosted by the fabulous Philmah Bocks and Art Simone, the 2019 Broken Heel festival is sure to be a desert adventure visitors won’t forget. Explore the program or learn more about the festival.
ATE 2020 APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN
Applications to attend Australia’s largest annual travel and tourism business-to-business event, Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE), are open. ATE 2020 will be held from 10 to 14 May at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Registration for all delegates will take place on Sunday 10 May followed by appointments and networking functions from Monday 11 May to Thursday 14 May 2020. Approximately, 1400 Australian seller delegates from 550 companies and 600 key buyer delegates from over 30 countries will be brought together in a forum to showcase their products directly to tourism wholesalers and retailers from around the world. For further information on the event and to register, please visit the Tourism Australia website.
DARE TO BE SEEN - WINEDEPOT INDUSTRY CONFERENCE
WINEDEPOT is inviting businesses to “dare to be seen”, through expert guidance in sales and marketing at this year’s Industry IMPACT Conference. The event, to be held in Orange on 17 and 18 September, will guide wine businesses in how to sell more wine and tourism experiences, to more people, more often through growing the direct-to-consumer sales channels. International speakers include Felicity Carter from Meiningers Wine Business Magazine, Lesley Berglund from WISE Academy, Fabien Laine from Creative Fabien and Andrew Kamphuis from Commerce7. Destination NSW is a strategic sponsor of the conference. Registrations are still open.
SELF APPRECIATION DAY PARTNERS WITH SYDNEY RUNNING FESTIVAL
Blackmores Sydney Running Festival will bridge the gap between mental and physical fitness through a new partnership with Self Appreciation Day. Launched in 2018, Self Appreciation Day is September 14 and calls on individuals to appreciate themselves and be liberated to connect with others. Black Dog Institute research shows one in five Australians aged 16-85 experience a mental illness. Self Appreciation Day will host entertainment throughout the morning including sets by triple j Unearthed artists. Blackmores Sydney Running Festival will take place on Sunday 15 September. Register for the run online.
