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LIGHTS ON FOR HAMILTON IN THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD
This week Sydney became the only place in the world where audiences can see one of the most successful musicals of our time, Hamilton.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said it was a huge moment for the Harbour City.
“The Sydney Lyric Theatre has raised the curtain on the Australian premiere of Hamilton – the most talked about Broadway show in the world.
“The NSW Government secured this highly coveted musical for Sydney nearly two years ago and with the hard work of our authorities and the cooperation of the NSW community, Sydney is the only place in the world to see this global sensation right now.
“Sydney is world-renowned for celebrating innovation, diversity, inclusion, and creativity, which aligns perfectly with the powerful themes of Hamilton and the extraordinary effort required to keep this production moving forward for the cast, crew and tens of thousands of fans.
“Hosting the Australian premiere of Hamilton reinforces our goal of positioning Sydney and NSW as the events capital of the Asia Pacific, and we are so thrilled to be welcoming audiences to see this incredible musical,” Mr Ayres said.
Minister for the Arts Don Harwin said so many people had been eagerly awaiting this moment.
“This will be the first time Hamilton has been staged outside the United States and London’s West End – a reminder of just how significant this is for Sydney.”
Hamilton’s original US producer Jeffrey Seller – in Sydney for the premiere – said he was thrilled that the Harbour City could return the show to the public sphere.
“This is a momentous occasion, and one made all the more significant by the fact that this is the only production of Hamilton to be playing in the world right now. Sydney has become a beacon of hope for the rest of theatre community and I’m immensely proud of this opportunity.
“I’d like to thank the Premier and the NSW Government for providing that guiding light and enabling this incredibly talented company to tell this story, at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney,” Mr Seller said.
Tickets are available on the website.
DINE & DISCOVER NSW GOES LIVE STATEWIDE
Millions of customers can now take advantage of the much anticipated Dine & Discover NSW program, thanks to the program going live statewide.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the $500 million program followed successful testing and pilots in The Rocks, Broken Hill, Sydney CBD, Northern Beaches and Bega Valley.
“This stimulus will give businesses the boost they need after an incredibly tough 12 months, and will encourage customers to get out and about safely.
“These vouchers will help businesses keep their doors open and grow, while providing customers with much needed hip pocket relief," Ms Berejiklian said.
Dine & Discover NSW will be rolled out progressively across the State, with the first two stages underway.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the program would bring much needed relief to some of the State’s hardest hit industries.
“Whether it’s a café, restaurant, cinema or gallery, these industries have done it tough during the pandemic, and these vouchers will encourage more customers to come through the door and spend," Mr Perrottet said.
NSW residents will be able to easily apply online to receive their vouchers through the latest version of the Service NSW app and website, and a non-digital solution will be made available to customers who do not have a smartphone or compatible device.
Every NSW resident aged 18 and over will be eligible for four $25 vouchers worth $100 in total, to spend in participating businesses.
Dine & Discover NSW vouchers will be divided into two categories:
- Two $25 vouchers to be used for eating in at restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and clubs seven days a week, excluding public holidays.
- Two $25 vouchers to be used for entertainment and recreation, including cultural institutions, live music, and arts venues, available seven days a week, excluding public holidays.
Businesses can register to participate in the program at any time and vouchers are valid until 30 June 2021. The vouchers can be used only at eligible businesses that have implemented a COVID Safety Plan and are registered as COVID-safe.
Throughout each week, vouchers will become available in more Local Government Areas. For more information on Dine & Discover NSW, visit www.nsw.gov.au.
$12 MILLION MARKETING BOOST FOR TOURISM OPERATORS
Tourism Australia this week announced a new $12 million content creation initiative aimed at supporting tourism businesses across Australia in their recovery and driving increased visitation by helping them to better market their experiences and attractions.
The National Experience Content Initiative will provide a suite of new visual imagery for up to 1,800 tourism experiences from around 57 regions across Australia to ensure that operator’s marketing materials and online product listings stand out in search results and are booked more often by domestic and international travellers.
Tourism Australia Managing Director Phillipa Harrison said this was the largest and most significant content initiative that Tourism Australia had ever embarked on.
“Visual imagery is one of the most important factors for inspiring consumers at the critical stages of researching, planning, or booking travel online.
“The COVID crisis has dealt a heavy blow to our industry, with many tourism businesses that would normally invest heavily in marketing having had to significantly reduce their marketing budgets for the foreseeable future.
“We have set out to capture high quality imagery and footage that showcases the best tourism experiences on offer from every corner of Australia, and to really bring these to life for consumer and trade audiences,” Ms Harrison said.
The National Experience Content Initiative is scheduled to run until June 2022 and is being delivered in consultation with State, Territory and regional tourism organisations.
Between 10 and 50 products and experiences will be featured from each of the approximately 57 regions to be included in the program, based on comprehensive eligibility criteria.
The program will seek to engage locally based professional photographers and content creators from each of the regions, with each featured tourism operator to receive at least 100 to 200 images as well as video footage to use across their social media channels, websites and brochures and to share with the world. Content developed will also be published on the Tourism Australia image and video gallery which is accessible by the general public, media and trade free of charge.
To access more than 25,000 images of NSW destinations, experiences and events in both city and regional locations, as well as high-definition footage and editorial copy, go to the Destination NSW Content Library.
For more information on the National Experience Content Initiative visit the Tourism Australia website.
HOLLYWOOD STAR HEADS TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
The world-famous Blue Mountains has received a tick of approval from Hollywood actress Natalie Portman, after the Academy Award winner enjoyed a weekend away in the region with her family.
Natalie and her family immersed themselves in the incredible natural beauty of the Blue Mountains, staying at the ultra-luxurious Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley, a conservation resort that offers a quintessential Australian bush experience. At One&Only Wolgan Valley, the family indulged in one of the resort’s secluded homestead-style Wolgan Villas, nestled in a corner of the property’s 7,000 acres and enjoying undisturbed panoramic views of two surrounding National Parks.
They enjoyed the local hospitality on a three-day getaway from Sydney, where she has been residing for the past few months to film the latest instalment of Marvel Studio’s major blockbuster, Thor: Love and Thunder.
Immersing herself in the native scenery of the Blue Mountains, Natalie and her family explored the region’s lush bushland by foot on the spectacular Carne Creek Nature Walk through Wolgan Valley.
With the Blue Mountains offering some of Australia’s most stunning 180-degree views of undisturbed stars, Natalie and her family ventured after dark and toured the starry Southern Sky overhead by campfire on a Private Campfire and Stargazing Experience.
Destination NSW hosted Natalie and her family for the trip as part of the agency’s Familiarisation Program.
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE TO COME ALIVE WITH ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Sydney Opera House will be cloaked in the magic and mystery of Broadway’s longest running musical, The Phantom of the Opera, when it opens in September.
The NSW Government has secured an eight-week season of the global sensation for the Harbour City through Destination NSW. The Phantom will be played by Australian star Josh Piterman who was playing the role in London when the pandemic closed theatres worldwide.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the musical would play an important role in the State’s ongoing road to recovery.
“Musicals and theatre productions are a major contributor to the NSW visitor economy, which is why we have been working with Health and the live performance community to get this important sector back up and thriving.
“The Phantom of the Opera is a cultural icon and we anticipate that this upcoming season at Sydney Opera House will attract more than 10,000 visitors who stay more than 25,000 nights and spend close to $6.14 million.
“We are delighted to have secured this significant coup for Sydney, which also reinforces our vision of positioning Sydney and NSW as the events capital of the Asia Pacific,” Mr Ayres said.
Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and Producer Cameron Mackintosh said: “We are thrilled to be bringing this exciting new production to Australia. The show has already proved a sensational box office success on National tours across the UK and the US.”
For more information, visit the website.
LAST CALL FOR NSW’S TOP TOURISM TOWN
NSW Tourism Industry Council is on the search to find NSW's Top Tourism Town and the state's Small Tourism Town of the year.
Towns that have been working hard to make it the best destination it can be are encouraged to nominate and showcase the town as a great visitor destination.
Nominations are open to and encouraged from groups such as Local Chambers of Commerce, Tourism Associations, Councils, Visitor Information Centres or motivated groups of local operators who want to put their town in the spotlight.
There are two categories within the NSW Top Tourism Town program:
- Top Tourism Town – suited to established tourism towns where a range of attractions, accommodation and visitor experiences already exist, particularly those with a population over 5,000 people.
- Small Tourism Town – suited to towns which are in the process of establishing a tourism strategy and developing visitor experiences, particularly those with a population below 5,000 people.
Nominations close Monday 22 March, with full submissions due Monday 26 April. Winners in each category will be announced in partnership with Local Government NSW at the LGNSW Destination & Visitor Economy Conference in Port Macquarie from 26-28 May.
For information and to nominate, go to the NSW Tourism Awards website.
LA TRAVIATA RETURNS TO THE HANDA OPERA ON SYDNEY HARBOUR STAGE
The cast and crew of La Traviata returned to the Sydney Harbour stage for the first time this week, one year since the event was shut down in 2020 due to COVID-19 and just two weeks out from opening night.
Members of the cast returned to the stage for rehearsals, all of whom did not even get the chance to step foot onto the over-water stage last year before the pandemic gripped the State.
In true Sydney style, the La Traviata dancers arrived by boat before taking to the stage, while the world’s largest outdoor chandelier - featuring 10,000 crystals - was hoisted above the stage.
As the show that launched Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour in 2012, La Traviata is the quintessential operatic experience, and this year will be bigger and better than before with new elements introduced to the now world-famous, harbour stage.
The performing company features 175 cast, orchestra members and crew, who will take to the stage that is two-and-a-half times larger than any Australian indoor stage.
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour’s La Traviata opens on 26 March and runs to 25 April, 2021.
Tickets are available at www.opera.org.au.
NEW CITY AT AEROTROPOLIS TO BE NAMED ‘BRADFIELD’
The NSW Government this week announced its plans to call Sydney’s new ‘hi-tech’ city at Bringelly ‘Bradfield’.
Bradfield was selected after the community was asked to have a say, with a panel settling on the final decision to honour John Bradfield’s enduring city-shaping impact on Sydney, including his major contribution, the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Bradfield would define Australia’s first 22nd Century City, which will be a key driver of economic growth and deliver up to 200,000 jobs across the Western Parkland City.
“Bradfield was a renowned engineer who designed and oversaw the construction of both the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney’s original railway network.
“This area will be transformed into a thriving city centre, home to advanced manufacturing, research, science and education and we want Bradfield to be as iconic as the existing major city centres of Sydney and Parramatta," Ms Berejiklian said.
Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the area to be named Bradfield spans more than 100 hectares, north of the existing suburb of Bringelly.
“The number of suggestions the community put forward to ‘Name the Place’ was overwhelming and we are thrilled with the level of participation and interest this project attracted.
“I look forward to Bradfield being the first name that people think of when starting a new job, creating a new business, learning a new skill and investing in NSW,” Mr Ayres said.
QANTAS LAUNCHES NEW ROUTES AHEAD OF 2021 SKI SEASON
Qantas will make it easier for travellers to access the NSW snowfields this winter with the launch of three new seasonal routes.
From 1 July to 26 September 2021, Qantas will operate three new routes to Cooma and Albury:
- Sydney to Cooma – flights will operate three days per week.
- Brisbane to Cooma – flights will operate two days per week.
- Brisbane to Albury – flights will operate three days per week.
QantasLink CEO John Gissing said: “With international border closures meaning more Australians are planning their next holiday closer to home, we are creating more travel options where there is demand.
“We’re expecting these flights will be popular with skiers and snowboarders who might not have been able to hit the slopes through COVID last season in Australia or overseas.
“Our new direct flights to Cooma and Albury will mean ski enthusiasts can spend less time on the road and more time on the mountain.
“These new flights are also good news for local businesses, hospitality and tour operators in the region, helping drive tourism and reviving the industry that has been hurting from COVID-19.”
Fares for flights between Sydney and Cooma are available from $179 one-way and flights from Brisbane to Cooma and Albury are available from $239 one-way at qantas.com or through travel agents.
All flights will be operated by QantasLink’s turboprop Q400 aircraft, offering more than 15,000 seats on the routes through winter.
WESTERN SYDNEY TO HOST 2025 ICF CANOE SLALOM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Penrith has been announced as host city for the 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships with plans to revamp the Whitewater Stadium included in the bid presented by Paddle Australia with the support of the NSW Government, Australian Government and Penrith City Council.
The International Canoe Federation (ICF) this week announced Penrith as the host city of the 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships.
Twenty-five years after it hosted canoe slalom at the Sydney Olympics, Penrith Whitewater Stadium will once again welcome the world’s best paddlers and host the canoe slalom and extreme canoe slalom world titles.
ICF President Jose Perurena said returning to an Olympic venue was important for the sport.
“Returning to Sydney underlines how our Olympic venues can provide a wonderful legacy for a host city,” Mr Perurena said.
The event will run from 1 October to 6 October 2025, the year the city will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. In the lead up to the World Championships, Penrith will also host ICF Oceania Championships and Australian Open events which will help the athletes and organisers prepare for the world champions competition.
Penrith previously hosted the Canoe Slalom Senior World Championships in 2005 and the Junior and Under 23 World Championships in 2014.
Paddle Australia CEO Phil Jones said hosting the 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships offered a timely opportunity to bring the world back to Penrith in celebration of sport and community.
“Hosting the event in Penrith is all about the rejuvenation of an Olympic legacy while bringing together the paddling community and sharing our sport with the public,” Mr Jones said.
NSW TOURISM OPERATORS INVITED TO BENEFIT FROM TRIPADVISOR PARTNERSHIP
Tripadvisor is calling for NSW businesses engaged in the visitor economy to join the platform to benefit from a 10-week partnership campaign with Destination NSW.
The online travel agent (OTA) has teamed up with Destination NSW to amplify the NSW road trips program through to the end of May, using digital banners and articles to build awareness of NSW destinations and inspire potential visitors to book a NSW escape.
The full suite of promotional assets includes banners, landing page takeovers, social media content, electronic Direct Mail to subscribers and an online interactive quiz, all of which feature regional NSW holiday destinations.
The campaign originally launched in November and has proven effective with Tripadvisor customers, so a second burst of activity commenced this week and will conclude on 31 May.
All digital assets will link Tripadvisor users to NSW-specific pages on the website, which is why the OTA is inviting NSW tourism businesses to join the platform now to benefit from the increased web traffic and interest in the state from potential travellers.
The main campaign will highlight road trips through Riverina/Murray, the Outback, Blue Mountains, South Coast and along Alpine Way. However, the landing pages profile NSW more broadly.
Destination NSW regularly collaborates with Tripadvisor to create new itineraries for the NSW webpages to highlight businesses that are part of the platform.
To find out more about creating bookable tourism products and selling them online, take a look at the NSW First guides, tutorials and webinars for tourism businesses, created by Destination NSW.
These resources include a NSW First guide and on demand webinar that detail how to sell online directly to consumers, and how to work with online travel agents. For more information download the NSW First guide or watch the webinar on demand.
To join Tripadvisor, visit the supplier portal and click ‘get started’.
$4M FUNDING INJECTION FOR SYDNEY’S PARKLANDS
The NSW Government has announced more money to help local councils fund new public spaces as part of its strategy to increase green open space throughout Greater Sydney. A total of 12 councils will receive, and then match, funding to deliver new and improved pedestrian and cycle pathways, parks and open spaces as part of the Metropolitan Greenspace Program. Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said: “This program is the State’s longest running open space grants program that has backed councils to deliver hundreds of great projects since 1983. This round we are giving councils another $4 million to progress green space projects for their local communities.” Applications for the 2020/21 funding round are due by 14 May. For more information visit the website.
REGIONAL TOUR FOR ICONIC LOCOMOTIVE 3801
A defining part of Australia’s steam train history has returned to the rails after more than a decade. Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the widely adored steam locomotive 3801 returned to passenger service after a $3.5 million dollar NSW Government-funded overhaul. “No other steam engine in Australia has captured the imagination of rail enthusiasts and the public as much as 3801, so this is an exciting opportunity for people across NSW to take a trip on the State’s most iconic steam locomotive," Mr Toole said. In the next few months 3801 will also make trips to the Southern Highlands, Albury, Wagga Wagga, Junee, the Blue Mountains and towns in western and northern NSW, sharing the magic of the steam era right across the state. For more information on the 3801 regional tour visit the website.
MORE TREES IN GREATER SYDNEY
Sydney is becoming greener with 500,000 trees planted, edging closer to the Premier’s Priority of planting one million trees by 2022. The 500,000th tree was planted last week at Bungarribee Park. Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said: “Our vision is for a city within a park, where people can walk or cycle to world-class public green spaces framed by trees. We’ve brought the latest round of the $10 million Greening our City grant program forward to take advantage of the better planting conditions as a result of the La Nina weather pattern.” The program advances the Premier’s Priority of Greening Our City, announced in June 2019, to increase tree canopy and green cover by planting one million trees in Greater Sydney by 2022. Greater Sydney councils can submit grant applications until 14 April. Program details, and previous recipients, are available here.
