Insights - 8 November 2024
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MARATHON MAJORS STATUS BRINGS
$73 MILLION TO NSW VISITOR ECONOMY
The TCS Sydney Marathon has been announced as the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major alongside New York, London, Tokyo, Boston, Chicago and Berlin.
Destination NSW supported TCS Sydney Marathon's three-year candidacy and review period to become a World Major, with its elevated status expected to drive a wave of international and interstate runners to visit NSW.
Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham celebrated the milestone this week at the marathon’s finish line, the Sydney Opera House, following the announcement by international organisers at the New York City Marathon.
Becoming a World Marathon Major city will bring an estimated $73 million in visitor expenditure to the state over the next three years, with many participants taking the opportunity to travel in regional NSW during their visit.
THE NSW WINE OF THE YEAR
The 2024 ICC Sydney NSW Wine Awards were held on 1 November, supported proudly by Destination NSW.
The NSW Governor’s Trophy for the 2024 NSW Wine of the Year was presented by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC to Tamburlaine Organic Wines for its 2023 Reserve Orange Syrah.
It was a particularly strong showing at the awards for the Orange region, with its producers winning seven trophies, including Best Pinot Gris, Best Pinot Noir, Best Shiraz, Best Cabernet Sauvignon and Best Organic Wine.
View all the winners here.
Tulloch Wines CEO Christina Tulloch was honoured with the prestigious 2023 Graham Gregory Award. The industry’s highest accolade recognises individuals who are advancing the wine industry both in NSW and further afield.
Ms Tulloch is Chair of Destination Sydney Surrounds North and was previously President of the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association.
Learn more here.
MURRUMBATEMAN WINEMAKER WINS
JIMMY WATSON TROPHY
Four Winds Vineyard’s 2023 Shiraz has taken out the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Young Red Wine at the 2024 Melbourne Royal Awards.
Regarded as one of the most coveted trophies for Australian winemakers, it has been won by some of the most recognisable names in the industry, including Wolf Blass, Penfolds, Hardy’s, Wynns, Cape Mentelle and Seppelt.
It is the first time the trophy has been awarded to a wine produced by a Canberra District vineyard.
BESYDNEY UNVEILS STRONG ANNUAL RESULTS
Business Events Sydney (BESydney) has announced its FY23-24 results, with highlights including 69 global and national meetings being held during the financial year. The events attracted 51,000 delegates and generated an estimated $216 million in direct expenditure for NSW.
There were also 69 new business events secured during the period, which are expected to attract 61,000 delegates and generate an estimated $217 million in direct expenditure.
At 30 June 2024 the BESydney team had also secured a pipeline of confirmed business to 2030, comprising 58 global and national business events expected to attract 101,000 delegates to Sydney generating an estimated $401 million in direct expenditure.
Destination NSW works in partnership with BESydney to secure international and domestic conventions, incentive travel reward programs, corporate events and exhibitions for Sydney.
Pictured: Business Events Sydney board members at the BESydney annual general meeting - Deb Zimmer, Judith Crompton, Steve Cox, Prof. Mary O’Kane AC (Chair), George Souris AM, Nathan Cox and Michael Magafa.
BESYDNEY CEO STEPS DOWN
BESydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith has announced that she will be stepping down in July 2025.
Ms Lewis-Smith said: “While leading this organisation for more than a decade, I have always believed in this industry and the impact it has on the world.
“The new NSW Government funding for BESydney for FY25, responding to the significance of business events to the NSW visitor economy, as well as the upcoming strategy, present a strong outlook for the organisation in the coming year."
MARDI GRAS
PROGRAM LAUNCH
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival has unveiled its 2025 program, with the theme of 'Free to Be'. The program will feature more than 80 events celebrating LGBTQIA+ pride, community and culture. Destination NSW has proudly supported the Mardi Gras Parade since 2009.
EXTRA AIRLINE SEAT CAPACITY SECURED
The Australian Government has boosted aviation competition and seat capacity by securing new or updated air service arrangements with seven international markets. They include unrestricted capacity with Canada and Malaysia, plus arrangements with Hong Kong, Chile, Mongolia, Latvia and Rwanda.
BIGGEST CRUISE SHIP TO DOCK IN EDEN
Royal Princess, the largest cruise ship to ever dock at Eden Cruise Wharf, will arrive on 11 November 2024 carrying 3560 passengers. It follows the NSW Government giving planning approval to allow bigger cruise ships and more frequent visits to Eden. It is one of 25 cruise ships that will visit Eden this season, bringing 44,000 passengers and 20,000 crew to the region.
SYDNEY HOSTS WICKED GLOBAL PREMIERE
Universal Pictures chose Sydney for the global premiere of Wicked. Thousands of fans flocked to the State Theatre to see stars including Jeff Goldblum, singer Ariana Grande, musical theatre legend Cynthia Erivo and Bridgerton's Jonathan Bailey arrive for the event. The stars also posed together against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour, with the images shared around the world.
AWARDS CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
NSW’s top international students and education providers have been celebrated at the 2024 NSW International Education Awards. Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong said: “International education showcases Australia as an attractive destination and NSW is the nation’s leading exporter of education services.”
SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK SUSTAINABILITY WIN
Sydney Motorsport Park, which is managed by the Australian Racing Drivers’ Club in partnership with the NSW Government, has received Australia’s first and only sustainability accreditation from motorsport’s governing body, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), as part of its Environmental Accreditation Programme.
AWARD WIN FOR DESTINATION NSW
Destination NSW has won silver at The Drum Awards for Social Media in the Travel and Tourism category. The global awards program recognises excellence in marketing and communications. The submission, titled 'How taking over social algorithms turned Sydney into Australia’s cultural capital', used examples such as an AI-generated makeover of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and football being taken from the stadiums to the streets at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
PARKES CROWNED TIDIEST TOWN IN NSW
Parkes has won the 2024 Overall Tidy Towns Award at the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Tidy Towns Awards. The Tidy Towns program recognises projects that reduce litter, minimise waste, encourage recycling, promote heritage and culture and biodiversity and waterways protection. Parkes also won the Biodiversity Conservation, Liveable Towns, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation and Community Spirit and Inclusion categories.
A TASTE OF NSW AT SXSW SYDNEY
A Destination NSW activation at SXSW Sydney saw thousands of attendees enjoy a taste of NSW. The movie-themed experience at ICC Sydney took people on a nine-minute journey around NSW while they sampled Messina ice cream and fresh popcorn.
NEW PRODUCTION AND HOME FOR BANGARRA
Following a two-decade tenure at the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre, Bangarra Dance Theatre will move to the Joan Sutherland Theatre stage at the Sydney Opera House in 2025 for the world premiere of its first-ever visual arts collaboration, Illume.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
EOIs FOR COMMERCIAL USE OF BROKEN EARTH COMPLEX: Foundation Broken Hill is seeking proposals for uses such as a café, restaurant, conference centre, wedding venue, art gallery or museum. Learn more
MAJOR MILESTONE FOR COFFS HARBOUR BYPASS: The first major phase of the three tunnels to be built as part of the bypass has been completed. The bypass is expected to reduce travel times when it opens to traffic in late 2026. Learn more
POWERHOUSE CASTLE HILL TRIUMPHS AT 2024 NATIONAL ARCHITECTURE AWARDS: The project won the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture. Learn more
WORK UNDERWAY TO DETERMINE HIGH-SPEED RAIL ROUTE: The Australian Government is working to determine the best route for a proposed high-speed rail link connecting the Central Coast to Sydney in 30 minutes. Learn more
A-LEAGUES UNVEILS FAN ACTIVITY FOR UNITE ROUND: Supported proudly by Destination NSW, Unite Round 2024/25 will feature grassroots activity and fan zones. Learn more
$5 MILLION IN LATEST ROUND OF RECREATIONAL FISHING GRANTS: The NSW Government's Recreational Fishing Trust Grants are available for fishing clubs, community groups and other organisations to run projects that improve and promote recreational fishing in their local area. Learn more
ASSISTANCE FOR FAR WEST BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY POWER OUTAGE: Small-to-medium business owners can claim a one-off payment. Learn more
SUMMERLAND WAY BACK IN BUSINESS: Motorists will have a safer drive after the completion of two projects between Casino and Woodenbong, funded by the Australian and NSW Governments through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. Learn more
MILLENNIALS & GEN Z EMBRACE CRUISING: Research by Compare the Market found Gen Z (27 per cent) and Millennials (27 per cent) were the most likely to cruise in the next 12 months. Learn more
FOLLOW DESTINATION NSW ON LINKEDIN: Stay up to date with all the latest Destination NSW initiatives by following us on LinkedIn. Click here
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