No Images? Click here NSW DECLARED AUSTRALIA’S BEST EVENT STATENSW is celebrating a great run of tourism awards this week taking out top gongs nationally and internationally for its world-class events calendar. At the Australian Event Awards, NSW was bestowed the prestigious title of Best Event State while Australia’s largest event, Vivid Sydney, won the accolade for Best Tourism Event and Best Cultural, Arts of Music Event. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said he was delighted to accept the Best Event State award on behalf of NSW, and that it confirms what everyone has known for some time – NSW is the major events capital of Australia. “From Sydney to rural and regional NSW, when it comes to Australia’s best sporting, cultural, lifestyle, business and entertainment events, it’s all happening in NSW,” Mr Marshall said. Adding to NSW’s winning streak, Sydney, Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie have also picked up a World Festival and Event City Award from the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA). Minister Marshall said, “This is the eighth time Sydney has won this accolade as a World Festival and Event City and is the only global destination to have received this Award annually since its inception.” “The Awards acknowledge the great mix of sporting and community events each city hosts, whether it be the Offshore Superboats Championships in Coffs Harbour or the Port Macquarie Ironman Australia.” To find out more, go to Destination NSW. Image: From L-R, Destination NSW Director of Event Development - Arts, Lifestyle & Entertainment Julie Turpie; Vivid Sydney Creative Director Ignatius Jones; Chief Executive Officer Destination NSW and Vivid Sydney Executive Producer Sandra Chipchase; and Vivid Sydney Project Director Adam Lowe. AIRLINE ROUTES INCREASE VISITORS TO SYDNEYIt’s been a big week in NSW aviation news with two exciting announcements regarding services to Sydney. The Qantas seasonal service between Sydney and Osaka, starting in December, will be extended to operate all year. The decision follows a strong response to the airline’s seasonal announcement in July and the ongoing support provided by Kansai International Airport and Destination NSW. Emirates has also announced a fourth daily A380 service from Dubai to Sydney. Starting in March 2018, the additional service allows passengers to depart London and other European cities in the morning, and arrive in Sydney the next afternoon following a short connection in Dubai. The extra Emirates service is expected to generate an estimated incremental $110 million in inbound visitor expenditure annually to NSW. Image courtesy of Sydney Airport. THE MATILDAS TAKE ON BRAZILThe Westfield Matildas will take on soccer powerhouse Brazil on Saturday, in front of 17,000 fans; their biggest home crowd since the Sydney Olympics. The match at Penrith’s Pepper Stadium is the first of two international friendlies, with a second match on 19 September in Newcastle. The two-match series is part of the NSW Government’s five-year partnership with Football Federation Australia (FFA). NSW Minister for Western Sydney and Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres said, “The Matildas’ world-beating performance at the Tournament of Nations in August was inspirational and this series was always going to be the hottest ticket in town.” “Brazil will be out to avenge their 6-1 loss to the Aussies last month, and I have no doubt Western Sydney and Hunter residents will get right behind the Matildas in what promises to be a fiercely competitive match.” Buy your tickets now. Image courtesy of FFA.
EXTRA SEATS FOR NEWCASTLE 500With tickets selling like hot cakes for November’s inaugural Coates Hire Newcastle 500, Supercars Australia has announced an additional grandstand to meet public demand. The new stand, near the Camp Shortland hairpin, provides 323 extra seats with a view of the race and a big screen. Supercars Australia has also confirmed Australian performers The Veronicas will join Delta Goodrem, Spiderbait and Cold Chisel in the entertainment line-up. Earlier this week, Supercars Australia also released their Noise Management Plan which outlines key noise mitigation strategies for residents and businesses in the area. View the Noise Management Plan. WE’RE GOING TO THE (NEW) ZOOWestern Sydney will soon be home to a new private zoo, with planning approval to build a 16.5 hectare facility at Bungarabee Park in Western Sydney Parklands. NSW Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres and NSW Minister for Environment Gabrielle Upton said Sydney Zoo will offer an unparalleled tourism experience with more than 30 large animal exhibits accessible through immersive, safari-like enclosures and elevated boardwalks. “Set to be Australia’s most technologically advanced and innovative zoo, it will also feature an incredible integrated Aboriginal and natural heritage program, focusing on the local Darug people of Western Sydney,” Mr Ayres said. Construction will start later this year, with the facility set to open before the 2018 Summer school holidays. Image: Artist impression of new zoo. ORANGE WINERY GETS FUNDING BOOSTThe cool-climate wines and seasonal produce of Orange will soon be within reach of more visitors thanks to a tourism funding boost from the NSW Government. Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW Rick Colless said Ross Hill Wines had secured $150,000 from Destination NSW’s Regional Tourism Fund, which will go towards the development of a new cooking school and onsite function centre. “Hatted chefs, Michael Manners and Simonn Hawke will lead the cooking school using some of region’s best local produce, while the function centre will conduct wine and spirit education courses, providing fantastic upskilling opportunities for the local hospitality and tourism industry,” Mr Colless said. Visit Ross Hill Wines to find out more. NORTH COAST IN THE SPOTLIGHTA new travel video, presented by HotelsCombined Brand Ambassador, Lynette Bolton, and delivered in partnership with Destination NSW, will be aired to millions of potential travellers across Australia and New Zealand this month as part the NSW Government’s $300,000 North Coast Flood Recovery Support Program. The five-minute clip will be shown on National Geographic’s television and online channels to highlight the North Coast’s stunning beaches, food, wine and accommodation. Tweed and Ballina will also feature in future episodes of Sydney Weekender. Social media influencer Lauren Bath also visited the Northern Rivers this week to capture images that will entice visitors to the region’s national parks, beaches and the charming communities of Tweed. Image credit: Ballina Tourism LONG LIVE THE KINGNSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall visited Parkes this week to launch the 2018 Parkes Elvis Festival program. Held every January to mark Elvis’s birthday, the festival attracts more than 13,000 overnight visitors and generates more than $9 million in visitor spend for NSW. The event, which is themed ’68 Comeback Special, has a packed line-up including a Concert Series, Elvis Gospel Service, Miss Priscilla Dinner and much more. Elvis fans making the annual pilgrimage to Parkes will have more travel options in 2018, with the popular Elvis Express being joined by an extra train, the Blue Suede Express, and new coach services from Tamworth and Canberra. Book your tickets to the festival and find out more about transport links. HEADING OUTBACKBroken Hill’s mining history, its iconic Living Desert Sculptures, and national parks will soon be in reach of more visitors thanks to the opening of a new resort. The new $5 million Broken Hill Outback Resort will open in March, and offers cabin, caravan and camping accommodation developed around the historic Mt Gipps Hotel. The hotel, which was built in 1870 but has been closed since 1987, will be restored to include a bar, restaurant and reception. The resort will overlook the beautiful Barrier Ranges and the Sturt Desert. Broken Hill is Australia’s first Heritage-Listed city and is popular with visitors seeking the peace and open spaces unique to the NSW Outback. Find out more about Broken Hill. Image: Mt Gipps homestead. REACH FOR THE SKYWAYThe Scenic Skyway at Blue Mountains Scenic World is getting a $3 million upgrade. The new Scenic Skyway, which turns 60 next year, will increase visitor capacity by 30 per cent, and promises shorter queues and a more spacious visitor experience. The Scenic Skyway will be closed from 9 October, re-opening in mid-November. Scenic World’s other popular attractions will operate as usual with reduced ticket prices. REGISTER FOR DEAF GAMESOrganisers of the 2018 Australian Deaf Games are inviting registrations for the event. The Games, which will be held in Albury and Wodonga in January, are made up of 15 different sporting events accompanied by an exciting social program. The 2018 Australian Deaf Games is supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. Entries close on 30 September. MURRAY WRITING FESTIVALA five-day festival of reading, writing and storytelling is on in Albury this weekend. The Write Around the Murray Festival began in 2007 as a community initiative to celebrate the opening of the Albury Library Museum and has grown to become an annual must-attend literary event. The festival has a great mix of free and ticketed events including a festival dinner, literary lunch, poetry slam, workshops, author talks, panel discussions, and more. ATE18 APPLICATIONS NOW OPENApplications to attend Australia’s largest annual travel and tourism business-to-business event, the Australian Tourism Exchange 2018 (ATE18) are now open. ATE18 will be held from 15 to 19 April at the Adelaide Convention Centre. For further information on the event and to register, visit the Tourism Australia website. SYDNEY FRINGE CONTINUESThe Sydney Fringe Festival, which is the largest independent arts festival in NSW, continues this week. Spread across five cultural villages, the Sydney Fringe presents over 300 productions in over 50 venues, celebrating local artists and encouraging new audiences to experience Sydney's independent arts scene. NEW PATRON ROLE FOR PREMIERNSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been made Patron of Business Events Sydney’s Ambassador Program. “I am proud to become Patron of Business Events Sydney’s Ambassador Program, which PEAK HILL GOLD MINE UPGRADES UNVEILEDPeak Hill Gold Mine’s new gold mining themed entrance and revitalisation works were officially opened this week by NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall. Mr Marshall said, “The Peak Hill Gold Mine is a key driver of the Peak Hill visitor economy, and we're proud to be supporting Parkes Shire Council's efforts in revitalising the visitor experience at the mine through our Regional Visitor Economy Fund.” PRODUCT FUNDING WEBCASTDestination NSW will run a free webcast, explaining how to apply for product funding under the Regional Tourism Fund, at midday on Tuesday, 19 September. Join the webcast to find out about grant opportunities, eligibility criteria and how to apply. The webcasts are part of the NSW First program run by Destination NSW, to assist NSW tourism businesses to develop, promote and sell tourism experiences. HERITAGE HOTEL OPENSAnother 110 hotel rooms and suites will be added to Sydney’s accommodation inventory in November when Veriu Central opens near Central Station. The $15 million refurbishment will enhance the heritage-listed Wentworth House building, combining old world elegance with contemporary style. Hotel guests will also have free access to a fleet of bicycles to explore the city. |