Insights - 17 November 2023
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DESTINATION NSW RESTARTS
INTERNATIONAL ROADSHOWS
Destination NSW has hosted its first international roadshow since 2019, following a pandemic pause.
The Destination NSW UK and Europe Roadshow visited London, Manchester and Frankfurt from 13-17 November 2023. It was designed to showcase Sydney and NSW experiences and destinations to key international buyers and to educate travel agents, product managers and wholesale staff.
The roadshow kicked off in London with a day of scheduled appointments with product managers from the UK and France. The contingent then travelled to Manchester for a day of appointments with travel agents; followed by Frankfurt for a networking event, scheduled appointments and a workshop with German and European product managers.
More than 250 product managers and travel agents attended across the week, with 11 NSW visitor economy businesses participating in the roadshow: BridgeClimb, Captain Cook Cruises, Hunter Valley Resort + Farm, Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association, Instyle Chauffeured Limousines, Let's Go Surfing, Luxico, Sydney Melbourne Touring, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Zoo and Taronga Zoo.
NSW WINE OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED
NSW Wine of the Year has been awarded to the Hunter Valley's First Creek Wine's 2022 Single Vineyard Wills Hill Road Chardonnay at the 2023 NSW Wine Awards.
The 2023 NSW Wine Awards were supported proudly by the NSW Government and hosted by ICC Sydney on 10 November with a lunch attended by the Governor of NSW, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, more than 100 winemakers and industry guests.
Chair of Judges Nick Spencer described the NSW Wine of the Year as “a wonderful and powerful example of Chardonnay with great concentration, length and phenolics.”
While the Hunter Valley claimed top honours, the other 15 winning wines on the day shone a light on wine regions across the state including Orange, Canberra District, Hilltops and the Riverina.
ICC Sydney CEO and ASM Global (APAC) Group Director – Convention Centres Geoff Donaghy said: “The diversity and quality of NSW produce remains some of the best in world. We are committed to contributing to the performance of our state by featuring 100 per cent NSW wine on our wine lists at ICC Sydney.
“We are delighted to celebrate our wine industry’s finest producers and achievements through this powerful platform."
The event was also an opportunity to recognise individuals who have made a significant contribution to the NSW wine industry.
The 2022 Graham Gregory Award went to Tom Ward, the owner, winemaker and viticulturist at Swinging Bridge Wines in Orange.
NSW Wine President Mark Bourne said: “Tom is a well-deserved Graham Gregory Award winner. His contribution to the NSW wine industry at regional, state and national levels is so impressive and a sign of his commitment to a sustainable future for the first state of wine. We thank him for his significant long-lasting legacies to the NSW wine industry."
GETTING MORE NSW WINE ON LISTS
The NSW Wine Awards were also a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to discuss strategies for getting more NSW wine on NSW wine lists.
Only 11.2 per cent of the wines on Sydney wine lists are from NSW according to NSW Wine President Mark Bourne.
By contrast, Wine Australia's 2022 figures show that listings in South Australia strongly favour wines produced in their state, with 72 per cent being from local regions and only 10 per cent from elsewhere in Australia.
“There are 16 wine regions in NSW, we have a diversity of climates and styles at all price ranges, and we’ve got some of the oldest vineyards in the country with some of the most iconic wines," Bourne said.
"The public needs to demand it and trade needs to support it."
First Creek's Greg Silkman echoed the sentiment while accepting the NSW Wine of the Year trophy. He urged the audience to "promote NSW wine and, every time you go out, ask for it!"
DAZZLING PROGRAM FOR
SYDNEY GAY AND LESBIAN MARDI GRAS
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival will return from 16 February to 3 March 2024 with its biggest and boldest program in years.
Supported proudly by Destination NSW, the festival will include more than 100 community events, dance parties, theatre and music, culminating with the globally renowned Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on 2 March 2024.
The festival's forward-focused theme is Our Future. The theme embodies a commitment to inclusivity, acceptance, and optimism, celebrating past achievements while illuminating the path to a dazzling future.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO Gil Beckwith said: “For 45 years, the energy, vibrancy, and unity of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has made it a globally significant event. And each year, our commitment to bringing forth an even more fabulous celebration grows.
“In 2024, we embrace our roots and look forward with eager anticipation to our future. Our mission is clear: to echo the voices of our communities, to champion progress and instigate impactful change.”
This year’s program features a range of new and major events, including:
- Bondi Beach Party: After capturing hearts at Sydney WorldPride returns, bringing together 15,000 revellers to the iconic Bondi Beach.
- Ultra Violet: Another WorldPride favourite, this day-to-night party is tailored for LGBTQIA+ women and set within the walls of the National Art School.
- Festival First Light: a city-wide Welcome to Country ceremony led by Rainbow Elders from across the Sydney Basin.
- Queer Futures: a series of talks and ideas, with conversations ranging from sport to the arts, politics and education.
Learn more here.
LOCAL COUNCIL GUIDE TO SAFELY HOSTING
LGBTQ+ EVENTS
Australian CON has developed a guide that offers tips and advice to assist councils in supporting LGBTQ+ communities in their local area.
Hosting LGBTQ+ events sends an important and visible message of inclusion and affirmation to LGBTQ+ locals and the broader community. These events improve local community participation and connection, reduce social isolation, improve mental health and enhance wellbeing among LGBTQ+ communities.
DESTINATION NSW HOSTS EV WEBINAR
Join Destination NSW and a guest presenter from the Office of Energy and Climate Change at a webinar to learn how to attract EV drivers to your destination and business. The online session will be held on 30 November 2023. Designed for NSW visitor economy businesses, including visitor attractions, accommodation, tour and activity providers, the webinar will include information about the NSW Government’s EV destination charging grants program, which co-funds up to 75 per cent of the cost of purchasing and installing EV chargers. There will also be advice on EV charger installation and equipment and tips for promoting EV charging facilities to visitors.
VISITOR ARRIVALS SURGE BY 213,000
Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows there were 584,620 short-term visitor arrivals to Australia in September 2023, an annual increase of 212,780 trips. NSW received 220,760 short-term visitor arrivals, an increase of 91,780 compared with September 2022. The three leading source countries for NSW were New Zealand (39,880 trips), China (28,040) and South Korea (20,000). In September 2023 there were 45,090 international student arrivals to Australia, an increase of 9540 students compared with the corresponding month of the previous year. The number of student arrivals in September 2023 was 0.5 per cent lower than the pre-COVID-19 levels in September 2019.
DESTINATION NSW AGRITOURISM WEBINAR
Destination NSW's recent 'Creating World-Class Agritourism Experiences' webinar is now available to view on demand. The webinar is part of the NSW First Program, which Destination NSW delivers to help businesses to develop, promote and sell world-class visitor experiences. During the webinar participants will learn how to create agritourism experiences that exceed expectations and are also practical for farming businesses. The webinar features insights and tips from established agritourism businesses in NSW. The session also covers topics including creating farm gate experiences and tours, developing farm stay accommodation, how to maximise seasonal opportunities and more.
CSIRO PREDICTS AGRITOURISM BOOM
CSIRO analysis estimates the annual opportunity for agri-related tourism in Australia will reach around $18.6 billion by 2030. Focusing on expenditure for food, drinks and accommodation, which most closely align with the food and agribusiness industry, the annual opportunity is expected to reach $5.6 billion by 2030, including $3.6 billion spent by international visitors and $1.9 billion spent by domestic day trip and overnight visitors. International visitor demand is expected to drive the majority of this growth, with visitors from China, United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Japan and India expected to account for more than 60 per cent of international expenditure by 2030.
NSW CARAVAN & CAMPING INDUSTRY AWARDS
The Caravan & Camping Industry Association (NSW) has celebrated its Awards of Excellence during a ceremony at Crown Sydney Barangaroo. NSW Holiday Park of the Year (less than 100 sites) was Jervis Bay Holiday Park. NSW Holiday Park of the Year (more than 100 sites) was Reflections Holiday Park - Jimmys Beach. CEO Lyndel Gray said: "This year's award winners exemplify the dedication, innovation and relentless pursuit of excellence in our industry, which contributes more than 9800 direct jobs, 50,000 indirect jobs and more than $6.5 billion in economic activity annually.”
NEW VIVID SYDNEY CURATOR ANNOUNCED
Rachel Healy has been appointed as Curator of Ideas and Special Events for Vivid Sydney 2024. Healy has worked in senior roles in the cultural sector for more 20 years, including as Director of Performing Arts for Sydney Opera House, General Manager of Belvoir St Theatre and Executive Manager Culture for the City of Sydney. Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini said: "I'm thrilled to have someone of Rachel's skill, experience and creativity join the Vivid Sydney team. This is the beginning of a new era for Vivid Ideas and we look forward to announcing our 2024 program in March."
GREAT SOUTHERN NIGHTS SNEAK PEAK
Destination NSW has joined with Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) to provide a sneak peak this week of Great Southern Nights 2024. Gigs are being held from 16-25 November 2023 across Parramatta, Penrith, Enmore, Marrickville and Newtown. Artists include Beccy Cole, Alex The Astronaut, Dami Im and Tasman Keith. The full Great Southern Nights program will be held from 8 to 24 March 2024 and is set to deliver more than 300 live gigs in venues across Western Sydney and Sydney’s inner city as well as shows in Wollongong, Wagga, Newcastle, the Northern Rivers and Tamworth.
SYDNEY HOSTS 2023 ARIA AWARDS
The 2023 ARIA Awards were held this week at the iconic Hordern Pavillion in Sydney. Troye Sivan led the trophy tally with four awards for his hit single Rush. Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy and Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said: “As the state’s first Minister for Music, I am thrilled to join ARIA in congratulating the winners of the 2023 ARIA Awards. We are determined to bring live music back and encourage more of our home-grown talent to light up venues across the state." The ARIA Awards are supported proudly by Destination NSW.
THE WORLD'S NUMBER ONE BAR
Maybe Sammy has been named the most influential bar in the world by Top 500 Bars. The Top 500 list is developed from 2000 sources including experts, journalists, data from online reviews, social media posts and search engine results. Maybe Sammy founder Stefano Catino said: “It’s such an honour for our bar team to be recognised for the time and effort they put into making the experience at Maybe Sammy exceptional and for that to be acknowledged on a global scale is so humbling." Sydney was the only Australian city in the top 100 of the top 500 bars, with The Baxter Inn also appearing at number 87.
BEST RESTAURANTS IN SYDNEY & REGIONAL NSW
The Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence has announced the best restaurants in NSW for 2023.
Casual Dining of the Year winner for regional NSW was Birchwood Café in Jindabye, with Hugos in Manly taking out the Sydney award. Caterer of the Year for regional NSW was City Beach Function Centre in Wollongong, with VenuesLive NSW CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, the Sydney winner. Restaurant of the Year for Regional NSW was Arrana in Springwood, while the Sydney winner was Quay Restaurant. The national winners will be announced on 20 November during a ceremony at Le Montage Sydney.
NEW CREATIVE AUSTRALIA RESEARCH REPORTS
Creative Australia has published two research reports on creativity and wellbeing. The first report shows that Australians overwhelmingly recognise the role of the arts in supporting health and wellbeing and explores how to support creative practitioners to make these vital contributions. The second report focuses on training and sustaining the arts for mental health workforce and identifies the professional development needs and support structures required to ensure that this work is safe and sustainable for all involved.
GOOGLE MAPS INDOOR LIVE AT SYDNEY AIRPORT
In a first for an Australian airport, Google has launched Indoor Live View at Sydney Airport. The new augmented reality feature on Google Maps provides arrows, directions and distance markers superimposed on the camera view to point people in the right direction across the terminals. It will help passengers locate gates, baggage claims, check-in counters, terminal transfer points, retail outlets, dining options, bathrooms, ATMs and more. Visitors can also select the ‘Wheelchair accessible’ preference and can turn on audio navigation prompts.
NEW FLYING ART AIRBUS FOR QANTAS
The first QantasLink new Airbus A220 aircraft is set to arrive in Australia before the end of the year. It is the sixth aircraft to join the Flying Art Series, which was launched in 1994. The latest Flying Art Series livery features the artwork of senior Pitjantjatjara artist Maringka Baker and tells the Dreaming story of two sisters who traverse remote Australia together, covering vast distances to find their way home. The aircraft is named after the artwork Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa – The Two Sisters Creation Story.
SHARE YOUR NEWS WITH DESTINATION NSW
The Destination NSW PR team is seeking news from visitor economy stakeholders to help spread the word about the many reasons to visit NSW. They want to hear about the new experiences your business, organisation or destination is offering - anything from nature-based activities to luxury stays, seasonal attractions or foodie finds. The information will be used to create media pitches, produce content on the Destination NSW Media Centre and support planning of media familiarisations.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW FLEET AND EQUIPMENT FOR FLOOD EMERGENCIES: Delivery of almost 200 new vehicles and vessels for the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has commenced as part of a $25 million upgrade to its flood rescue fleet. Learn more
CRICKET FANS TO ENJOY EXTENDED TRADING HOURS FOR FINALS: The NSW Government is getting behind the ICC Cricket World Cup by announcing special event extended trading hours for venues which screen the finals. Learn more
FINAL PIECE IN STATE'S SEALED HIGHWAY PUZZLE: NSW has a fully sealed highway road network for the first time in its history following completion of a $195 million project to bitumen seal Cobb Highway and Silver City Highway. Learn more
NEW NSW COASTAL DESIGN GUIDELINES: The NSW Government has released new guidelines to protect and enhance the state’s waterways, coast and estuaries along our world-famous coast. 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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