Insights - 25 March 2022
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REGIONAL NSW TRIUMPHS AT
2021 AUSTRALIAN TOURISM AWARDS
Eight regional NSW operators have been honoured with trophies at the 2021 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, held at the Novotel Sunshine Coast Convention Centre, Queensland, on 18 March.
Ingenia Holidays South West Rocks won Gold, Sierra Escape (Mudgee) and Heifer Station Wines (Orange) took out Silver, while Taronga Western Plains Zoo (Dubbo), Oakvale Wildlife Park (Salt Ash), Mudgee Region Tourism, Riverside Holiday Resort Urunga and Byng Street Boutique Hotel (Orange) won Bronze.
Ingenia Holidays South West Rocks Park Manager Alison Evans said that with more people holidaying at home, her team had worked hard to accommodate growing travel trends, broadening the park’s appeal to a new audience.
“With people staying close to home, we opened the park to welcome our four-legged friends – something that’s important to a growing number of holidaymakers – and introduced new accommodation options, which have also been welcomed by guests,” Ms Evans said.
“It’s definitely been a challenging time for the tourism sector, but the Ingenia Holiday Parks team has turned this time into an opportunity to review, adapt and innovate, so when guests could visit us again, we were ready to offer them the best possible experience.”
Twelve NSW businesses also received Highly Commended awards: Caravan & Camping Industry Association NSW (Major Festivals & Events), Deni Play on the Plains Festival (Festivals & Events), Sydney Harbour Kayaks (Tourism Retail & Hire Services), Bathurst Visitor Information Centre (Visitor Information Services), Taronga Zoo Sydney (Business Event Venues), Tweed Eco Cruises (Tour & Transport Operators), Lets Go Surfing (Adventure Tourism), The River Deck (Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services), Blueberry Hills on Comleroy (Hosted Accommodation), Manera Heights Apartments (3-3.5 Star Accommodation), Mt Hay Retreat (5 Star Accommodation) and Blue Ginger Picnics (Excellence In Food Tourism).
NSW TO HOST 2022 AUSTRALIAN TOURISM AWARDS
The Australian Tourism Industry Council announced during the 2021 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards ceremony that Destination NSW has secured the 2022 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards for Sydney.
Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Minister for Tourism and Sport, and Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said: “I’m proud to add another event to Sydney’s blockbuster calendar for 2023 that will help keep the spotlight on NSW.
“The year ahead will be a game changer for our State and we’re focused on securing even more events to build on our reputation and success.”
NSW Tourism Industry Council President Simon Spellicy said: “I would encourage businesses to enter the 2022 NSW Tourism Awards later this year, which is the only way to qualify for the national tourism awards in early 2023."
Pictured: Ingenia Holidays, Sierra Escape and Heifer Station Wines with their awards.
REGIONAL NSW SHOWCASED AT ASIA PACIFIC'S
LEADING MEETINGS & EVENTS TRADE EXPO
Destination NSW showcased conferencing destinations, meeting facilities and suppliers in nine NSW regions to hundreds of event suppliers and planners this week at the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME) 2022.
The two-day gathering, which was themed around business innovation, engagement and human connection, featured 225 exhibitors from the Asia Pacific and 1500 visitors.
Destination NSW invested in exhibition space at AIME that highlighted facilities and experiences in Orange, Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Hunter Valley, Tamworth, Newcastle, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Albury.
The space also featured a theatrette experience, with visitors enjoying popcorn with a native NSW twist.
The expo was a valuable opportunity for the industry to reconnect after a challenging two years. The Destination NSW team facilitated 64 pre-scheduled appointment slots for each regional destination partner with individual buyers at AIME, representing a total of more than 600 meetings with corporate event planners, associations and professional conference organisers.
Visit the Meet In Regional NSW website for more information on how Destination NSW is supporting the development of conferencing and business events in regional areas.
MAJOR FUNDING BOOST DRIVES
TOURISM REBOUND IN REGIONAL NSW
The NSW and Australian Governments have announced major funding packages to encourage visitors to visit regional areas and help communities get back on their feet.
The Australian Government is investing an additional $60 million to bring back international visitors to the regions hardest hit by international border closures. Tourism Australia will receive $45 million for projects, including $15 million for advertising in international markets; $25 million for partnership activities with trade wholesalers, airlines and media; and $5 million to extend the Business Events Australia’s bid fund, which has already helped win 57 events for Australia.
Business Events Council of Australia Chair Dr Leo Jago OAM said: “This investment is a critical step in Australia’s international recovery and adds much needed certainty to international interest in Australia. As we emerge from pandemic restrictions, global competition for consumers, talent, business and investment has never been greater; and business events provide an ideal platform to promote Australia to the world.”
The Australian Tourism Export Council Managing Director Peter Shelley said: “This funding aligns with our budget asks and will help some of the most affected parts of our export tourism industry to re-boot and re-engage their international markets."
Applications have also opened for Round Two of the NSW Government’s $20 million Regional Events Acceleration Fund (REAF) to help bring new major sporting, lifestyle, food, music, art and cultural events to regional NSW.
“We are serious about driving investment and tourism in the regions – and this package will put more heads on beds, fill restaurants and cafés, and help drive regional NSW’s economic recovery from bushfires, floods, drought, COVID-19 and the current flooding crisis,” Acting Premier Paul Toole said.
“The package has already supported more than 80 events and attracted an estimated one million visitors to the regions, laying the foundations for a strong recovery across regional NSW. Helping organisers host world-class events in their own backyard showcases our great regional towns to national and international audiences.”
Event organisers, regional NSW councils, not-for-profit organisations, sporting bodies and Aboriginal Land Councils are eligible to apply for grants.
Applications to the Regional Events Acceleration Fund close on 4 October 2022.
SEVEN EVOCATIVE NEW WAYS TO FEEL NSW
Destination NSW has released a series of short films as part of its Feel New tourism brand, capturing the uplifting emotions experienced by visitors to NSW.
Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Minister for Tourism and Sport, and Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the time was right to take a more emotive-led approach to marketing the NSW visitor economy.
“The Feel New film series captures all the things I love about our State. It invites everyone to get out and appreciate the beauty and wonder of NSW and promises a return to the excitement and adventure that we all need to feel again,” Mr Ayres said.
The seven-part series evokes feelings of joy, connection, freedom, awe, rejuvenation, belonging and adventure, reaffirming NSW’s position as the feel-good state.
Watch them via the links below:
Rejuvenation - https://youtu.be/fq7S-JXb5UE
Connection - https://youtu.be/kMmrZaNt1Ec
Joy - https://youtu.be/TaFoxSQvVtI
Adventure - https://youtu.be/jhRcHkBKA9g
Free - https://youtu.be/XjEVRYPA27U
Belonging - https://youtu.be/h5Tw7Uh2blo
PORT STEPHENS PREPS FOR RACE WEEK
Sail Port Stephens 2022 is scheduled for 4-10 April, with the iconic Commodores Cup series taking place on the opening three days, followed by the prestigious NSW Yachting Championships, Port Stephens Trophy series for Performance Cruising and Performance Racing and the Fareast 28R National titles. Destination NSW has partnered with the event to give competitors an unforgettable water regatta experience at one of the east coast’s finest sailing destinations.
SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE CELEBRATES 90 YEARS
NSW marked a monumental event in its history last weekend, with the Sydney Harbour Bridge celebrating its 90th birthday. Iconic vintage electric train F1, which has a restored original passenger carriage from the 1932 opening, returned to the Bridge in a birthday salute. There was also a spectacular light show and projections on the Bridge pylons, showcasing its rich history and lesser-known stories. Watch a video of the celebrations here.
$1 MILLION FUNDING BOOST FOR SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE FESTIVAL
Create NSW is investing $1 million in the expansion of the Sydney WorldPride program to allow First Nations artists, independent artists and groups to create new works and events showcasing homegrown projects. The funding also provides $300,000 for a new Sydney WorldPride Project Investment round. Applications are now open and close on 29 April 2022. Apply here. Destination NSW is a major partner for Sydney WorldPride 2023.
EXCITING PROGRAM FOR NEXT BLAK MARKETS FESTIVAL
The next Blak Markets will be held on 10 April at Bare Island in La Perouse, Sydney. Running from 10am to 3pm, the markets will feature a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony with a cultural dance performance by Buuja Buuja Butterfly Dance Group and singing with Charlie Trindall. Aside from entertainment, bush food and coffee, festival goers can visit a range of Blak Markets stalls selling authentic arts, crafts, clothing and accessories.
MORE SUPPORT FOR TRAVEL AGENTS
The Australian Government is providing $75.5 million to support eligible travel agents and tour arrangement service providers who continue to support consumers to rebook travel using existing COVID-19 related travel credits. The third round of grants will open on 29 March and close on 20 April 2022.
VISIT THE SOUTH COAST ALE TRAIL
Stretching from Wollongong to Pambula near the Victorian border, the South Coast Ale Trail delivers a diverse range of craft breweries as it winds its way along some of the country's most beautiful coastline. Visit eight craft breweries on the trail and taste more than 70 fresh craft beers direct from the brewer.
ALLIANZ SECURES NAMING RIGHTS AT SYDNEY FOOTBALL STADIUM
Sydney’s new world-class stadium at Moore Park will be known as Allianz Stadium, with the company continuing as the naming rights partner at the soon-to-be-opened venue. Tourism and Sports Minister Stuart Ayres said: “With state-of-the-art facilities, unrivalled viewing from the 42,500 undercover seats and the finest in-stadium food and beverage offering across the country, Australia’s best rectangular stadium is on track to open in time for the 2022 NRL Finals series.”
WATCH: MOVING NEW QANTAS 'I STILL CALL AUSTRALIA HOME' AD
More than 35 years after Qantas first launched an advertising campaign using the iconic Peter Allen anthem 'I Still Call Australia Home', the airline has unveiled a new version to showcase Australia as the world re-opens and travellers return to the skies. It features Kylie Minogue, Ash Barty, Hugh Jackman and Troye Sivan, children from Longreach, Qantas staff, Adam Goodes, members of Bangarra Dance Theatre, swimmers Bronte Campbell and Ellie Cole and Aboriginal Elder Rene Kulitja.
ATHLETES HEAD TO SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK
The 2022 Australian Track and Field Championships are kicking off on 26 March at Sydney Olympic Park. Initially scheduled for Perth, Destination NSW supported the event being moved to NSW as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. The meet will determine Australia’s best athletes in more than 1000 events. It will also act as the nomination trial for athletes aiming for the World Athletics Championships in Oregon and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
DESTINATION NSW CREATES VIVID GIFS
Vivid Sydney photos and videos were viewed by 621.7 million people around the world in 2019. If you are considering using your brand alongside Vivid Sydney, Destination NSW has created more than 21 official GIFs to use when generating content. The GIFs can be added to Instagram Stories or Reels and TikTok videos. Be sure to tag @vividsydney for a chance to appear on official Vivid Sydney channels. Click here to watch the instruction video.
EXPLORE NSW DURING GREAT SOUTHERN NIGHTS
Great Southern Nights is getting the show back on the road across NSW, with gigs this weekend including the Hoodoo Gurus at Kingscliff, Meg Mac at Milton and Fanny Lumsden at Tumut. Destination NSW, in partnership with the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), is bringing live music to venues right across NSW until April 10, from Byron Bay to Albury and Sydney to Broken Hill.
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA OPENS ON THE HARBOUR
The longest-running show in musical history arrives on Sydney Harbour tonight when Handa Opera's The Phantom of the Opera opens. The world-renowned event has been supported by Destination NSW since its inception in 2012. Productions take place under the stars on a floating stage, with the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and city skyline glittering in the background.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR THREE REGIONAL TOURING OPPORTUNITIES: Audiences, artists, and regional economies across the state will benefit from three NSW Government regional touring funding programs. Applications for Regional Arts Touring Projects (Round 2), Multi-year Regional Touring and Contemporary Music Regional Arts Touring EOI programs close on 19 April 2022. Read more
ENDANGERED “GOLDILOCKS” BIRD RELEASED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NSW: The population of one of Australia’s most critically endangered bird species has been boosted with the first-ever release in NSW of 10 Plains-wanderers onto private properties in the Western Riverina near Hay. Read more
RECORD INVESTMENT IN NSW SHARK MITIGATION MEASURES: Shark response capabilities will be enhanced at beaches across the state, with the NSW Government announcing a boost of $4.4 million for a suite of immediate additional mitigation methods, as well as ongoing funding of more than $85 million to continue this strategy until 2026. Read more
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAM EXTENDED: Small businesses hit hardest by the Omicron wave have been handed a further lifeline, with the Small Business Support Program extended to a new closing date of 29 April 2022. The Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate is also increasing from $2000 to $3000. Read more
CITY OF SYDNEY REBOOT WEBINAR SERIES IS BACK: Help your business grow its customers and branding by registering for Reboot free webinars. This latest online series is proudly supported by the NSW Government’s Business Connect program. Learn from some of Australia's fastest growing companies on how to sell online, create engaging content and use the big platforms to accelerate growth. Read more
FIBA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL WORLD CUP TICKETS ON SALE: Tickets to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 go on sale to the general public on 29 March. The event will feature the world's top 12 women's national teams, with 38 games to be played from 22 September to 1 October. All games will take place at Sydney Olympic Park, with Australia's Opals playing their first match on 22 September against France. Destination NSW has brought the event to Sydney through the 10 World Cups in 10 Years initiative. Read more
HARNESSING REGIONAL UNIVERSITY CAPABILITY: A new round of the NSW Government’s Collaboration and Innovation Fund will support innovative projects and programs that aim to enhance education outcomes through collaborations with the regional university sector. Universities can apply for a share of $1.5 million in competitive funding for projects that will help deliver greater opportunities for regional students and communities. Read 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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