Insights - 26 August 2022
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ALLIANZ STADIUM OPENS ITS DOORS THIS WEEKEND
Allianz Stadium will open its doors on Sunday with a free community Open Day and Night, headlined by Australian music superstars Guy Sebastian and Baker Boy.
Opening Day will see the community explore the venue’s many new features for the first time, including lacing up their shoes in the change rooms on a behind-the-scenes tour, meeting their favourite Sydney Roosters, Sydney FC and NSW Waratahs players and being among the first to have a kick on the new world-class playing surface.
Opening Night will kick off from 5pm, with dancers, light shows, large-scale projections and pyrotechnics, headlined by live performances from Australian music icons Guy Sebastian and Baker Boy.
The NSW Government has redeveloped Allianz Stadium into a modern, world-class venue to ensure Sydney has a sporting and entertainment precinct of international standard so that NSW remains the events capital of the Asia Pacific.
Seating 42,500 fans, the Allianz Stadium offers seven private function rooms, 51 suites, two outdoor terraces and 84 outdoor boxes.
Indigenous artist Tony Albert was the artistic force behind the new stadium’s seat design. It tells the story of ‘Two Worlds Colliding – Water and Land’. The design was chosen for the story it tells about place and country, providing a nod to the contest of two competing teams while offering broad appeal as a strong contemporary work. Each end of the stadium is separated and distinguished by two different designs – the land through geometric diamond designs taken from nature, and the bubble of concentric circles for water.
Additionally, five legendary Australians - Arthur Beetson, Ron Coote, Betty Cuthbert, Nicholas Shehadie and Johnny Warren - have been recognised in Allianz Stadium’s Ring of Champions, a modern celebration of sporting greats around the concourse.
Merivale is the hospitality partner of the stadium, with 64 food and beverage outlets throughout the ground, including Jimmy’s Falafel, Vinnie’s Pizza, Totti’s Pasta Bar and Bert’s Bistro.
Click on the link below to take a virtual tour of the stadium.
Pictured: Tony Albert.
INDUSTRY LEADERS HEAD TO SOUNDWEST
Parramatta is hosting the inaugural SOUNDWEST Music + Technology Festival from 20-28 August 2022.
Events range from performances by established and emerging artists to a conference that included sessions, workshops and mentoring from some of Australia’s biggest tech brands and music industry leaders.
A SOUND WEST inaugural lunch brought together stakeholders in the Western Sydney creative, technology and music industries with local and state government representatives.
Hosted by 7 News Finance Editor Gemma Acton, the lunch was an opportunity to hear from NEC Australia VP Brand and Customer Experience David Borean, Venues Live GM Marketing, Digital & Technology Daniel Farrar and WestHQ CMO Michaela Chan on how technology is changing the audience experience.
The Parramatta Eels kicked off the week-long festival on 20 August 2022 with Saturday Sounds at CommBank Stadium, alongside artists including Clarissa Mei & P. Smid, A.GIRL and Masked Wolf.
A huge line-up of music events this weekend will round out the festival. Click here for more information.
SOUND WEST was secured for Western Sydney by Destination NSW, together with the event's strategic partner City of Parramatta.
DESTINATION NSW WELCOMES NEW
DESTINATION NETWORKS BOARD DIRECTORS
Destination NSW last week held a Good Governance Workshop for the directors of each Destination Network and a NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 induction for the new directors who joined the seven boards on 1 July 2022.
Destination Networks are the champions of the visitor economy in regional NSW, engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders to identify, prioritise and facilitate opportunities for the visitor economy growth of each region.
Destination Networks coordinate destination management planning and work closely with local government, local tourism organisations and visitor economy operators across regional NSW. They are also responsible for developing and implementing their region’s Destination Management Plan in partnership with Destination NSW and visitor economy stakeholders in each region.
The workshop was an opportunity for Destination NSW General Manager Policy, Product and Engagement Stephen Mahoney to introduce the agency's new Director Regional Hub Tim Loxton to the Destination Networks.
Mr Loxton this month joined Destination NSW to continue the roll out of the Government's strategy to grow the visitor economy of regional NSW.
Prior to joining Destination NSW, Mr Loxton was Group General Manager Tourism Businesses at New Zealand's Tourism Holdings following an almost 15-year stint with the Flight Centre Travel Group.
"It was a great opportunity to meet the Destination Network directors and general managers in my first week at Destination NSW and learn more about the opportunities and challenges facing regional NSW," Mr Loxton said.
"I am looking forward to working with the Destination Networks and stakeholders statewide to achieve the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy's goal of $25 billion in regional overnight visitor expenditure by 2030.”
DUEL IN THE POOL DAZZLES SYDNEY
Duel in the Pool saw Australia edge the closest to victory against Team USA in the event's history last weekend. The final margin between the two teams was just 26 points. History was made during the competition when Ellie Cole joined fellow para-athlete Will Martin, alongside Emma McKeon and Grayson Bell, in the first relay to feature para and able-bodied swimmers in the same event. Duel in the Pool was proudly supported by Destination NSW. Click here for the results.
UPTOWN ACCELERATOR
GRANTS CLOSING SOON
The NSW Government is calling on arts and cultural institutions, entertainment and hospitality businesses and organisations to be part of the Uptown Accelerator Program, designed to create vibrant 24-hour economy spots across Greater Sydney. Applications are being sought from ‘district teams’, made up of three or more local businesses and organisations per team, to help fast-track the formation of new going-out districts across the city.
WESTERN SYDNEY MOUNTAIN BIKE HUB
Western Sydney will be home to the largest mountain bike and BMX hub in the country with the re-opening of the 86-hectare state-of-the-art Wylde facility this weekend. Minister for Cities, Infrastructure and Active Transport, Rob Stokes said the community would have access to bushland trails, a kids loop, a new BMX race track and the southern hemisphere’s biggest pump track. The $13.5 million facility was funded and delivered by the NSW Government’s M12 Motorway project with a $500,000 funding contribution by Liverpool City Council.
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA OPENING NIGHT
Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera opens tonight at the Sydney Opera House. The Sydney season sees one of the most successful and much loved musicals of all time make its debut at one of the world’s most iconic venues. Supported by Destination NSW, The Phantom of the Opera will play a nine-week season until 16 October 2022. The talented Australian cast is led by Josh Piterman in the lead role of the Phantom, while Amy Manford takes on the role of the ingénue Christine Daaé.
TASTES LIKE HOME HEADS TO PASTE RESTAURANT
The latest episode of the Destination NSW Youtube series Tastes Like Home features chef Bee Satongun. The series has been created to highlight stories of chefs who are using their rich family traditions to shape their restaurants and the NSW culinary scene. Together with her husband Jason Bailey, Ms Satongun heads up a modern-Thai restaurant Paste in Bangkok, as well as a spin-off in the Laotian city of Luang Prabang. Paste Bangkok has been awarded a Michelin star five years in a row. In 2020, the pair opened an outpost of Paste in the tranquil Southern Highlands town of Mittagong. Read more
NEW VISION FOR CENTRAL STATION
A visionary plan to build over rail lines at Central will deliver a spectacular new public square and parkland, office space for the startups of the future, more diverse and affordable housing options as well as new city connections. Premier Dominic Perrottet said: "We have a once in a generation opportunity to reimagine this iconic part of our CBD and transform it into a world-class precinct of shops, restaurants, office spaces, parkland and additional housing. Our vision will convert Central precinct into a must-visit part of our city for locals as well as for domestic and international travellers."
RESTORING WORLD’S MOST ICONIC HARBOUR
One of the largest harbour restoration projects of its kind in the world is set to commence in Sydney Harbour to reforest and restore marine habitats for penguins, seals, seahorses and turtles. Minister for Environment James Griffin said a $9.1 million NSW Government initiative would help restore Sydney Harbour to bring back lost biodiversity, improve water quality and increase carbon storage.
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REFORMS FOR REGIONAL MARINAS
Boating facilities along the NSW coast are set to benefit from a series of upgrades, with regional marinas on Crown land to be offered extended leases of up to 40 years, in return for a commitment to reinvest and update them. Minister for Lands and Water Kevin Anderson said marina leasing reforms being introduced by the NSW Government will deliver better marinas and waterfront facilities for communities and boat users, support jobs, economies and tourism, while also providing greater certainty for lease holders.
CARMEN COMES TO COCKATOO ISLAND
Opera Australia’s new open-air event, Opera on Cockatoo Island, will launch in November with a gritty new production of Bizet’s much loved Carmen, giving visitors to Sydney a thrilling opportunity to experience world-class opera under the stars with stunning harbour views. Set in the industrial surrounds of historic Cockatoo Island, this edgy production will be complemented by customised dining offerings and pop-up bars onsite. Opera on Cockatoo Island is supported by Destination NSW.
NYC UPDATE FOR
SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE
Destination NSW and Tourism Australia participated in the LGBTQ+ international travel industry event PROUD Experiences in New York City. A special media presentation on Sydney WorldPride 2023 events created excitement with the international writers in attendance. The global LGBTQ+ travel market continues to be one of healthy growth and resilience. Research by LGBT Capital estimates the sector has a global spending power of $3.9 trillion.
NRL GRAND FINAL TICKETS ON SALE
Tickets have gone on sale to the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final, supported by Destination NSW. The match will be held at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on 2 October 2022. Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said: "The NRL competition has a dedicated supporter base in NSW and I’m delighted that rugby league fans across our state will have the game’s showpiece back in Sydney, where it has been hosted every year since 1908 with the exception of 2021 due to COVID-19."
BANKSTOWN'S GIG IN THE GARDEN
Some of Western Sydney’s emerging young talent will be on show at Bankstown Arts Centre this weekend as part of Winter Weekends Gig in the Garden and Acoustic Sessions. The program also features Light Up Bankstown and the Chalk Walk optical illusions, events jointly funded by the NSW Government. Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour said: "We’re so pleased we can bring this fantastic line-up of entertainment to the community and we hope others travel to our great city to experience it with us."
HUNTER VALLEY WINE SHOW WINNERS
The Hunter Valley Wine Show has given its verdict on the top Semillons for 2022, with Best White Wine of the Show awarded to Tyrrell’s 2013 Belford Semillon. Tyrrell’s also took out the coveted Iain Riggs Wine of Provenance for its Vat 1 Semillon 2006, 2013, and 2021 vintages and Best Museum White for its 2006 Vat 1 Semillon. Brokenwood won Best One-Year-Old Dry Semillon for its Brokenwood Wines 2021 Oakey Creek Vineyard Semillon and Best Current – Semillon for its Brokenwood Wines 2022 Hunter Valley Semillon.
MANLY JAZZ FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES PROGRAM
Australia’s longest running jazz festival is returning to Manly from 23-25 September 2022. The Manly Corso and surrounding streets and laneways will come alive with music over four stages, with music from more than 70 artists. Tickets are on sale for the Director’s Choice big band jazz concert led by John Morrisson on 25 September 2022. This year’s program also features an in-venue lineup, so visitors will be able to listen to music while enjoying food and drinks from local venues.
AUSTRALIA INDIA
BUSINESS SUMMIT
The inaugural Australia India International Business Summit was held in Sydney this week, organised by the Australia India Business Council. The summit included a two-hour 'Tourism & Hospitality' session attended by Gurmesh Singh, Member for Coffs Harbour and Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier and for Regional Jobs and Investment. Australian Bureau of Statistics data for June 2022 shows India was the third leading source of visitors to NSW.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
SYDNEY AIRPORT TRAFFIC FOR JULY 2022: New data shows domestic passenger traffic at Sydney Airport is approaching pre-COVID-19 levels. July saw 1,992,000 passengers pass through the airport, down just 16.6 per cent on the corresponding period in 2019. Learn more
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE INTRODUCES PROGRESSIVE DINING EXPERIENCE: 'Taste of the House' is a four-hour progressive dining experience that showcases the venue’s food and drink scene, including Bennelong, together with a behind-the-scenes tour of the venue. Learn more
ENTRIES OPEN FOR NATIONAL BANKSIA SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS: Australia’s longest running and most prestigious sustainability awards recognise leadership in biodiversity, climate change and technology. The Sustainable Tourism Award is sponsored by Tourism Australia. Entries close on 13 December 2022. 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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