Insights - 16 June 2023
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SYDNEY CEMENTS GLOBAL REPUTATION AS
INCLUSIVE EVENT DESTINATION
Sydney has been hailed as a global leader in hosting inclusive business events following the Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference in March 2023.
Held over three days during Sydney WorldPride 2023, the conference featured speakers and guests from around the world, who shared insights on the progress and challenges of LGBTQIA+ rights internationally.
It was the first and largest LGBTQIA+ Human Rights Conference held in the Southern Hemisphere.
WorldPride organisers chose Australia, and Sydney in particular, because it was able to demonstrate a tangible commitment to sustainability, accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion during the bidding process.
Hosted at the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), it welcomed 1800 in-person delegates from 67 countries and gave visibility and a voice to First Nations people and LGBTQIA+ communities of the Asia Pacific region, putting a spotlight on Sydney as a safe destination, where diversity is welcomed and celebrated.
The conference commenced each day with a ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony to acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the land on which ICC Sydney stands. A dedicated First Nations safe and inclusive gathering space was also included to further facilitate community connections and involvement in conference activities.
All sessions were enhanced by the inclusion of Auslan and ISL intermediary intrepreters, who provided sign language to conference attendees.
ICC Sydney staff undertook gender pronoun awareness and allyship training, while the venue also sought to ensure that the conference was a fully sustainable, carbon-neutral event.
ILGA World Co-Secretary General Ymania Brown said: "My community, the LGBTQIA+ community, has been known to be very actively conscious of our safety. But having it here in Sydney and having the Sydney community embrace the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community, no one feels unsafe in this space, they can walk around, hold hands, be with their loved ones, celebrate who they are."
Sydney WorldPride and the Human Rights Conference was a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Australian WorldPride Committee and supported by Destination NSW, in association with Business Events Australia, Business Events Sydney, ICC Sydney and the City of Sydney.
Read Business Events Australia's case study about the conference here.
ICC recently launched an Accessible and Inclusive Events Guide, providing guidance and resources for event planners on best practices for creating a welcoming experience for people of all abilities, cultures and identities.
Pictured: The Amsterdam Rainbow dress visited Sydney as part of the Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference. The dress is made from the national flags of the 71 countries where it is still illegal to be LBGTQIA+.
BUSINESS TRAVEL TO SYDNEY SURGES
Data from Flight Centre’s Corporate Traveller division shows that corporate travel to Sydney by small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) rose 27 per cent from 1 January to 31 May 2023, ahead of Melbourne at 24 per cent and Brisbane at 21 per cent.
Corporate Traveller Global Managing Director Tom Walley said: “We expect that businesses travel will continue to step up a notch even more in the months ahead.
“Initially we thought that the surge in travel demand last year was a sugar rush, but it has gone from strength to strength with businesses viewing it as a necessity to winning over clients and attracting talent.
“COVID-19 has also changed the way corporates travel with flexible working driving a swing towards ‘bleisure’ travel where people are looking to add a couple of days onto their itinerary for leisure.”
NSW VENUES TRIUMPH AT MEETINGS & EVENTS
AUSTRALIA AWARDS
Congratulations to all the NSW winners at the national Meetings & Events Australia Awards.
The MEAAs are the most prestigious and highly regarded event industry awards program in Australia. They celebrate excellence in venues and national events, reinforce the value of the events industry and promote greater recognition for the sector within the wider business community.
It was a triple celebration for ICC Sydney, which took out Skilling Event of the Year for its Professional Growth Program, Virtual Event of the Year for The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia for Pathology Update 2021 and Operations Person of the Year for Senior Audio Visual Technical Manager Jack Crozier.
Other NSW winners included Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific (Event Hotel of the Year), Sydney Showground (Event Venue of the Year – capacity more than 1000) and Deni Play on the Plains Festival for Deni Ute Muster (Regional Event of the Year).
FINAL NIGHTS FOR VIVID SYDNEY 2023
There are only two nights left for Vivid Sydney 2023, which has been dazzling attendees since its light-on moment on 26 May.
The festival enjoyed its largest-ever opening weekend, attracting more than 453,000 visitors. It has been attracting festival-goers from Sydney, regional NSW, interstate and international markets, who have enjoyed more than 300 events and activations during the 2023 program.
Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini said: “Vivid Sydney 2023 has renewed the CBD and brought vibrancy, fun and a huge uptick to the night-time economy.”
SYDNEY'S WHITE LOTUS MOMENT
One of the most anticipated events at Vivid Sydney 2023 was Mike White & Jennifer Coolidge in Conversation, which was held at ICC Sydney’s Aware Super Theatre on 10 June 2023.
Creator, writer and director of The White Lotus Mike White and star of the series Jennifer Coolidge took to the stage during the Vivid Sydney exclusive event, which saw the friends and collaborators share anecdotes and insights with moderator Benjamin Law and a sold-out crowd of more than 7500.
Destination NSW Chair Sally Loane, Destination NSW General Manager, Events Julie Turpie, Festival Director Gill Minervini and Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox joined Mr White and Ms Coolidge on stage after the Vivid Ideas event.
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS ART FAIR UNVEILS LINE-UP
The National Indigenous Art Fair (NIAF) is returning to Sydney in July with a new festival program.
“The art fair and festival program are designed to welcome, educate and engage visitors," said First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation CEO Peter Cooley.
"It’s an occasion to meet remote community artists and hear their stories. It’s also a time to see some incredible performances and immerse yourself in the oldest continuous living cultures in the world. We make sure there’s something there for everyone to enjoy.”
Proudly supported by Destination NSW, the NIAF provides collectors and visitors with a rare opportunity to buy ethical, authentic art directly from remote and regional artists.
In addition to 50 stalls representing remote Indigenous Art Centres and Blak Markets stallholders, the festival program will include a smoking ceremony, First Nations live music and dance performances, a communal weaving project, art workshops, panel discussions, bush tucker cooking experiences and talks and children’s storytelling, craft and dance workshops.
Visitors will enjoy singing performances by the Barayagal choir, Radical Son and Bow and Arrow. This year’s dancers are from the Djiriba Waagura Aboriginal Dance Group and Mui Mui Bumer Gedlam Dance Group from the Eastern Islands of the Torres Strait.
“The art fair is always a great day out for people of all ages. It’s also a wonderful way to begin celebrating NAIDOC Week which is all about Indigenous culture and achievement,” said Mr Cooley.
The National Indigenous Art Fair will be held at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks, from 10am to 5pm on 1-2 July 2023.
FIFA MILESTONE: ONE MILLION TICKETS SOLD
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ is on track to become the most attended standalone women’s sporting event in history, with more than one million tickets now sold for the highly anticipated tournament. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said 1,032,884 tickets have now been sold for the ninth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, surpassing the total sales for France 2019. Eleven matches have been secured for Sydney by Destination NSW.
WHAT NEXT FOR WESTERN SYDNEY?
A public policy initiative that will help shape the future of Greater Western Sydney has been launched by the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue at the Lachlan Macquarie Lecture and Pemulwuy Prize Luncheon, which featured Premier Chris Minns' first official address in Western Sydney. Beyond the Boom will include an engagement program and collaboration with the Federal and State governments, plus stakeholders across business, community, sport, arts and tourism.
SYDNEY MARATHON TO MAKE HISTORY
The Sydney Marathon will make history on 17 September 2023, with over 10,000 registered participants already signed-up, making it Australia’s largest-ever marathon. With three months remaining until registrations close, numbers are expected to increase, cementing the event as one of the great marathon races in the world. This milestone surpasses the previous record of 8108 registered participants, set by the Melbourne Marathon in 2019. Destination NSW is proudly supporting the Sydney Marathon’s bid to become the next Abbott World Marathon Major. If successful, it will join an esteemed group of marathons in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City.
QANTAS RESUMES NEW YORK-SYDNEY ROUTE
Qantas flights between New York and Sydney have resumed after a three-year cessation. The launch of QF3 also marks a new route for the national carrier with flights from New York operating via Auckland instead of Los Angeles. There will initially be three weekly flights, increasing to four from October, offering more than 1800 seats on the route each week. Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said: “The flights are great news for Australian tourism, helping to bring more visitors from the United States to explore the best of NSW and beyond with connections from Sydney across our extensive domestic network.” The Qantas Group is expected to return to around 100 per cent of its international capacity by March 2024.
SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIP REPORT
City of Sydney has released its Sustainable Destination Partnership report for 2022, which shows measurable progress to enhance the environmental performance of Sydney’s visitor economy. Highlights include emissions being reduced by 33 per cent since 2018. Destination NSW recently became an Associate Member of the partnership following the signing of a three-year MoU.
APRIL 2023 OVERSEAS ARRIVALS
New Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows Australia welcomed 544,920 short-term visitors in 2023. The number of trips for April 2023 was 22.2 per cent lower than the pre-COVID-19 level in April 2019. There were 200,230 short-term visitor arrivals to NSW. The three leading source countries for NSW were: New Zealand (33,380 trips) the United States (21,920) and the United Kingdom (16,290).
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS DRIVE RECOVERY
The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) confirms 42,830 international students arrived in Australia in April, with provisional estimates indicating a further 44,260 students arrived in May. Education-related travel was Australia’s largest services export in 2022, increasing by more than $4.6 billion from the year prior, according to separate ABS data. Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said: “International students also make a significant economic contribution, supporting more than 250,000 jobs before the COVID-19 pandemic and adding more than $40.1 billion to the economy.”
NEW INTERACTIVE WALKING MAP
A new online tool called 'Walks Near Me' has launched to connect people to locations in NSW, including parks, beaches, libraries, museums and high streets. The free interactive digital map features thousands of opportunities to discover public spaces and create bespoke walking itineraries to visit them. The tool is optimised for mobile phone use and offers a range of resources, including sharing the stories of parks and regions, discovering events and informing people about the amenities and experiences available. 'Walks Near Me' was developed by the Transport for NSW and the Department of Customer Service’s OneCX Program.
AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS
The Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Australia Day Council of NSW are calling for nominations for the Australian of the Year Awards 2024. NSW is home to many people doing extraordinary things for their communities. It only takes one nomination to elevate their voice, help them access more support or give them the recognition they deserve. Nominations close on 31 July 2023.
REGIONAL FESTIVAL FUNDING
The Federal Government is supporting a range of arts projects at festivals across the country. Close to $700,000 in funding will be shared among 17 projects in regional and rural communities through the Festivals Australia program. NSW events include the Broken Heel Festival in Broken Hill, The River of Art Festival on the South Coast and the official opening of the new Theatre Twyford.
HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY LAUNCHES
The High Speed Rail Authority has commenced operations and will oversee the development of the high-speed rail network along the east coast of Australia. The network could allow passengers to travel between major cities and regional centres at speeds exceeding 250 kilometres per hour. The Authority's first priority will be planning and corridor works for the Sydney to Newcastle section of the high-speed rail network, backed by a $500 million commitment from the Federal Government.
QUARTERLY TOURISM LABOUR STATISTICS
Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows there were 727,200 tourism jobs in Australia during the March quarter of 2023 (up 6.4 per cent year on year), accounting for one in 21 (4.8 per cent) filled jobs in the economy. There were 30,300 (-4 per cent) less jobs than December quarter 2019, prior to COVID-19. The industries that recorded the largest quarterly changes were cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (8.5 per cent), retail trade (7 per cent) and education and training (21.7 per cent).
ALPS MINISTERIAL COUNCIL REFORMS
Federal, NSW, Victoria and ACT Environment Ministers have joined together to reform the Alps Ministerial Council to manage one of Australia’s unique areas of biodiversity and heritage values. The Australian Alps supports a thriving visitor industry and includes the Kosciuszko National Park.
TIME OUT'S 56 BEST BARS IN SYDNEY
Time Out has released its pick of Sydney's best bars, with Surry Hills' new neighbourhood wine bar Bar Copains taking out the number one spot. The top five was rounded out by Sky Bar at Shell House in Sydney CBD (above), El Primo Sanchez in Paddington, Old Mate's Place in Sydney CBD and Enmore Country Club.
MORE THAN $4 MILLION FOR ART AND CULTURE
More than 1.2 million people across NSW will experience a range of cultural activities and programs thanks to an investment of more than $4.1 million from the NSW Government’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program. Minister for the Arts John Graham said 81 individuals, groups and organisations would create projects and experiences including music, literature, visual art, dance, theatre and festivals. Around 40 per cent of the projects will be in regional NSW.
SCREEN UPGRADE FOR NEWCASTLE STADIUM
McDonald Jones Stadium will soon be home to two new LED matchday screens as part of a major upgrade of the Hunter Park venue’s field screen technology. The pair of 160m2 HD resolution LED video screens are up to twice the size of the current stadium screens and will significantly enhance the fan experience for major sporting and entertainment events at the Broadmeadow venue when switched on for the start of the Newcastle Knights 2024 NRL season.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
FUNDING BOOST FOR VOLUNTEER GROUPS: Projects encouraging volunteers from diverse communities across the state will receive a boost thanks to $500,000 in grants announced by the NSW Government. Learn more
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF CLARENCE PRAWN INDUSTRY: The NSW Government has announced a $21.4 million plan for the response to and recovery from White Spot, which has devastated prawn fishing and farming on the Clarence River. Learn more
10 NEW COMMUNITY RECOVERY OFFICERS IN NSW: The new officers will bring tailored support to communities in the Central West, New England and Riverina regions to help ongoing recovery efforts following flooding in August and September 2022. Learn more
HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION 2024 SHORTLIST: Three Hunter Valley vineyards are finalists for Winery of The Year - First Creek Wines, Leogate Estate Wines and Pepper Tree Wines. 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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