Insights - 23 June 2023
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DESTINATION NSW HONOURS
DESTINATION NETWORK BOARD DIRECTORS
Destination NSW hosted a reception this week to recognise the contribution to regional NSW of the outgoing Destination Network Board directors.
The NSW Government established the Destination Networks in 2016 with the aim of improving regional stakeholder engagement and better supporting NSW’s regional visitor economy.
The Destination Networks coordinate destination management and work closely with local government, tourism organisations and operators. They are also responsible for implementing their region’s Destination Management Plan.
Destination NSW Chair Sally Loane and CEO Steve Cox thanked the Board directors for the commitment, passion and leadership they have dedicated to their roles.
"The founding Board directors have led a significant change in destination management for their regions," Mr Cox said.
"They have developed strong Destination Management Plans that will guide the regional NSW visitor economy into a dynamic and prosperous future."
10 AMAZING STATS FROM VIVID SYDNEY 2023
Vivid Sydney has always been a festival about bringing people together and this year was no exception.
Preliminary figures from Vivid Sydney 2023 show record participants enjoyed Light, Music, Ideas and Food programs over 23 nights.
Here are 10 top statistics from the festival.
- Vivid Sydney 2023 hit its biggest attendance record in history, with more than 3.28 million people, up 30 per cent.
- Written in the Stars, the largest drone show in the Southern Hemisphere, drew more than 500,000 people.
- This year the number of free drone shows increased from one with 600 drones in 2022 to six scheduled and one surprise final night show in 2023, featuring more than 1000 drones.
- A sold-out In Conversation event with The White Lotus creator Mike White and star Jennifer Coolidge at the ICC Sydney attended by 7366 people, a Vivid Ideas record.
- More than 1200 attendees for Vivid Music’s A Bend in the River, A Tribute to Archie Roach AC at Sydney Town Hall.
- Restaurants, cafes and bars enjoyed a surge in patronage. Last year, 701,000 people purchased food items across the festival and this year that number was 745,000.
- Restaurants across the festival footprint reported 81 per cent of attendees purchased food and beverages - more diners than any Vivid Sydney festival to date.
- More than 190,000 people visited Vivid Fire Kitchen at The Cutaway, Barangaroo.
- Hotels in the CBD also reported increased visitation during the festival, with occupancy rates up 12 per cent overall compared to 2022, lifting occupancy to 78 per cent across the CBD and 90 per cent on Friday and Saturday nights.
- Vivid Sydney 2023 featured the longest-ever free Vivid Light Walk at 8.5km with 57 mesmerising light installations and 3D projections from Circular Quay to Central Station.
Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said: “Over the past three weeks the city has felt vibrant and electric. The program this year went from strength to strength. Sydneysiders and visitors relished the chance to enjoy our night-time economy and we showcased Sydney, at its finest, to the world."
Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini said: “After COVID-19, we proudly raised the bar in 2022 growing the festival’s attendance by seven per cent. This year we surpassed those figures. I’m still pinching myself.
“It’s hard to comprehend the magnitude of the increase in turnout. We’re extremely proud and very grateful to all our artists, performers, musicians, speakers and chefs. Without them, our program would not be anywhere near as successful."
Tourism Accommodation Australia CEO and interim Accommodation Association CEO Michael Johnson said: “The growing success of Vivid Sydney year upon year is a credit to the NSW Government, Destination NSW, the events team and all in involved.
"The impact it has on the city of Sydney is unparalleled and to see our hotels at times reaching 90 per cent occupancy during winter is a remarkable achievement.
“Vivid Sydney is a magnificent event as it not only draws millions of people to the city but encourages them to spend the night in one of our many incredible hotels.
“I would like to extend my thanks and congratulations to all who made this event possible. Your creativity, innovation and vision continues to light up the night sky.”
Watch a drone fly-through of Vivid Sydney 2023 here.
Data from outdoor advertising agency QMS shows the number of people in the City of Sydney between 7pm and midnight was up 61 per cent during the first three weekends of this year’s festival.
The increase among people aged 30 to 50 was even higher, at 76 per cent, with interstate visitors also jumping 109 per cent, predominantly from Victoria, the ACT and Queensland.
Advertising in key Vivid Sydney precincts during the festival saw audiences rise by 113 per cent in the evenings across the three weekends, with Circular Quay assets seeing an increase of 215 per cent.
AND THE GOLD LOGIE GOES TO ... SYDNEY!
Sydney will welcome back the Logies for the first time in 37 years on 30 July 2023 at The Star Sydney.
Nominees for the 63rd TV WEEK Logie Awards were announced this week at the Museum of Contemporary Art, at an event hosted by Seven’s Kylie Gillies, Nine’s Sylvia Jeffreys and Network 10’s Tristan MacManus, with Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox addressing attendees at the event.
"NSW is Australia’s home of film and television production, with one of the world’s most in-demand screen industries and has not only produced some of Australia’s finest TV talent, but also provided unforgettable backdrops to some of our most popular TV programs," Mr Cox said.
"I am thrilled that Destination NSW has partnered with Seven West Media to honour Sydney as the home of the TV WEEK Logie Awards for the next five years.
"Hosting the Logies provides an exciting opportunity for the Harbour City to shine in the spotlight of Australian television’s night of nights.
"No city can provide a more glamourous backdrop to the Logie Awards than Sydney, and, on the back of this year’s record-breaking VIVID Sydney festival and other major events like Sydney WorldPride – and later this year, SXSW Sydney – the energy and vibrance of the city has never been greater."
STRIVE 4 SUSTAINABILITY SCORECARD
Ecotourism Australia, the peak body for eco and sustainable tourism, has entered a ground-breaking industry partnership with Destination NSW to support the development of more sustainable tourism products and experiences in the NSW visitor economy. The partnership will provide complimentary access to the pre-certification Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard for eligible NSW tourism visitor economy businesses to begin their sustainability journey. Expressions of interest for the program are open. Places are limited, apply now.
EARTHCHECK INNER CIRCLE FORUM
EarthCheck will host the Inner Circle Forum, a conference focused on sustainability for the visitor economy, on 28 August 2023. Thought leaders, innovators and change-makers will gather together to investigate the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. It aims to empower visitor economy leaders to take the knowledge shared and apply it to their own operations and destinations. Three core themes will be discussed: environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting; Leading Destinations of the World™; and Net Zero Pathways.
CHINA RECOVERY AT SYDNEY AIRPORT
The number of Chinese passengers passing through Sydney Airport recovered to 54 per cent in May 2023 compared to May 2019. Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert said: “This is one of the strongest China recoveries of any international airport globally.” The total number of passengers that passed through the airport in May 2023 was 3,010,000, (85.7 per cent recovery compared to May 2019). International terminal traffic was 1,076,000 (83.1 per cent recovery compared to May 2019). Domestic passenger traffic was 1,934,000 (87.3 per cent recovery compared to May 2019).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY MICROSKILLS
TAFE NSW has created a new microskill module – Acknowledgment of Country. The two-hour course will increase understanding of the concept of Country as an interconnected and interwoven set of relationships with place, people and culture. For the Traditional Custodians of the Countries on which you live and work, it is important that this special connection and understanding of Aboriginal Peoples is recognised and incorporated into official protocols to enable the wider community to share in their cultures and facilitate better relationships between First Australians and the general community.
FUNDING BOOST FOR GOING-OUT DISTRICTS
A diverse range of going-out districts are set to emerge across Greater Sydney with the NSW Government announcing the first successful recipients of the Uptown Grant Program. Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said 21 successful districts across eight different local government areas in Sydney would each receive up to $200,000 to coordinate their efforts and build further consumer engagement. The Uptown Accelerator has also returned for 2023 with applications open for workshops from August to October 2023.
5 SYDNEY PIZZERIAS IN ASIA PACIFIC TOP 50
The annual 50 Top Pizza rankings have just been revealed for the Asia Pacific, with Sydney taking out five spots. Topping the list was Pizza al Taglio in Surry Hills (number 11), followed by Pizza Madre in Marrickville (number 24), Lil Franky Pizzeria in Tempe (number 28), Queen Margherita of Savoy in Cronulla (number 32) and Gigi’s Pizza in Balmain (number 33). Pizza al Taglio also won the Best Beer and Drink Service 2023 Award and will join the other top 15 pizzerias for the 100 Best Pizzerias in the World event in Naples in September.
IATA CALLS FOR FAIRER SLOT ALLOCATION
International Air Transport Association (IATA) has joined with airline associations around the world including the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines in calling for governments to ensure the global alignment of airport slot regulations to safeguard the consistent, fair and transparent allocation of slots under the Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines. A joint statement said: "Fragmentation of slot regulation risks disruption to airline schedules and imperils the advances in global connectivity, efficiency, competition and choice which have characterised the aviation industry in recent decades."
VOLUME FESTIVAL FOR ART GALLERY OF NSW
The Art Gallery of New South Wales will present Volume, a new and unique festival of music, film and performance running from 22 September to 8 October 2023. Destination NSW is a strategic sponsor of the 17-day festival, which will feature a program of Australian and international artists, headlined by Grammy Award–winning R&B singer-songwriter and multidisciplinary artist Solange and including award-winning Zambian musician, vocalist and rapper Sampa The Great, plus an extensive line-up of local and international artists. Tickets are on sale 19 July.
CLIA SETS CRUISING COURSE AT G20
CLIA Managing Director in Australasia & Asia Joel Katz gave a keynote presentation to G20 Tourism Working Group representatives this week in India. He explained the strength of the cruise industry’s global revival and key issues affecting its future direction, under the meeting’s theme Making Cruise Tourism a Model for Sustainable & Responsible Travel. “Cruising is undergoing a renaissance worldwide,” Mr Katz said. “It is an industry with enormous potential, and it’s an industry that is moving forward with a clear vision for sustainable and responsibly managed operations.”
FIRST NATIONS INPUT AT HEART OF CENTRAL PARK
Five architect firms have been shortlised in the design competition for a two-hectare park at Bradfield City Centre next to Western Sydney Airport. The competition has had a strong emphasis on design and engagement with Traditional Custodians through all phases. Western Parkland City Authority Chair Jennifer Westacott said: “As the principal gathering place with a strong identity celebrating First Nations people, recognising culture and connection to Country, it was vital the Central Park design tells the stories of Country.” The winning scheme is expected to be announced in August.
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE CELEBRATES 50 YEARS
The Sydney Opera House will host its 50th Birthday Festival in October. The celebrations will feature music, dance, theatre, art and free events. There will also be a free Open House Weekend on 21-22 October 2023 - the first of its kind in eight years. Watch a birthday message from Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron here.
FIRST NATIONS DINING AT SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
Midden by Mark Olive will open at Sydney Opera House on 4 July 2023, with Bundjalung man and chef Mark Olive at the helm. The restaurant will offer a produce-focused menu of native Australian ingredients – from wattle seed and bush honey to saltbush and succulents. It will be located under the Colonnade on the Western Broadwalk.
QANTAS UNVEILS GAMECHANGER CABINS
Qantas has unveiled the entire cabin design of its new Airbus A350s, which will fly direct from New York and London to Sydney from late 2025. The flights will cut down point-to-point travel time by more than three hours compared to routes with one stop. The aircraft interiors include a dedicated Wellbeing Zone, located between the Premium Economy and Economy cabins, featuring a guided on-screen exercise program, a hydration station and refreshments.
CARAVAN AND CAMPING CAMPAIGN SUCCESS
The results are in for phase two of the Feel More. Live More marketing campaign, a Caravan and Camping Industry Association NSW (CCIA NSW) initiative in partnership with Destination NSW. Running from 12 March to 6 May 2023, TV ads from the campaign reached 15.05 million people, while social media content reached 1.87 million people, digital ads created 2.87 million impressions and traffic to the CCIA NSW website was 466% up on normal levels.
DESTINATION CENTRAL WEST WEBSITE LAUNCH
Destination Central West has a new website - www.dncw.com.au
- which features introductions to its Board directors and staff, information on the Destination Networks and links to local tourism partners. The industry resource section includes visitor economy strategies, plans, statistics and data, as well as toolkits, training and business development aids. The grants section will host grant and funding opportunities as they become available and includes grant writing tips.
HUNTER VALLEY LEGENDS AWARDS
Hunter Valley visitor economy businesses have been honoured at the 2023 Hunter Valley Legends Awards. Winmark Wines won Cellar Door of the Year, Spicers Guesthouse was named Accommodation Operator of the Year and Stay n’ Sip was announced as Tourism Operator of the Year. The three awards were judged by independent assessment and recognise businesses for their visitor and online experience. Average scores among businesses increased by 10.7 per cent compared to last year.
OUTDOOR INDUSTRY SUMMIT
Key leaders in government, land management and the outdoor visitor economy will come together on 28-30 June 2023 at the 2023 Outdoor Industry Summit. Organised by Outdoors NSW & ACT, the event was secured for Lennox Head Cultural Centre by Destination NSW via its Regional Conferencing support program. The conference will feature keynote speakers, panels and discussions about the future of the industry.
DELTA AIRLINES INCREASES LAX-SYD FLIGHTS
Delta Air Lines will increase its Los Angeles to Sydney services from daily to 10 flights per week starting 31 October 2023. Additionally, Delta will go double-daily from 17 December 2023 until the end of March 2024 - offering more seats on the Sydney-Los Angeles route than any other airline at Sydney Airport. Travellers from the United States were the fourth highest nationality passing through Sydney Airport in May 2023.
WOLLONGONG WARM UP CAMPAIGN
Destination Wollongong has launched a digital winter campaign called Sip, Savour and Stay Cosy, which invites visitors and locals to embrace the season's charm and discover the best restaurants, entertainment and attractions in the region.
FULL WICKED LEAD CAST ANNOUNCED
WICKED flies into the Sydney Lyric from 25 August 2023, proudly supported by Destination NSW. The cast includes Robyn Nevin, Todd McKenney, Liam Head, Adam Murphy, Shewit Belay and Kurtis Papadinis, plus Courtney Monsma as Glinda and Sheridan Adams as Elphab.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW CATEGORY FOR 2023 NSW TOURISM AWARDS: Take 3 for the Sea, in partnership with Business NSW, has announced the Take 3 for the Sea Litter Prevention Award. Businesses must register before 30 June via the NSW Tourism Awards’ portal. Learn more
NSW ACCOMMODATION AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE FINALISTS ANNOUNCED: Destination NSW is proud to sponsor the Regional Superior Hotel of the Year and Regional Deluxe Hotel of the Year. The awards ceremony will be held on 20 July 2023. View finalists
INDEPENDENT EOI PROCESS TO FILL VENUES NSW BOARD: An independent, merit-based appointment process will be conducted for the vacant role of Chairperson. Multiple appointments, including a representative from the Hunter region, are also set to expire on 30 November 2023, which will also be advertised. Learn more
MULTICULTURAL NSW STRONGER TOGETHER PROJECT GRANTS: The 2024 program aims to support grassroots projects that can make a lasting positive impact on social cohesion and meet a community need. Applications close on 7 July 2023. Learn more
WAR MEMORIALS AROUND NSW TO RECEIVE FUNDING: Twenty-two war memorials across the state are set to receive a share of over $125,000 in funding thanks to the NSW Government in Round 2 of the Community War Memorials Fund. Learn more
BUS INDUSTRY TASKFORCE TO BROADEN REMIT: The NSW Government has urgently instructed the NSW Bus Industry Taskforce to examine the adequacy of bus and coach safety regulation in NSW following the tragic bus incident in the Hunter Valley. Learn more
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