New collective promotes Australia’s cultural attractions

Tourism Australia’s Signature Experiences of Australia program, which promotes some of Australia’s most outstanding tourism experiences in a range of niche areas, has welcomed Cultural Attractions of Australia (CAOA). This new, industry-led collective of Australian cultural attractions includes the Adelaide Oval, Arts Centre Melbourne, Australian War Memorial, Fremantle Prison, Melbourne Cricket Ground, MONA, National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Opera Australia, Parliament House, Port Arthur Historic Site, Qantas Founders Museum Longreach, Sovereign Hill, Sydney Opera House and WA Maritime Museum.

Australian hotel sales on the rise

Colliers International has published its Hotel Sales report for 2018. It shows hotel sales across Australia increasing during the second half of the year to a total of $1.8 billion from 37 sales. Queensland was the most active hotel investment market and volumes in New South Wales and Victoria were solid, aided by big-ticket sales. Offshore investors continued to dominate, accounting for two-thirds of transaction volume.

Tourism Australia and Malaysia Airlines celebrate 10 years with special flight deals

Tourism Australia and Malaysia Airlines are celebrating ten years of partnership with the ‘UnDiscover Australia with Malaysia Airlines’ campaign’ running from 24 January to 2 February. The campaign offers special airfares between Kuala Lumpur and Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth for travel between 27 January and 30 June. Fares start from RM 1,359 for economy class and RM 3,709 for business class. Members of Enrich, the airline’s frequent flyer program, will earn double Elite miles for bookings during this period. There will also be ten Enrich Gold memberships given away to lucky winners. Details of the new promotion are available at www.malaysiaairlines.com.

UK team win big at the Travel Weekly Globe Travel Awards

Tourism Australia’s UK team took home the award for Best Tourism Board at the travel trade industry’s Globe Travel Awards last Thursday night. They beat off stiff competition, including Brand USA, Tourism New Zealand, Visit California, and Destination Canada to take out the top spot. The awards, hosted at the five-star JW Marriot Grosvenor House on London’s Park Lane, recognise innovation and outstanding work across all aspects of the travel industry. The winners were voted for exclusively by travel agents which is further testimony to all the UK team do to support the UK travel trade. In 2018 the UK was Australia’s fourth largest inbound market for visitor arrivals.

Tourism Australia wins at SATTE

Tourism Australia in India won ‘Best Foreign Destination’ recognition at the South Asia Travel & Tourism Exchange (SATTE) 2019. Hosted by UBM India, SATTE is South Asia’s leading travel trade show. The award-winning submission focused on the ‘UnDiscover Australia’ campaign and its marketing and distribution efforts. Some of the key projects included television and digital advertising, content partnership with ESPNCricinfo and Conde Nast, Airline Marketplace, PR initiatives, and cooperative campaigns with key distribution partners.

Upmarket Indian travellers called to ‘UnDiscover Australia’

Tourism Australia in India has teamed up with Vogue and Conde Nast Traveller to bring the ‘UnDiscover Australia’ campaign to high value Indian travellers, who are always seeking new holiday experiences. The campaign showcases some of Australia’s lesser-known experiences through visually appealing videos and stories on the Vogue and Conde Nast Traveller websites. The enticing content is expected to reach close to 10 million consumers between January and April.

Australian tourism in the spotlight in Hong Kong

Tourism Australia Managing Director, John O'Sullivan, was in Hong Kong last week for a busy program of events. He presented certificates to travel agents who have graduated from the new ‘premier’ tier of the Aussie Specialist Program and shared his favourite food and wine experiences at a cocktail workshop with Hong Kong travel influencers and media. Mr O'Sullivan also joined Australian diplomats and travel industry leaders at the ‘One Voice’ dinner designed by Chef Wong.

Hong Kong buyers wowed at Business Events Australia partnership lunch

Business Events Australia and partner Towa Tours hosted a lunch for corporate buyers from Hong Kong’s leading insurance companies last Thursday. Tourism Australia Managing Director John O'Sullivan joined the lunch, which served up Australia’s unique food and wine to demonstrate why there is nothing like Australia for business events.

JTB promotes Australia to Japanese travellers

Australian holidays are on show at JTB Travel Gate Shinjuku, one of Tokyo’s busiest travel agencies with more than 100 customers every day. Last weekend, the Hon Mark Coulton MP, Australia’s Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment visited the store, which was packed with customers wanting to book a long-haul holiday over their 10-day Golden Week break from 27 April. JTB Corp has signed a memorandum of understanding with Tourism Australia to promote holidays Down Under in its stores across Japan. Australia welcomed 462,200 Japanese visitors in the year ending November 2018, making it the country’s fifth largest inbound market for visitor arrivals.

United Airlines’ Australia campaign to reach millions of Americans

This month, United Airlines will share its great-value flights to Australia to boost its Australia business and raise awareness of its direct flights to Australia from Houston, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The promotion will reach 12 million loyalty customers through paid social media posts and emails and more than 25 million people nationwide through outdoor and print advertising.

New ‘Australia’ magazine for high-end American travellers

Tourism Australia will unveil its first official Australia magazine at the G’Day USA events in Los Angeles this weekend. Produced in partnership with Australian Traveller for US distribution, the magazine features premium design and articles highlighting uniquely Australian experiences. The launch will see 50,000 copies distributed directly to American High Value Travellers through an affiliated content hub, as well as at first and business class airline lounges and events in the US.

Vine to wine scenic flight new to Snowy Mountains

True North Helicopter tours have launched a unique helicopter experience in the Snowy Mountains. Guests aboard the new vine to wine scenic flight will be tempted by local wine, cheese tastings and a gourmet lunch whilst exploring one of Australia’s premier cold climate wine regions from above. The indulgent escape departs from Tumut, a two-hour drive from Canberra or four hours from Sydney.

New beachfront restaurant and bar opens at Burleigh Heads

New beachfront venue Burleigh Pavilion has opened in the vibrant Burleigh Heads area of the Gold Coast. Launched by the crew behind Sydney’s popular Manly Wharf Hotel and Mrs Sippy in Double Bay, the playful two-in-one venue promises something for everyone and claims a magnificent ocean view. Guests can walk straight off the beach and into The Terrace bar for light bites and casual drinks or enjoy a full-service dining experience by head chef Guillaume Zika at The Tropic.

Oysters with a view at Coffin Bay’s Oyster HQ

South Australia’s first Oyster Cellar Door has arrived at Coffin Bay with a unique seafood dining experience. Visitors to Oyster HQ will be seated on a floating dining table where they can catch,shuck and taste their own oysters directly from the sea. Paired with a well-earned glass of bubbles and an undisturbed ocean view, the new hands-on experience is the best way to enjoy the famously and fabulously fresh oysters of Coffin Bay.

Restored Whitsundays resort to reopen as Elysian Retreat

Surrounded by rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, Elysian Retreat is set to open in April 2019 offering all-inclusive luxury. Formerly known as Paradise Bay Resort, the new eco-retreat has been under development after a series of cyclones destroyed the original site in 2017. Catering to its maximum 20 guests with a private chef, custom organic spa treatments and private aquatic activities, Elysian offers the perfect balance of indulgence, adventure and exclusivity.

Latest visitor arrivals online

Figures for the latest international arrivals, covering the year ending November 2018 are now available on Tourism Australia’s website.

Nominations have opened for Australia's 2019 National Travel Industry Awards, which will celebrate industry excellence across 44 categories.

The Tourism Australia and Droga5 campaign ‘Dundee - The son of a legend returns’ took out the Grand Prix in the channel integration category at the WARC Media Awards 2018. It also won the POE Award, for its success in linking paid, owned and earned media.

Baillie Lodges has announced that Silky Oaks Lodge in Tropical North Queensland will join its portfolio of luxury lodges in April 2019.  The purchase follows Baillie Lodges joint-venture agreement with KSL Capital Partners.

Tamworth has welcomed tens of thousands of country music fans for the Toyota Country Music Festival, Australia’s largest music festival. Featuring more than 2,800 shows across 10 days, the festival will run until 27 January.

Former Tourism Australia CEO Andrew McEvoy has been appointed Chairman of AATSGroup of companies, which trades as SkyBus.

Virgin Australia has launched its newly refurbished Boeing 777 aircraft for travel from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Los Angeles.

Jetstar has launched a Celebrate Australia Sale, offering low fare deals for domestic Australian travellers until 28 January.

Fringe World Festival has kicked off in Perth, with hundreds of shows showcasing everything from comedy to cabaret taking place across the city until 17 February.

DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Northbridge  has officially opened its 206-room property - the first new-build DoubleTree property in Australia.