Australia awarded Weibo 2019 most promising and popular outbound destination

Australia has won the Weibo 2019 most promising and popular outbound destination award at the 2019 V Influence Summit in Chengdu, China. The summit, organised by Sina Tourism and Weibo Tourism, saw Tourism Australia win the award based on the outstanding and innovative social activities produced by the organisation. Tourism Australia has over 1.2 million followers on Weibo and continues to generate high quality content to promote the Australia to the Chinese audience. Tourism Australia recently launched a new campaign called #TooAustralianforWords and generated 91 million impression on Weibo.

New video provides Facebook tips and tricks

Tourism Australia has created a four-part video series looking at how the Australian tourism industry can get the most out of social media. In the first episode Tourism Australia’s head of social media, Nick Henderson, talks to Facebook’s head of travel for Australia and New Zealand, Paul Nahoun, to discuss platform changes, tips and tricks to help industry get the most out of Facebook and free resources are available.

Business Events seminars in China generate new leads

One hundred and fifty incentive planners and agents attended two training seminars hosted by Tourism Australia’s dedicated business events unit Business Events Australia (BEA) in China earlier this month. In Guangzhou, 95 agents attended a full day seminar with seven Australian convention bureaus. It was the sixth time BEA has hosted a seminar in the Guangdong region. In addition, BEA hosted its first seminar in Changsha for 55 agents along with six Australian convention bureaus. The classroom style format catered for first-time agents looking for an introduction to Australia’s business event capabilities. The seminars generated 21 potential leads. Cathay Pacific and China Southern Airlines also participated in both seminars.

Tourism Australia on AFR’s Most Innovative Companies list

Tourism Australia has been recognised as one of Australia and New Zealand’s Most Innovative Companies for the third year running. In 2019 the list was split into 10 industry-specific categories. Tourism Australia ranked seventh in the retail, hospitality, tourism and entertainment category. The award recognised the Aussie Specialist Ambassador program which invited agents in 15 countries to submit a video pitch of why they believe "There’s nothing like Australia", with the winners becoming Aussie Specialist Ambassadors. The annual list, published by The Australian Financial Review and Boss Magazine, is based on a rigorous assessment process managed by Australia’s leading innovation consultancy, Inventium, in conjunction with a panel of industry expert judges.

New Bruce Munro exhibition to light up Darwin, NT

A new light exhibition by world-renowned artist, Bruce Munro, is the new highlight for tourists visiting Darwin. The outdoor light exhibition titled, ‘Bruce Munro: Tropical Light' will feature eight illuminated sculptures that reflect the artist’s personal history of visiting Darwin. Works from six local artists will also be showcased alongside the acclaimed artist’s works. The collection will be installed across Darwin’s central business district from 1 November 2019 to 30 April 2020 and is set to attract more visitors to the Top End over the shoulder tourism season.

The Australian Museum is closing for a year for a major revamp, NSW

The Australian Museum, in Sydney has announced it will be closing its doors for a year for a major $57.5 million renovation. The renovation, Project Discover, will significantly expand the public floor space and include a major new touring exhibition hall. There will also be flexible gallery and educational spaces; and more public amenities including a cloak room, dedicated groups entry and coach drop-off point. The Australian Museum will temporarily close on Monday, August 19, re-opening approximately 12 months later. During the closure, the museum will continue to offer bookings from late 2020 onwards, along with special request tours and Waranara: First Nations Tours.

Appetite for Excellence announces Australia’s top young chef, waiter and restaurateur

After an extensive two-month judging process, the 2019 Appetite for Excellence winners have been revealed. The winner of the 2019 Appetite for Excellence Young Chef Award was Bianca Johnston, from Tom McHugo’s in Tasmania. Olivia Evans, a waiter at the lauded Fleet in Brunswick Heads, was awarded the Young Waiter Award, and Sophie Gitterle, from Sydney’s Quay, was named one to watch. Luke Piccolo, from Limone in Griffith, NSW, was named the Young Restaurateur Award. The awards were co-founded by chef Luke Mangan to celebrate and nurture the Australian hospitality industry’s young talent.

Crystalbrook Collection welcomes Byron at Byron Resort and Spa to the Family, NSW

One of Australia’s most renowned resorts, Byron at Byron, will join Crystalbrook Collection’s expanding family of personality-led, five-star hotels and resorts. The luxury beachfront resort is nestled in a 45-acre subtropical rainforest, just a short drive from the iconic town of Byron Bay in New South Wales. Featuring 92 stylish suites, an infinity pool, day spa, tennis court and one-hatted restaurant, Byron at Byron provides guests with all the creature comforts they desire in an idyllic Australian destination. The acquisition of Byron at Byron brings Crystalbrook Collection’s portfolio to over 1,100 rooms in operation or under development across seven properties in New South Wales and Queensland.

Seller applications open – ITB 2020

Applications are open to join to the Australia stand at the Internationale Tourismus Börse (ITB). ITB20 will take place in Berlin, Germany, from 4 to 8 March 2020. The event brings together prominent people from the tourism industry to network, negotiate and do business. Tourism Australia will have an exclusive stand at ITB Berlin and invites industry to participate as stand partners. A wide range of participation options are available, such as sole and share booth options, and day passes for the trade days. In 2019, ITB hosted 10,000 exhibitors and 160,000 visitors of which 113,500 were trade. Overall, more than 185 countries were represented.

Destination Business Events

Registration is open for the AACB (Association of Australian Convention Bureaux) Annual Conference from 18 - 20 September at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Destination Business Events will explore demand side issues of the industry with the goal of growing Australia’s business events competitiveness. This year’s conference theme Customer Experience: Laneways to Success will explore the full range of customer needs from association clients, meeting planners and government to delegates and members. Discussion will centre on how to evolve Australia's products and services to drive longer lasting relationships, greater loyalty, improved customer experiences and ultimately greater business success.

Expressions of Interest are open for Vivid Sydney’s Ideas program, encouraging innovative and thought-provoking individuals and businesses around the world to submit their ideas and concepts to be part of Vivid Sydney 2020. Submissions close Monday 16 September 2019.

Expressions of Interest are open for Vivid Sydney 2020, providing creatives around the world with the opportunity to submit their ideas and concepts for Vivid Light next year. Submissions close on Monday 2 September 2019.

The opportunity to host Australian Regional Tourism’s annual convention in 2020 is up for grabs as regional destinations are invited to express their interest. Applications close 1 November 2019. For further information, including host selection criteria contact Lauren Douglass, ART Executive Officer.

PwC Indigenous Consulting has been appointed to develop the Kakadu Tourism Master Plan as part of the Australian Government’s $51 million investment into growing tourism in Kakadu National Park.

The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) is calling for nominations to recognise the industry’s unsung heroes and emerging leaders in the 2019 Awards for Excellence. For a full list of award categories and for more information on the awards and to download the Entry Kit visit www.eeaa.com.au/eeaa-2019-awards.

Nominations are open for Wotif’s The Festival of Wot? Wotif will help the winning Aussie destination celebrate what makes them special with their very own festival. Find out more and submit festival ideas, here. Nominations close 18 August 2019.

A historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today in Jabiru, NT securing the town’s future as the tourism heartland of the World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park. The MoU will support the town’s transition from a mining town to a tourist town.