Saturday 23 November 2013

NSW Wins Hat Trick at Australian Event Awards

Destination NSW has scooped the pool with three top accolades at the Australian Events Awards held in Sydney on 19 November, 2013, reaffirming the State’s position as events capital of Australia.

Vivid Sydney, which is owned and managed by Destination NSW, won Best Tourism Event and Australian Event of the Year, while NSW was named Australia’s Best Event State overall.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew Stoner said 2013 was one of the biggest years for events in NSW, with the ever-popular 18-day Vivid Sydney festival attracting record visitor numbers in its fifth year.

“Vivid Sydney, owned and managed by Destination NSW, is a great representation of the creative services industry in Australia, which is showcased during what is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest Festival of light, music and ideas, and which this year attracted record audiences of more than 800,000 people,” Mr Stoner said.

In 2013, Vivid Sydney also attracted record interstate and international visitor numbers, with more than 11,000 travel packages to the festival sold, including 7,200 from China.

“Vivid Sydney not only makes an important contribution and provides a platform to showcase our creative industries, but generates an important economic contribution, with in excess of $10 million delivered to the NSW economy this year.

“I am very pleased to see Vivid Sydney recognised as the Australian Event of the Year, and would encourage anyone who hasn’t experienced Vivid yet, to mark the date for Vivid 2014 in their diary – May 23 to June 9.”

Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said she was delighted to see the State recognised as the leader in events in Australia.

“We are incredibly proud to be named as Australia’s Best Event State and to see Vivid Sydney recognised as a national events calendar favourite and a key driver of visitation to the State.”

“I thank our fantastic sponsors, partners, festival directors, Ignatius Jones our Creative Advisor, and the NSW Government and its agencies across the city who all make Vivid Sydney such a brilliant event for locals and visitors alike.

“I’d also like to congratulate the many other NSW events recognised as winners and finalists at this year’s Australian Events Awards, including Byron Bay Bluesfest, TEDxSydney2013, 18th Biennale of Sydney: All Our Relations, Top Gear Festival Sydney, The Rocks Windmill and Bathurst’s Sprung Festival. It’s also great to see the majority of 2013 Best Venue contenders are located in NSW, including award winner Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, and finalists Allianz Stadium, Doltone House and Sydney Showground.”

“Events are a great way for visitors to explore a city or region, offering a unique experience and often a very different perspective of the destination.

“There are incredible events happening in NSW constantly – whether it’s in regional NSW or in the capital Sydney. Sporting events, lifestyle events, arts, culture, music, entertainment – NSW clearly has it all.

For more information on events in Sydney and NSW, visit www.sydney.com and www.visitnsw.com

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