Aberdeen Highland Games

The Aberdeen Highland Games take place over two days and one night and is staged the first weekend in July each year. This year they will be held on the weekend of Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 July 2012. It is the final event of Scottish Australia Heritage Council's Heritage Week. Heritage Week commences in Sydney and concludes at Aberdeen.

During the two day event more than 23 events take place at three venues with stalls providing food and Celtic displays all of which represent traditional Celtic culture and recreation. The Games are a gathering together from Sydney and regional New South Wales of bands, Clans, dancers, heavy events and state and interstate tug-of-war teams to celebrate the Celtic history of the Upper Hunter.

For the past three years a display team from Australia's Federation Guard have enthralled spectators with their precision drill.

The 2012 Aberdeen Highland Games promises to be better than ever.

For more information
Phone: (02) 6543 8457

Fax: (02) 6543 8457

For the detailed program see the article in The Holiday and Travel Magazine posted on 23 June 2012 by clicking on this link
Don Your Kilt for the 2012 Aberdeen Highland Games...

Get Your School Holiday Skates on to Canberra

Canberra Glassworks

From skating on an outdoor ice rink to watching Australia's elite athletes training in their final weeks of preparation for the London 2012 Olympics at the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, the capital city of Australia, offers plenty of fun experiences to keep kids entertained.

Throughout July experience Skate in the City - an outdoor ice rink in the heart of the city offering both skate and show packages.

Head indoors to the ever popular Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre and sample the new Excite@Q gallery. The little thrill seeker in the family can ride a 360 degree swing, freefall six metres down a vertical slide and look into the Disgustoscape tunnel of mirrors to see their hair and face magnified.

Purchasing a 3infun pass is an affordable way to see some of the city's best family attractions. The pass includes a 10 per cent discount on entry to Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre, Cockington Green Gardens and the Australian Institute of Sport plus a free pass to go back to your favourite 3infun attraction.

Visit the Canberra Glassworks and watch artists glassblowing from the hot shop and make your own glass paperweight or bauble.

Questacon

Use Canberra as your base for a snow day trip. Catch a Murrays coach to the NSW Snowfields - an easy three hours drive from the city centre. Packages include lift passes, ski, stocks and boot hire as well as national park entry. You can relax on your coach journey back to your Canberra accommodation that night.

Grab a great winter deal online at visitcanberra.com.au/winter today Thursday 28 July between midday and 1pm. Buy a Happy Hour accommodation deal and receive a $150 voucher to spend at the National Zoo & Aquarium, Canberra Glassworks or a combined 3infun plus Skate in the City experience.

Beijing International Tourism Expo (BITE) 2012

The ninth successful presentation of Beijing International Tourism Expo, widely known as BITE, concluded on a high note after a three-day showcase at the China National Convention Centre from June 15 – 17 2012.

Organized by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development, CEMS (Beijing) Conference & Exhibition Co., Ltd and Conference & Exhibition Management Services Pte Ltd, the 9th edition of BITE welcomed 929 exhibitors and 220 trade buyers from 80 countries and 25 cities, provinces and autonomous regions as well as a whopping 40,000 domestic and international trade visitors.

BITE 2012, reputed as one of Asia’s leading travel expositions, welcomed a total of nine new participating countries namely Croatia, Dominican Republic, Iran, Israel, Nepal, Mauritius, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden. The exposition also played host to 25 country pavilions from Brunei, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Russia, Switzerland, USA and Yemen to name a few.

Beijing International Tourism Expo

Destinations’ Presentation Sessions, a new marketing and publicity initiative was one of the main highlights rolled out during the exposition. Well-received by the international visitors, trade buyers and media, several National Tourist Organizations (NTOs), airlines and travel agencies came forth and leveraged on this conductive platform to introduce their destinations’ unique selling points, which are often the primary attraction for visitors from around the world to visit the country.

For more information, visit www.bitechina.com.cn

Indonesia Australia Sales Mission 2012

The Indonesia Australia Sales Mission 2012 will be held in Sydney tomorrow, Thursday 28th June at The Menzies Sydney Hotel from 5:30 - 9:00pm

This event is being organised by The Visit Indonesia Tourism Office Australia & the Ministry of Tourism & Creative Economy, Republic of Indonesia.

On the night agents and product managers will meet face to face with 28 leading Indonesian suppliers such as -

1. Pacto Ltd. Indonesia

2. Garuda Orient Holidays

3. No Roads Expeditions

4. Orangutan Odysseys

5. Uma Ubud

6. Como Shambhala Estate

7. Freestyle Holidays

8. Blue Season Bali

9. Bali Garden Beach Resort

10. Samsara Hotel

11. Maharani Beach Hotel

12. Cocotinos Hotel Group

13. InterContinental Bali Resort

14. General Hotel Management

15. Asian Trails

16. Tasik Ria Resort & Spa & Diving,

17. Tasik Divers @ Derawan Dive Lodge

18. Tasik Divers Bali

19. Garuda Indonesia

20. Santosa Villas & Resort

21. Matahari Beach Resort & Spa

22. PT. Bidy Tours

23. PT. Tiga Putra Sejahtera Tours

24. Shanti Collection

25. PT. Taman Wisat Candi Borobudur, Prambanan & Ratu Boko

26. Bali Niksoma Boutique Beach Resort

27. Kamandalu Resort

28. Intrepid Travel

As well as be entertained by Indonesian dancers and sample the best of Indonesian cuisine.

Craig Gibbons Marketing Manager for the Visit Indonesia Tourism Office Australia says “This really will be the leading Bali & Beyond trade event for Australian travel agents and product managers. Agents will receive all the latest destination and tourism product information that Indonesia has to offer'”

NSW Tourism Boosted in India

Mr Paramjit Bawa has been appointed as the inaugural Manager of the new India Destination NSW office based in Mumbai.

The Mumbai office will be the seventh in Destination NSW’s network of international offices and will manage the development of Indian inbound tourism to NSW.

Sandra Chipchase, Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer, said Mr Bawa’s knowledge and experience in the international tourism sector will be a great asset to Destination NSW. His most recent role of six years was Regional Manager of VisitBritain’s Indian and Middle Eastern operations.

“This appointment is a major commitment to boost our direct involvement in this important market,” Ms Chipchase said. “The number of visitors from India to Australia in 2020 is expected to grow by more than 100 per cent, so it’s important we have an experienced, knowledgeable representative proactively engaged in the Indian market:.

Mr Bawa will work closely with airlines, travel trade, media and business event organisers to keep Sydney and NSW top-of-mind for holiday visitation. 

He will also be representing Business Events Sydney to promote Sydney as a preferred destination for meetings, incentive, travel reward program, conferences and our key exhibitions.

30 Days to Opeing of 2012 Olympic Games

Day 4 - Bath

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games is fast approaching. In fact they open in London in one month’s time – in 30 days.  They open on 27 July 2012 and close on 12 August 2012. The 2012 Paralympic Games will follow from 29 August to 9 September.

For those who want even more, the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympics, open in the Maracanã Stadium in Brazil on 5 August 2016 – that’s only 1501 days away

The games are a gathering of people from around the world, with 205 nations expected to take part in 300 events at the Olympic Games in 2012. This is not the first time that London has hosted the Olympic Games – they also hosted them in 1908 and 1948.

A significant part in the lead up to the Olympic Games is the Olympic Torch, which spreads the message of peace, unity and friendship.

Elephants salute

The Olympic Torch Relay is on a journey to many of the cities and townships in the UK, visiting a number of UK’s Islands including the Isla of Man, Guernsey and Jersy   over a period of 70 days, England, Wales, Ireland, & Scotland will all see the Torch at some stage of the Relay.

The Olympic Torch was lit from the sun's rays at the Temple of Hera in Olympia, in a traditional ceremony among the ruins of the home of the Ancient Games. It arrived in the UK on 18 May and commenced its 70 day journey when it went from Land’s End to Plymouth on 19 May.

Chariots of Fire

The halfway mark of the Torch Relay (Day 35) was completed on 22 June when the Torch was carried from Kendal to Blackpool. At this point  the Olympic Torch Relay had been carried by 3,529 Torchbearers and had travelled 3,901.57 miles of its 8,000-mile journey and has been through 548 of the more than 1,000 cities, towns and villages that it is due to visit. More than 4 million people had seen the Olympic Torch at this halfway point of the Relay.

Some of the highlights so far of the Torch Relay  include:

- Elephants at the West Midlands Safari Park saluting the Olympic Flame as it was carried by Christopher Stokes on the Severn Valley Railway

- Joseph Forrester carrying the Olympic Flame along St Andrews West Sands, made famous by the film Chariots of Fire

- Bear Grylls carrying the Olympic Flame on a zip wire from the top of the Tyne Bridge

- David State proposing to his girlfriend in Loftus while carrying the Olympic Flame

- Stephanie Booth carrying the Olympic Flame on a steam boat across Lake Windermere

Bear Grylls

Today the Torch is being carried from Grimsby to Lincoln. On the last day of the Torch Relay, Day 70, the torch is being carried from Hampton Court into the Olympic Stadium  The last Torch Bearer will light the  Cauldron at the Opening Ceremony.

For more information about the Olympic Torch relay and the 2012 Olympic Games  see the official website http://www.london2012.com/

Advancing Cairns to China

Cairns

Advance Cairns, the peak coordination agency for economic development in Tropical North Queensland, has joined with Tourism Tropical North Queensland and the Cairns Regional Council to develop tourism and business matching opportunities for a pending trade mission to China later this year. The Beijing Consulting Group (BCG) will assist with on the- ground support for the mission in China which is scheduled to take place in October.

Key focuses for Advance Cairns are to identify opportunities for Tropical North Queensland businesses in the China market. Areas of particular expertise and interest include:

Zhanjiang

•Promoting Tropical North Queensland as a tourism, meeting and conference destination

•Working with Chinese airlines and travel wholesalers to increase the number of flights from China to Cairns - just seven hours from southern China

•Promoting study and training opportunities in Cairns, particularly hospitality training

•Promoting the tropical expertise developed by many North Queensland businesses

•Exploring occupational health and safety opportunities

Ross Contarino

"Despite a recent slowing in international spending, Advance Cairns believes there are still opportunities to be found as Australia- China trade remains strong. We will encourage local businesses to take advantage of the opportunities the trade mission will present," said Advance Cairns CEO Ross Contarino.

Previous trade missions have proven fruitful for local businesses, including Garden City Design Co - a member of the Cairns Landscaping Industries Cluster - who, after attending the 2004 trade mission to China, won a contract to collaborate with their Chinese counterparts on the design of the 34 hectare Sino-Australian Friendship Garden in Cairns' sister city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong province. And in 2008, more than 50,000 Chinese visited Cairns, with further growth predicted for 2009.

- For more information on Tropical North Queensland visit:

www.TropicalAustralia.com.cn or

- or contact Dianne at AdvanceCairns

www.AdvanceCairns.com 

Tel: 07 4031 3999

Address:: 51 The Esplanade Cairns Australia

E-mail:  admin@advancecairns.com

- or contact the Beijing Consulting Group

Email: info@BJConsultingGroup.com

Mr & Mrs Smith Brings the Best of Australia

Boutique travel experts Mr & Mrs Smith have partnered with Tourism Australia to showcase the best experiences and properties in Australia.

The Best of Australia collection is part of the latest phase of Tourism Australia's global marketing campaign, There's nothing like Australia, which was officially launched in Shanghai at the beginning of June.

The campaign is a media first for Mr & Mrs Smith - the brand hasn't worked with a National Tourism Organisation before  - to deliver an integrated multi-media campaign comprising of online, print, image and video assets. The online campaign collection is split into five easy to browse categories; Hidden Gems, Journeys, Cuisine, Wildlife and Coastline.  Each section includes a further five specific locations and suggested activities that are linked to the Mr & Mrs Smith property where that activity is on offer.

The platform, www.mrandmrssmith.com/best-of-australia, features video content on a carousel, which will lead with the new 90-second There's Nothing Like Australia film, which is at the heart of Tourism Australia's global campaign. 

The Best of Australia collection will also be displayed in a Mr & Mrs Smith 24-page booklet which will include quotes from high-profile ambassadors on their favourite travel experiences across Australia. More than 350,000 copies of the booklet were distributed with The Sunday Times this Sunday, 17 June.

Co-branded advertising across the Mr & Mrs Smith site will drive traffic to the microsite, with additional online advertising linking through to a bespoke There's Nothing Like Australia campaign page on www.australia.com, Tourism Australia's consumer platform.

Juliet Kinsman

Juliet Kinsman, Editor-in-Chief, Mr & Mrs Smith, says, "We wanted to extend our offering beyond our portfolio of Australian properties to present a complete experience for travellers, building on the activities that we know inspire people to travel to Australia.  This campaign allows us to make it even easier than before for our customers to plan a boutique, luxury holiday using the expertise of a tourism partner."

Visit the Mr & Mrs Best of Australia collection at  www.mrandmrssmith.com/best-of-australia

Sunset Strip Music Festival To Celebrate The Doors At 2012 Festival

SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL (SSMF) organizers have announced that the fifth annual three-day music festival--taking place on THE SUNSET STRIP Thursday, August 16 through Saturday, August 18--will celebrate the music and legacy of THE DOORS.

The festival will kick off with an exclusive VIP event honouring the iconic Sunset Strip band on August 16, which will feature an all-star band celebrating THE DOORS, and will conclude with an all-day street fest on Saturday, August 18. MARILYN MANSON will headline the outdoor street fest, which will also feature performances by THE OFFSPRING, STEVE AOKI, BAD RELIGION, very special guest BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, FAR EAST MOVEMENT, DE LA SOUL, DEAD SARA, DAS RACIST, THE MOWGLI’S and more. Many of the artists will celebrate THE DOORS by performing their take on some of THE DOORS’ legendary songs. The venues within the street festival closure--The Roxy Theatre, Whisky A Go-Go and Key Club--will also host full line-ups from more than 50 bands throughout the day.

Look for further line-up announcements to be revealed in the coming weeks. Tickets are on sale via TicketWeb.com/SSMF (various pricing options below). A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit IMPACT DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT CENTER in Pasadena, Calif., which has been treating individuals struggling with the powerful force of addiction since 1969. Impact is a residential treatment community for men and women from all walks of life and has outpatient clinics, transitional housing and in-custody programs throughout L.A. County. Impact offers programs to everyone from the roadie to the rock star, with their simple and effective no-nonsense approach to substance abuse treatment.  For more information, go to http://www.impacthouse.com.

As in years past, Sunset Boulevard will be closed to traffic between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Boulevard and transformed into a premier concert destination with two outdoor stages, beer gardens, an artist autograph tent, an outdoor VIP rooftop lounge, silent disco, VIP Lounge at On The Rox, food trucks and interactive experiences.

“We are happy to bring another amazing and diverse line-up to the boulevard as we celebrate the music and legacy of one of The Sunset Strip’s most influential artists, The Doors,” noted SSMF executive director Todd Steadman. “We’re also excited to mark the fifth year of the music festival. SSMF is a home-grown, not-for-profit festival that continues to grow each year. It is shaped by a team of venue owners who partner each year to create a unifying event that celebrates The Sunset Strip and the community of musicians and music fans it has fostered. We look forward to seeing past attendees and welcoming new fans to this year’s event.”

THE DOORS--organist RAY MANZAREK, guitarist ROBBY KRIEGER, drummer JOHN DENSMORE and late singer JIM MORRISON--have earned worldwide notoriety for being one of the most influential rock groups of all time. With an intoxicating, genre-blending sound, provocative and uncompromising songs, and the mesmerizing power of singer Jim Morrison's poetry and presence, THE DOORS had a transformative impact not only on popular music but on popular culture. The band was formed in Venice, Calif., and remains a vital piece to the legacy and history of The Sunset Strip. It was on The Strip that THE DOORS got their start at the London Fog before moving down the street to perform as the house band at the Whisky A Go-Go. A show at the Whisky in August 1966 helped them land a deal with Elektra Records, which would propel the band into international music icons.

"The  Doors are honoured to be celebrated by the magical, legendary Strip,” says RAY MANZAREK.  “A great leap forward from the Summer Of Love to today. What a great time we're going to have! The Sunset Strip. Live bands, loud music, Rock and Roll. It's the ‘60s all over again, and everyone is welcome. Dancing in the streets. Joy, Love, Peace.  And we want to get it all together just One - More - TIME! Could this be the beginning of the new Golden Age? Let it be so."  ROBBY KRIEGER says, "It's a thrill to be honoured by The Sunset Strip Music Festival this year. Venice was our home, but The Doors lived and came of age on the Sunset Strip. It's exciting to see that the legacy we helped create is still alive and thriving today!"  JOHN DENSMORE adds, "The Sunset Strip in the ‘60s was the incubation canal for an entire renaissance in music, and its impact is still with us.  The Doors are proud to be honored this year at the 5th annual SSMF celebration."

Tickets for SSMF 2012 are on sale beginning today at TicketWeb and are free of additional ticketing fees. Ticket options include general admission August 18 street festival ticket for $75 and VIP options for $135, which includes access to the rooftop VIP area with views of the West stage, VIP areas in the beer garden and venues, access to VIP lounge On The Rox, a separate entrance and additional perks. A very limited number of three-day VIP passes will also be available for $250. These special passes include access to THE DOORS celebration on Thursday, August 16, VIP access to the August 18 street festival and entrance to all of the Sunset Strip Venues on August 16, 17 and 18--House of Blues, The Roxy Theatre, Viper Room, Whisky A Go-Go and Key Club--pending capacity.

Previous SSMF performers have included Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, The Smashing Pumpkins, Slash featuring Fergie, Public Enemy, Common, Bush, LMFAO, Kid Cudi, Neon Trees, Matt & Kim, Cobra Starship and She Wants Revenge, among others.  Highlights from SSMF 2011--which drew a festival record of 15,000 music fans from Southern California and beyond--can be seen here: http://bit.ly/SSMF11vid.

Attendees traveling to SSMF can also enjoy a special offer on Virgin America flights to Los Angeles between August 13 and 21, when they book online at: http://www.virginamerica.com/vx/booking/ssmf.html?cid=PRO_338. 

SSMF2012’s proud supporting sponsors include Virgin America, Jack Daniel’s, Gibson Guitar, Bud Light, Monster Energy Drink, Los Angeles Hornburg Range Rover and Land Rover on The Sunset Strip, Glaceau Vitaminwater, Mondrian, 98.7fm, TicketWeb, City of West Hollywood, West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau and Clear Channel Outdoor. Street fest/event production provided by Swing House Hollywood. Festival creative provided by Signature Creative.

For the latest SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL news, visit www.SSMF.com, like www.facebook.com/sunsetstripmusicfestival and follow www.twitter.com/SSMF.

Thousands of Roses For Third Anniversary of Death of Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson

Yesterday was the third anniversary of singer and entertainer Michael Jackson’s death as a result of an overdose.

Neverland Valley Ranch

Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, the eighth of ten children, and he died at the age of 50 on June 25 2009. He grew up in a musical family, joining with his brothers to form The Jackson 5, and went on to be a performer in his own right, and is remembered for his contribution to music, dance, and fashion gaining the title “King of Pop”.

In May 1994, Jackson married the daughter of Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie Presley. Michael Jackson's 1982 album Thriller is the best-selling album of all time.

More than 11,000 long-stemmed roses have been placed on his grave

at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale by his adoring fans to mark the 3rd anniversary of his death. 

To read more about the life and times of Michael Jackson click on this link, Michael Jackson: An interactive timeline courtesy of the Los Angeles Times..