FAR NORTH SPORT FISHING’S BARRA SEASON TAKES THE BAIT

Blue Martini

In its first few months of operation, Far North Sports Fishing’s inaugural Barra season has hit the mark with discerning anglers wanting a first class fishing adventure that has all the glamour and luxury of a premium super yacht with fishing, tailor made to suit.

Five of Far North Sports Fishing’s seven Remote Barra Expeditions departing between February and April have sold, however two five day, five night packages are still up for grabs and are available to purchase at a special 40 per cent discount. These depart on 30 March and 4 April from Princess Charlotte Bay in Lakefield National Park.

Director, Tony Fyfe said that during March and April of this year, the Far North Sports Fishing team and its 68 foot, superbly appointed luxury yacht, Blue Martini will be based in the Princess Charlotte Bay area of Lakefield National Park area for the 2014 Barra season. “This very remote location offers anglers some of the most product barramundi sport fishing in the world as well as excellent blue water fishing.”

Tony says that captain, Russell Player has more than a decade of Princess Charlotte Bay run off seasons under his belt and an intricate understanding of far northern waters and the fishing opportunities they provide.

“Russell, along with every member of our team ensures the utmost professionalism, skill and local fishing knowledge.”

All Far North Sports Fishing charters are based from luxury vessel, Blue Martini and the all inclusive price covers :

• The use of two, custom-made, 20 foot console vessels with personal fishing guides for superior angling
• Premium quality custom tackle (Shimano reels and custom made rods)
• Superbly appointed air-conditioned accommodation for up to six anglers (two queen rooms with ensuite and two twin share rooms)
• Daily haute cuisine quality meals prepare by on-board chef and served by on-board hostess
• All premium beer and wines ( a vintage wine list is also available for purchase on board)
• Full housekeeping service

2014 Barra Run-Off Charters Available:

Trip 4 – Barra & Optional Blue Water

30/3 – 4/4/2014 – 5 days/5 nights
Board and disembark Princess Charlotte Bay
Available at discounted price of $840 per person, per day (for group of six)

Trip 5 – Barra & Blue Water

4/4 – 9/4/2014 – 5 days/5nights
Board Princess Charlotte Bay and disembark Lizard Island
Available at discounted price of $840 per person, per day (for group of six)

Note that flight transfer prices are not included.

Far North Sports Fishing charters can be taken throughout the year from Blue Martini’s home base of Port Douglas or embark from any number of ports or islands along the Far North Queensland coast. While Blue Water Adventures operate year round, , Far North Sports Fishing will follow its Remote Barra Expedition season with Billfish Mania between September and October.

To discuss individual requirements and design a bespoke itinerary, contact Far North Sports Fishing’s concierge on 61 7 4099 3188 or email info@farnorthsports fishing.com or for more information www.farnorthsportsfishing.com

New Interactive Website Launched by Brazil Tourism Board

A new interactive website visitbrasilhome.com launched by Brazil’s official ltourism board Embratur. The site allows visitors to look at different rooms of a virtual house and click on items that highlight elements of Brazil’s gastronomy, arts, music, sports teams, and culture.

Visitbrasil.com was featured on recent list of the 20 best-designed tourism websites in the world. The site will complement, not swap, the official tourism website visitbrasil.com.

Site visitors are welcomed by a Portuguese-speaking woman after clicking on front door to enter the “house”. After entering into the house, visitors can move to the different rooms and experience and learn about Brazilian music and musician, traditional Brazilian cuisines, or learn about Brazilian sports accomplishments.

AIME Welcome Reception to pop-up in secret location

The location for the highly anticipated Asia‐Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) Welcome Reception is veiled in secrecy and will only be revealed on Friday, 14 February, Karen Bolinger, Chief Executive Officer of the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) announced today.

Taking place on 17 February, the night before AIME begins, Ms Bolinger explained that with thanks to the creative genius of Peter Jones Special Events, the Welcome Reception will literally pop‐up at an unexpected site.

“Melbourne is renowned for its weird and wonderful pop‐up culture and that is exactly what we are replicating for the AIME Welcome Reception this year,” Ms Bolinger said.

“The ability to create this event just hours before the occasion is testament to Melbourne’s versatility and what the city is synonymous for; unpredictable, innovative fun and a discovery around every corner.

“AIME delegates will be welcomed to the state with a celebration of all things quintessentially Melbourne, and will have the opportunity to network with industry professionals in an informal setting before the two‐day tradeshow commences the next day.”

Ms Bolinger hinted that the event will be held within a five minute walk of Melbourne’s iconic Flinders Street Station.

“Whether it’s in the Royal Botanic Gardens or down a laneway, indoors or outdoors, delegates will certainly experience Melbourne’s eclectic and inspirational vibe,” Ms Bolinger concluded.

AIME, which is owned by MCB, is currently the largest business expo in Australia, and will host more than 750 exhibitors and 3500 delegates responsible for organising meetings, incentives and business travel at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 18 and 19 February, 2014.

Chinese Year of the Horse Twilight Parade in Sydney

Sydney's George Street will be overrun with hundreds of galloping horses on the night of Sunday 2 February, as the City of Sydney's Chinese New Year Twilight Parade weaves its way through the city.

Rocking horses, jockeys, chess knights and the parade’s special guest, a 20ft horse will trot through the streets as Sydney welcomes the Year of the Horse and brings to life the festival artwork, Safety & Peace in Four Seasons.

The herd of colourful steeds will be joined by crowd favourites including giant Chinese dragons, as well as floats from local Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese communities, martial arts performers and much more, with over 2,700 performers and 32 floats for all to admire.

A highlight of the parade will be 350 world-class performers direct from Beijing, Shaanxi and Hunan in China. In Sydney exclusively for this year’s Chinese New Year celebrations, martial artists, acrobats, jugglers, puppeteers, dancers and musicians will wow crowds with their special skills and jaw-dropping performances.

The city’s buildings will also be lit up with stunning projections wishing revellers a Happy Lunar New Year throughout the evening.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the annual Chinese New Year Twilight Parade was always the highlight of the City’s Lunar New Year celebrations.

“We’re expecting over 100,000 people to line the city streets to watch Sydney come to life with the colours and sounds of the Chinese New Year Twilight Parade,” the Lord Mayor said.

“The parade is a fantastic event to enjoy with family and friends and it’s the perfect way to celebrate the diversity of our great city.”

Chinese New Year Festival Creative Director Gill Minervini said watching the city streets transform into a dynamic parade filled with the sights and sounds of Asia was always a spectacle to behold.

“The Twilight Parade is always a crowd favourite, but as we welcome the Year of the Horse, we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves to ensure it’s even more fun than usual,” Ms Minervini said.

“The horse is known for being smart, handsome and hardworking, but also for loving a party, so saddle up Sydney – this is going to be one wild Twilight Parade.”

The parade kicks off just after 8pm, starting at Sydney Town Hall and weaving its way through Chinatown before finishing with a fireworks display at Cockle Bay.

Crowds will also have the opportunity to get up close with some of the parade elements afterwards, with a special selection of floats on display at Darling Quarter afterwards.

Chinese New Year Twilight Parade 2014:
When: Sunday 2 February, 8pm
Where: Sydney Town Hall to Chinatown, followed by fireworks at Cockle Bay

The event is free, however limited ticketed seating is available. For more information, please visit sydneychinesenewyear.com

Phuket creating 3 coral reefs to attract marine tourism

Artificial coral reefs in Phuket are being created to attract tourists by divers. This 30 million baht project is being taken on unburden the tourists attraction from the main island to direct it towards the natural marine attraction of the Island.

New reefs will be created offshore from Sirinath National Park, off Racha Island and off Maithon Island. Clearing the natural reefs off the fishing debris creating artificial reefs and placing buoys in new spots for divers were this year’s three objectives felt Marine Biological Centre Director of Phuket, Thanet Mannoi.

The artificial reefs will be ideal for beginners and will attract fish and also help people to understand their environmental responsibilities, he added. Small fish would quickly start to discover the protection provided by the concrete blocks and be appealing to beginner divers.

There were already 120 buoys around the 37 islands off Phuket that need care and the aim was to put in more to prevent coral reefs being damaged by anchors. Experts such as Marine biologist Nalinee Thongtham is working with volunteers from the Missouri University to build artificial reefs in Phi Phi.

Sydney Opera House sails turn China Red

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell joined members of the Chinese-Australian community at a special lighting of the Sydney Opera House sails on Thursday as part of Lunar New Year celebrations.

Mr O’Farrell was joined by event sponsor Yuhu Group Chairman, Huang Xiangmo, Minister for Citizenship and Communities, Victor Dominello, and Oatley MP, Mark Coure, at the Overseas Passenger Terminal for the ceremony.

Mr O’Farrell and the Chinese Consul General, Li Huaxin, activated the lasers that turned the Opera House’s sails red to mark the start of the Year of the Horse.

“To see the sails of the Opera House bathed in ‘China red’ is an impressive sight against the backdrop of one of the world’s greatest harbours,” Mr O’Farrell said.

“Sydney plays host to the biggest Chinese New Year celebration outside of China and this has become an event the NSW community looks forward to each year.

“The warm and cooperative relationship between NSW and China is underpinned by significant contribution successive generations of Chinese migrants have made to Sydney and New South Wales.

“The NSW Government remains committed to increasing the trade, tourism and cultural relationships between NSW and China.

“China is our largest trading partner and is the State’s leading tourism market, with more tourists arriving in NSW from China than from any other country.

“2014 is the year of the Horse, which is said to be clever, powerful, and spirited. I hope we all embrace those qualities over the next 12 months.”

Mr Dominello said the people of NSW have benefited greatly from the cultural, economic, and philanthropic contributions of generations of Chinese Australians.

“NSW is home to 380,000 Chinese-Australians who are integral to our multicultural fabric, and I wish the Chinese community a safe and prosperous year ahead.

“The NSW Government would like to thank Yuhu Group for funding the event, which will see the Sydney Opera House bathed in China red over the next two nights.”

Photo: L-R: Chinese Consul General Li Huaxin and Premier O’Farrell.

Hilton Worldwide Pledges to ‘Open Doors’ for One Million Young People by 2019

At the 2014 World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting, Hilton Worldwide announced a global commitment that aims to impact at least one million young people by 2019 by helping them to reach their full potential. This new initiative will open doors for young people in three ways:

• Connecting them to the world of travel by enabling them to experience new cultures, contributing to the improvement of the sustainability of the industry and shaping their future with opportunities in Hilton Worldwide’s expansive supply chain;
• Preparingthem for success in the world of work, travel and beyond by supporting their basic needs and developing their life and professional skills with mentorships, apprenticeships and Hilton Worldwide’s innovative career awareness program, Careers@HiltonLive; and
• Employing them across all divisions of the business across more than 4,000 owned, managed and franchised hotels worldwide.

“We have been opening our doors to millions of guests for nearly a century. This pledge is a natural extension of our promise to create meaningful opportunities for the next generation of Team Members, guests and business partners,” said Christopher J. Nassetta, president and CEO, Hilton Worldwide.

Research shows that many young people face a grim socioeconomic reality. More than 74 million worldwide are unemployed and nearly 290 million – more than a quarter of our planet’s young people – are neither working nor studying. Travel and tourism is the world’s single largest employer, accounting for almost 10 percent of global employment, and it is expected to generate 73 million new jobs by 2022. But simply creating more jobs will not be enough to address the issue if young people are not equipped with the range of skills needed to succeed in today’s complex marketplace.

Hilton Worldwide will focus the majority of its corporate responsibility efforts on programs and partners that connect, prepare and employ young people around the world. From supporting young entrepreneurs by connecting them to training, certification and markets to preparing the next generation of hospitality leaders, Hilton Worldwide will work with a range of global and local partners to help one million young people over the next five years.

Last year, Hilton Worldwide issued an industry-wide call to action in collaboration with the International Youth Foundation (IYF) to help prevent a “lost generation” by building awareness and creating opportunities for young people in the hospitality industry. Changing perceptions of career opportunities in the travel and tourism industry is a key priority for Hilton Worldwide and the sector. A recent report by the World Travel & Tourism Council shows that lack of information, misjudgment and preconception are some of the biggest barriers preventing young people from connecting to careers in the industry. This, coupled with a talent gap, especially in the area of life and soft skills often make it challenging for the hospitality industry to find the right candidates to meet its needs.

“The talent gap is one of the most important issues facing businesses, governments and communities today, and it is a direct contributor to the youth unemployment rate,” continued Nassetta. “As one of the largest hospitality companies in the world, we are in a unique position to leverage our size, scale and expertise to close the gap and address this critical issue in a meaningful way. The success of our business depends on the success of the next generation.”

The commitment builds upon Travel with PurposeTM, Hilton Worldwide’s global corporate responsibility strategy to create shared value for our communities, business and environment in which we operate. It brings together a range of existing programs and company resources around the world that connect, prepare and engage young people including:

• Careers@HiltonLive, Youth in Hospitality Month: A month-long awareness campaign where hotels connect with young people via job fairs, career guidance talks, and job shadowing to learn about careers in hospitality. In 2013 hotels across Europe hosted over 320 events reaching more than 20,000 young people.
• Bright Blue Futures: The program, led by the company’s flagship brand Hilton Hotels & Resorts, encourages Team Members to donate their time and expertise to help young people achieve stability and bring hope to their communities, preparing them for a brighter future. The program launched last year at the World Economic Forum.
• Apprenticeship Programs: Widespread skills and training programs at properties across Europe and Asia including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Turkey, China and the UK.
• School Partnerships: Relationships with more than 50 hospitality schools and universities around the world to prepare the next generation of talent.
• Professional Development Programs: Comprehensive hands-on accelerated training programs that help train the next generation of hospitality leaders.
• Life and Soft Skills Trainings: Life skills training program leveraging IYF’s Passport to Success. To date, the company rolled out the training program in Saudi Arabia and South Africa and plans to launch a version globally in 2014.
• Teaching Kids to CARE: For more than a decade, DoubleTree by Hilton Team Members have connected young people to opportunities to learn about sustainability, encouraging them to be engaged global citizens.
• “One of the most impactful actions that a company can take is to develop a comprehensive commitment that is both widely accessible and scalable,” said William Reese, president and CEO, the International Youth Foundation. “This challenge of preparing young people for the workforce is one that no single industry or company can address – it requires cross-sector collaboration and strategic investments.”

Take A Heart-To-Heart This Valentine's Day

Heart Reef

Forget chocolate coated strawberries and heart-shaped balloons: Take a Heart to Heart with a breathtaking scenic flight over Heart Reef this Valentine's Day!

The natural heart-shaped coral formation is situated in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays.

Not only a perfect spot to celebrate your love for each other, a scenic flight over Heart Reef is also the perfect occasion to propose or re-declare your love.

Your heart will skip a beat at this breathtaking sight. Book your romantic adventure with GSL Aviation, Air Whitsundays or Hamilton Island Air.

Spoil yourself and book the Air Whitsundays Panorama Tour - fly over the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef, then stop on Air Whitsunday's private pontoon and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef (eye to eye with plenty of colourful corals and fishes) before you take off again on a flight over Heart Reef.

Last but not least, land on Whitehaven Beach and dip your toes into the white and soft silica sand whilst sipping on a glass of champagne.

Surely there is no better way to spend Valentine's Day!?

Five islands in Vietnam to be developed into youth islands by 2020

Five islands in Vietnam will be developed into youth islands by 2020 under a newly approved project, The islands are Tran Island (Co To district, northeast Quang Ninh province), Hon Chuoi Island (Tran Van Thoi district, southern Ca Mau province), Tho Chau Island (Phu Quoc district, southern Kien Giang province), Bach Long Vi Island (northern city of Hai Phong), and Con Co Island in central Quang Tri province.

The project will focus on building infrastructure, protecting ecological environment, developing the cultural, health and education sectors as well as ensuring defence and security on the islands.

Its aim is to encourage young people and families to act as pioneers to exploit the potential of Vietnam’s seas and islands and to build a sustainable household economy on the islands.

As district or commune-level administrative units, the islands will be built under the new-style rural model.

Name Change for Iconic Sydney Entertainment Centre

The iconic Sydney Entertainment Centre, which has hosted world-class events in the Harbour City for more than 30 years, has undergone an exciting name change.

Following in the footsteps of many major venues in Australia and around the world, the Sydney Entertainment Centre will now be known as ‘Qantas Credit Union Arena’.

The naming rights partnership comes as AEG Ogden, the leading venue management company in the Asia Pacific region assumed responsibility to operate the arena until the end of 2015.

Announcing details of the partnership, SEC General Manager, Steve Hevern said Qantas Credit Union had helped to ensure that there would be a major entertainment venue in the Sydney CBD for the majority of the time while the new International Convention Centre Sydney was under construction.

“Our business case for the Sydney Entertainment Centre remaining open for a further two years included the securing of sponsorship revenue. Qantas Credit Union has stepped up to the plate in being a major contributor to the financial viability of the Centre during the next two years,” he said.

Mr Hevern said both the venue and Qantas Credit Union were excited with the range of new marketing and promotional opportunities currently being developed.

“Qantas Credit Union represents excellence in the financial services industry. It is a brand that is very customer orientated and their strong customer service fits hand in glove with our philosophy in the entertainment business,” he said.

“In addition, they have a range of very attractive financial products we want to help promote to our large and diverse audiences.”

Mr Hevern said since May 1983, The Sydney Entertainment Centre had staged over 4000 events for more than 26 million fans.

“It currently ranks number four in the world in ticket sales for venues with between 10,000-15,000 seats.

“Over the years, it has become the spiritual home of music and entertainment in Sydney and it’s only appropriate that another uniquely Australian brand has come on board,” he said.