Tuesday, 2 December 2014

Destination Queenstown partners with Tourism New Zealand to boost Summer Tourism

Destination Queenstown and Tourism New Zealand have partnered to deliver a marketing campaign that encourages more Australian's to visit New Zealand's leading four season resort over summer.

Tourism New Zealand and Destination Queenstown (DQ) will again undertake a joint marketing campaign to drive summer visitation to the region, showcasing the adventurous side of a Queenstown holiday.

The campaign, “Every day a different journey,” delivers a unique Queenstown summer story and is being rolled out in Sydney and Melbourne markets. The focus of the campaign is to attract more Australian visitors to the Queenstown region over the January to April 2015 period

DQ CEO Graham Budd said Destination Queenstown was excited to partner with Tourism New Zealand once again on a campaign to showcase the region as the ideal summer getaway and motivate more Australian visitors to discover Queenstown for themselves.

“Queenstown is a perfect summer getaway for Australians. With a year round beach culture at home, a mountain holiday in Queenstown offers something that seems a world apart yet is only a three hour flight from all main East Coast ports.

“Clear, dry mountain air, summer daytime temperatures in the mid to high 20s and long evenings mean it still feels like a real summer holiday amongst our mountains, lakes and rivers. Queenstown has the full spectrum of activities and attractions, from adrenaline pumping adventure like bungy jumping and jet boating through to more relaxed options like hiking and biking or hitting the wine and golf trails.

“The spectacular landscapes, amazing experiences and world class cosmopolitan town combined with great flight connectivity from Australia directly into Queenstown, make the region the ideal destination for a summer holiday,” says Mr Budd.

Tourism New Zealand's General Manager Australia Tony Saunders says the close proximity and ease of travel from Australia to Queenstown means Australians can be in a whole new world in less than three hours

"With more flights than ever between Australia and Queenstown, it's a great time to showcase the variety of experiences on offer in such a stunning location," says Mr Saunders.

“Australian's heading to Queenstown over summer can expect adventure, amazing food and wine, walking and cycle trails and direct flights. Located at a latitude of 45 degrees South, Queenstown days are long with twilight at around 10pm in mid-summer,” he added.

For more information visit www.queenstownNZ.co.nz and www.newzealand.com

Lifestyle and Culture - Latest News From Western Australia


Rooftop Movies brings the cool to Perth's sizzling summer 

Perth's much loved rooftop cinema has returned for another year. Rooftop Movies makes the most of the city's balmy summer nights by showcasing old-school gems, cinephile classics, cult and art house movies and blockbuster new releases, among a pop-up paradise - complete with astro turf, palm trees, pink flamingos and vintage caravans from which food and drinks are served. Run by the producers of Fringe World Festival in conjunction with City of Perth Parking, Rooftop Movies can be found on the top floor of the Roe Street carpark in Northbridge, which is just outside of Perth's central business district.
rooftopmovies.com.au

Black Swan State Theatre Company launches 2015 season 

WA's flagship theatre, Black Swan State Theatre Company, has released its 2015 program. The season embraces a mix of classics, comedies, exciting new Australian work, and a musical and family production. Highlights of the 2015 program include, five plays presented in the Heath Ledger Theatre; a highly anticipated rock musical Next To Normal starring music theatre performer Rachael Beck; and Tasma Walton returning to her home state to star in a stylish black satirical comedy Dinner by Moira Buffini.
bsstc.com.au

For more information about Western Australian, including events, visit westernaustralia.com.

Visit Santa Barbara Presents What's New Winter 2014

'Tis the season to visit Santa Barbara! Hit the road and enjoy a fabulous range of activities that appeal to travelers of every type. Captivating festive holiday activities, such as the Parade of Lights and Downtown Holiday Parade, are guaranteed to make everyone get into the holiday spirit. Additionally, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival along with other cultural exhibits offered this winter, allows oneself to become immersed in the local arts and culture scene. Finally, food lovers rejoice as they will not leave hungry or disappointed after experiencing the wonders of our annual Film Feast. This list below is a collection of the top 15 recommended activities while visiting Santa Barbara this winter.

  • Every year, restaurants and hotels team up for Film Feast to provide our film festival visitors the culinary experience of a lifetime. For twelve days straight (January 27-February 7), your taste buds are delighted with specialty food and the best pours you'll ever try. Enjoy Santa Barbara's local flavors, try innovative plates and get exclusive lodging packages. SBFilmFeast.com 
  • The newly opened Barbareño restaurant has been making waves with its unique style of cooking. This California-style bistro captures Santa Barbara's essence by creating dishes unique to the region. Barbareño's young chefs seek to celebrate the Central Coast through their cuisine and utilize local sources like the “pinquito beans,” which are exclusively grown along California's Central Coast. Barbareno.com
  • The Santa Barbara International Film Festival, one of the biggest and most anticipated events of the year, celebrates its 30thAnniversary January 27 – February 7, 2015. Hosting more than 85,000 attendees, film industry professionals and special guests, SBIFF promotes film as an art form through various events and showcases over 200 independent films in Santa Barbara's historic theaters. SBIFF.org
  • Lotusland, a hidden gem in the mountains of Montecito, comes back strong from winter break on February 18th to build their new exhibition “FLOCK: Birds on the Brink.” Thirty international artists promise to intrigue and shock visitors as they transform the gardens of Lotusland into a provocative exhibit that portrays the global loss of wild bird populations. Enjoy this exciting exhibit February 28 to May 23. Lotusland.org
  • Located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, the new Wine Collection of El Paseo showcases six premium tasting rooms that offer a variety of locally-crafted distinctive wines. If you appreciate a good wine experience and want to learn about Santa Barbara County's wine production, the Wine Collection of El Paseo is your next destination. Facebook.com/WineCollectionofElPaseo
  • Experience a magical night as you watch how the coastline of Santa Barbara is lit up by a boat parade adorned with thousands of lights and festive Christmas decorations. The annual Parade of Lights is on Sunday, December 14th where you'll enjoy holiday festivities like the tree lighting ceremony and a fireworks show you don't want to miss. SantaBarbaraCA.gov/ParadeOfLights
  • Santa Barbara welcomes the holiday season with its annual Downtown Holiday Parade on Friday, December 5th. Laughter and joy will reign State St. as our favorite holiday floats, marching bands, local personalities and performance groups meet over 50,000 spectators. Alan Thicke is the Grand Marshall of this year's parade, themed “Winter Nights and Holiday Lights.” Downtownsb.org
  • Things are getting wild at Santa Barbara Zoo as they welcome the second giant anteater born in 2014! The recently born male pups are the first born at the Zoo since 2006, making this a unique and special event. The Santa Barbara Zoo is home to 146 different species of animals and insects, stop by and meet their newest member! Who by the way, is also available for naming by making a donation. SBZoo.org
  • From February – May 2015, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art is the only West Coast venue to feature the world-renowned exhibit “Botticelli, Titian and Beyond: Masterpieces of Italian Painting from Glasgow Museums.” The one-of-a-kind exhibit, from Gasglow Museums' Italian holdings, showcases the evolution of Italian Art with works from Renaissance and Baroque masters. SBMuseumofArt.org
  • Take part in an incredible spectacle and get up close with the thousands of beautiful Monarch Butterflies that migrate to Santa Barbara every year. Visit the Goleta Monarch Butterfly Grove from mid-November to mid-February and enjoy an amazing sight as you witness how these orange-and-black insects flutter around the eucalyptus trees right above your head! GoletaButterflyGrove.com
  • The 1920's and 1930's come roaring back this December 5th as Santa Barbara gets ready to celebrate Repeal Day! Join us in remembering the end of prohibition and enjoy an evening of classic costumes and cocktails in eight of the finest bars in downtown Santa Barbara. Revelers in vintage costumes get special offers at all participating bars. RepealDaySB.com
  • Feeling adventurous this holiday season? Invite your friends and family to the perfect holiday getaway at Cachuma Lake! Take a nature walk and explore the scenic Oak Woodland trail, come aboard an Eagle Cruise that takes you into a journey to discover the seasonal and local wildlife or test your luck and spend a relaxing day fishing on the lake until the winter sunset colors the sky. SBParks.org
  • After a voluntary effort to “go green,” the beautiful Ramada Santa Barbarahotel is now the first to receive the prestigious “Green Business Certification” in the Santa Barbara and Goleta area. Stay at the award-winning hotel, Ramada Santa Barbara to enjoy their year-round solar heated swimming pool and find out what else they are doing to stay green! SBRamada.com 
  • Ever tried a Madeleine with a “bump”? Santa Barbara's new bakery Mademoiselle Madeleine, established by two French national visionaries, brings this delicious delicacy with their signature “bump” to The American Riviera®. Try their high-quality pastries in seven different flavors, now available in many local specialty stores. This authentic handmade treat will melt in your mouth! Mlle-madeleine.com
  • The Ensemble Theatre Company (ETC), one of Santa Barbara's cultural hubs within the Historic Theater District, presents five exciting theatrical productions during their 2014-2015 season. The inspiring stories of Amadeus, The Best Brothers, Intimate Apparel, Woyzeck and Venus in Fur will amuse you through music, theater and dance. Join the cast for a post-performance party on opening nights! EnsembleTheatre.com


SANTA BARBARA

Featured on the cover of Travel + Leisure in May 2013 and voted Best Getaway by L.A. Times Readers' Choice Awards in 2012, Santa Barbara is located just 92 miles north of Los Angeles and 332 miles south of San Francisco, on the Pacific coastline. Visitors can arrive via scenic Highway 101, train, bus or by flying into Santa Barbara Municipal Airport or Los Angeles International Airport. For travel and accommodation information and to request a free copy of the official Santa Barbara County Visitors Magazine, contact Visit Santa Barbara at 800.676.1266, 805.966.9222, tourism@santabarbaraca.com or SantaBarbaraCA.com. Visitor information is also available at the Visitor Center, 1 Garden Street (at Cabrillo Boulevard).

ARIA AWARDS AND ARIA WEEK SECURED FOR SYDNEY UNTIL 2017

The Australian music industry gathered for the prestigious ARIA Awards at The Star earlier this week where it was announced both the Awards and ARIA Week will be held exclusively in Sydney for another three years until 2017 with support from the NSW Government.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Troy Grant said, “This funding ensures Australia’s pinnacle music industry events remain in Sydney, the nation’s live performance capital and the creative services hub of the Asia Pacific region.

“The ARIA Awards and ARIA Week showcase our Harbour City and its world class performance venues internationally, attracting visitation from across Australia and the world and providing a significant boost to the State’s visitor economy,” he said.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said the Awards round out an outstanding program of music events, conferences, industry master classes and forums as part of ARIA Week.

“ARIA Week is a fantastic initiative developed by ARIA in collaboration with Destination NSW that builds on the strong reputation of the ARIA Awards and Sydney’s music industry. It includes high profile events such as the Electronic Music Conference, the Asia Pacific’s premier dance music industry event, which is also supported by Destination NSW,” Ms Chipchase said.

“ARIA Week and the ARIA Awards encourage visitors to come to Sydney to enjoy a week of musical celebrations and take in Sydney’s attractions, and world-class shopping and dining while they are here.

“I am delighted Destination NSW will continue to work with ARIA over the next three years to further build the ARIA Week program, and partner in presenting the music industry’s night of nights, the ARIA Awards,” she said.

Monday, 1 December 2014

Can Tho to host Mekong Delta Green Tourism Week

The Mekong Delta Green Tourism Week will take place in Can Tho city on April 26-28, 2015, according to the Steering Committee for the Southwestern Region.

To be co-organised by the committee and the Can Tho People’s Committee, the week will feature a series of conferences and seminars focusing on promoting the region’s tourism potential, boosting investment in green tourism, and seeking solutions to regional collaboration in the field.

The programme is expected to contribute to the strong development of the Mekong Delta tourism in the time to come, said the committee’s deputy head, Nguyen Phong Quang.

It will see the participation of several Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries such as Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar, he added.

Located between Tien and Hau rivers, the Mekong Delta, comprising Can Tho city and 12 provinces with a population of 18 million, boasts a huge potential for tourism development.

In the first five months of this year, the region welcomed nearly 11 million visitors, an 8.9 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Of them, more than 800,000 were foreigners, according to the Mekong Delta Tourism Association.

South Australia to host new women’s cycling tour

Australia’s top female cyclists will feature in a new four-day event as part of the 2015 Santos Tour Down Under.

The Santos Women’s Tour will be held from January 17 to 20, as part of Cycling Australia’s Subaru National Road Series.

Tourism Minister Leon Bignell said elite female cyclists from around Australia would converge on Adelaide for the new event.

“This is shaping up as one of the largest national female cycling events of its type, and we’re delighted it’s going to be in Adelaide in January as part of the Santos Tour Down Under,” he said.

“The three-stage Santos Women’s Cup has been a great success since it started in 2011, and this new four-stage race is sure to provide exciting racing for cycling fans.”

The Santos Women’s Tour will begin with a road race through the Adelaide Hills to Murray Bridge, followed by a criterium around Rymill Park in the city.

Stage three will travel from Tanunda to Campbelltown, with another criterium around Victoria Park to take place on the final day.

“Riders will be competing through South Australia’s beautiful landscapes and welcoming towns, and vying for overall victory in the heart of Adelaide,” said the Minister.

Two teams – Orica AIS and a composite Australian team – will be offered wild card entries into the event, which is also open to elite individual riders. $10,000 in prize money will be available.

Santos Tour Down Under Race Director Mike Turtur said women’s racing was an important part of the Santos Festival of Cycling.

“We’re thrilled to see the Santos Women’s Tour included in Cycling Australia’s Subaru National Road Series and know there will be fierce competition for the inaugural title in January,” he said.

Fiji Airways Launches WELCOME TO OUR HOME

Fiji Airways, Fiji's National Airline, has launched its new brand campaign designed to showcase the warm nature of Fijian hospitality. Called WELCOME TO OUR HOME, it captures the unique Fijian experience travellers have on-board Fiji Airways, and by extension, in Fiji. This being a very personal, human experience, the familiarity of home, where visitors are treated as extended family, not tourists.

Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO Stefan Pichler said: “Treating visitors like family is an inherent quality of Fijians. Our people at Fiji Airways naturally extend this same courtesy to all our guests on board. They are far more than just a seat number, they are part of our extended Fijian family.”

The campaign has been launched through a series of videos featuring three real families who recently travelled to and from Fiji needing a much-deserved home-away-from-home experience of a lifetime. They were nominated by friends and family back in September.

A once tight-knit family from the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, the Monahan siblings were given the opportunity to reunite after losing their mother and splitting into different homes. Their trip sees them become a single unit honouring their mother's last wishes, and experiencing their first overseas family holiday.

The McConnells are a hardworking dairy family from Hamilton, New Zealand who have had little time to get away on a family holiday because of the demands of running a family farm with 850 cattle.

Elenoa, a Fijian widow from Laucala Beach, Fiji, boarded a plane for the very first time, and ventured to New Zealand to unite with family she had not seen for years.

Their stories are available on ourhome.fijiairways.com

Mr. Pichler added: “Following our successful relaunch to Fiji Airways last year, we have revamped our marketing approach and have now included more of Fiji's people in the way we market our company and the country overseas. As the national carrier, we want to show off what makes Fiji so special and unique as an experience. This brand position resonates well with the Fijian people because they live this experience every day.

“This also better aligns us with our aim of becoming a leading boutique airline which has a unique, personal touch.”

Stay up to date with the latest news, announcements and offers from Fiji Airways:
Twitter: @FijiAirways
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fijiairways
Instagram: @Fly_FijiAirways
#WelcomeToOurHome

What Is Hot - Latest News From Western Australia

Imbruglia shines in WA's South West

London-based singer and actress, Natalie Imbruglia, recently took time away from her busy schedule to visit WA and experience the best of Australia's South West. Natalie and her sister Michelle, made the most of their stay in the Margaret River region, which involved whale watching off the coast of Dunsborough, rock-climbing in Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park, canoeing down the Margaret River and indulging in local gourmet delights at highly regarded restaurant, Cape Lodge. Natalie is the ambassador for Kailis Jewellery (who recently celebrated its 40th anniversary with the launch of its Enlightenment collection), and is currently finalising her fifth studio album and preparing to launch her own skincare line. Check out Natalie's WA photos by visiting her Facebook page, facebook.com/natalieimbruglia

Perth International Arts Festival 2015 - a cultural feast for art lovers 

More than 1,000 artists from across the world will visit Perth this summer as part of the 63rd Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF), set to attract in excess of one million people. The recently launched PIAF 2015 program delivers a cultural feast for art lovers of all ages, living up to the Festival's worldwide reputation for excellence. The 2015 Festival will open with Royal de Luxe's The Incredible and Phenomenal Journey of the Giants to the Streets of Perth - the biggest arts event WA has ever seen. For three days over the opening weekend, the French masters of theatre reveal a modern-day fable set to transform Perth, as 11 metre tall giants take inspiration from uniquely WA stories commemorating the Anzac centenary. Another Festival highlight is an Australian exclusive of the English National Opera's production of Anthony Minghella's award-winning Madama Butterfly - an iconic love story by the famous Giacomo Puccini. PIAF was founded in 1953 by the University of Western Australia and has developed a worldwide reputation for excellence in its international program and audience experiences.
2015.perthfestival.com.au

WA winemaker up for international award

Vasse Felix Chief Winemaker, Virginia Willcock has been nominated 'Winemaker of the Year' in the Wine Enthusiast Magazine USA's 2014 Wine Star Awards. Each year, editors of Wine Enthusiast Magazine honour individuals and companies who have made outstanding achievements in the wine and beverage world. Willcock is one of five international nominees for the coveted award, and the only representative from Australia. She has been praised by the magazine for her critically acclaimed wines and elevating Vasse Felix, and the Margaret River region to new heights. The winners will be announced in the special December Wine Star Awards issue, and the honorees will be presented their Wine Star Award trophies at a gala black-tie dinner in New York City on January 26, 2015.
winemag.com

For more information about Western Australian, including events, visit westernaustralia.com.

Set Jet, Go: England's 2015 Hot Releases

Blenheim Palace
From Far from the Madding Crowd in Dorset to Frankenstein in Manchester,England will be one big, beautiful movie set next year, and once again crowds will flock to see where their favourite films were shot.

VisitEngland's Chief Executive, James Berresford says: “Our research shows that 40% of tourists want to visit locations they've seen on the big and small screen, so we know there is a huge appetite for 'set-jetting'.”

VisitEngland has teamed up with Creative England to select some of the biggest films to grace our screens in 2015, revealing to film buffs exactly where the action was shot.

INTO THE WOODS

9 January 2015
Set for release in January, the film adaptation of the eponymous Broadway musicalInto the Woods features an all-star cast including Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Anna Kendrick and Johnny Depp. Showing off a number of quintessentially English locations, the soon-to-be Disney hit was shot at Dover Castle in Kent, Waverley Abbey and Virginia Water in Surrey, the Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire, Hambleden Village and Hambleden Barn in Buckinghamshire. The film follows the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel-all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife, their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch who has put a curse on them.

CINDERELLA

27 March
This live-action feature is inspired by the classic fairy tale Cinderella and brings to life the timeless images from Disney's 1950 animated masterpiece. English locations including the grand bridge at Blenheim Palace, Black Park in Iver Heath and the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich all help to set the scene for this childhood favourite. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, the film stars Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden and Helena Bonham-Carter and will be released as the clock strikes midnight on 27 March.

A LITTLE CHAOS

April 2015
Starring Kate Winslet, Stanley Tucci and Alan Rickman, A Little Chaos is set to grace our screens in April next year. The story centres on a female landscape-gardener who is awarded the esteemed assignment to construct the grand gardens at Versailles, a gilt-edged position which thrusts her to the very centre of the court of King Louis XIV. But the 18th century French palace and grand houses were actually shot in England at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, the Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire and Cliveden House in Berkshire. Some of the cast stayed at the Grade I listed, luxury hotel and grand stately home, Cliveden House, during filming. With a garden central to the story, the production also needed some versatile outdoor space and found most of what they were looking for in Black Park, a country park next door to Pinewood Studios, which covers over 500 acres of woodland, heathland and grassland.

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD

May 2015
A new adaptation of Thomas Hardy's 1874 novel Far from the Madding Crowd will be released in May. The film stars Carey Mulligan and Michael Sheen, with screen play by David Nicholls. Filmed predominantly in and around Hardy Country in Dorset; Mapperton House, Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, Sherborne, Eype, Purse Caundle, West Bay, Beaminster and National Trust property Cogden Beach all play a part. Few authors have such strong associations with their local area as Thomas Hardy, and today you can explore two of the writer's houses – his childhood home and Max Gate, the property Hardy designed himself and moved into with Emma after his marriage.National Trust property, Claydon House in Buckinghamshire, also features in the film, doubling up as Boldwood.

FRANKENSTEIN

2 October 2015

Old Royal Naval College
Based on Mary Shelley's 1818 novel of the same name, the latest adaptation is set to be released in October and will feature an all-star cast. Daniel Radcliffe will star as hunchback Igor, whilst James McAvoy will portray Victor von Frankenstein. Filming locations included Manchester Town Hall, Chatham Historic Dockyard, the Old Royal Naval College, including King Charles Court, and the bank of the river Thames in Greenwich.

VisitEngland

• VisitEngland is the country's national tourist board. We work in partnership with the industry to develop the visitor experience across England, plan national tourism strategy, grow the value of tourism in England and provide advocacy for the industry and our visitors.

England

• Historic yet contemporary, traditional yet cutting-edge, metropolitan yet wild: England is truly a unique destination and a real powerhouse in global tourism.

• With ancient Hadrian's Wall straddling the wild north and the world's biggest indoor tropical rainforest nestled in the far south, England really is the ultimate mix of old and new as well as being home to some of the most iconic sites in the world, including Stonehenge, the honey-hued Georgian terraces of Bath and the towering peaks and glistening meres of the Lake District.

More information can be found on www.visitengland.com andwww.visitengland.org.

Creative England

Creative England's Production Services team provide a free film office service to productions filming in England, outside London, to create investment, jobs and profile. From locations and studios to facilities and crew, the team help to find and access the industry's finest, liaising with local authorities, film offices, regional and national partners to gain filming permissions and facilitate a smooth shoot.

Cliveden Fountain
Creative England invests in and supports creative ideas, talent and businesses in film, TV, games and digital media. We aim to grow the brightest, the best, and those with the most promise so that individuals and businesses can achieve their full creative and commercial potential. We help identify future opportunities to grow the economy and generate jobs.

www.creativeengland.co.uk

INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE CELEBRATED AT THE 25TH NSW TOURISM AWARDS

A gala ceremony was held last Friday night to celebrate 25 years of the NSW Tourism Awards, showcasing excellence in the State’s tourism industry.

It was a spectacular night with Sydney’s Taronga Zoo named Major Tourist Attraction and Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo (pictured) awarded Gold in the Tourism Attractions and Unique Accommodation categories.

Other winners on the evening included:
  • Tamworth Country Music Festival - Major Festivals and Events
  • Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour Madama Butterfly - Festivals and Events
  • TriState Safari’s / Mutawintji Eco Tours – Indigenous Tourism
  • Life’s an Adventure – Ecotourism, Adventure Tourism and Tour and/or Transport Operators.

The NSW Tourism Awards, are made up of 32 categories, including attractions, festivals, events, ecotourism, tour and transport operators, marketing and accommodation and outstanding contribution from individuals.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer, Sandra Chipchase said: “Destination NSW is proud to support the NSW Tourism Awards, which recognise the drive and enthusiasm of our tourism industry whose efforts are ensuring that NSW remains the most visited state in Australia.”

For a full list of winners, please visit the NSW Tourism Awards website at:nswtourismawards.com.au