NEW ROAD ENTRY TO SYDNEY AIRPORT

Sydney Airport has opened a new road entry at T1 International to improve access to the precinct for traffic approaching from Marsh Street.

The changes enable motorists to bypass merging traffic on Departures and Arrivals roads and directly enter the precinct via Centre Road to access the express pick-up zone, the P9 open-air and the P7 multi-storey car parks.

The new entry is designed to smooth traffic flows and ease congestion during peak periods.

New road signage will direct motorists and guide them into the correct lanes for Departures, Arrivals, pick-up zones and car parks.

Staging Connections celebrates 15 years with SKYCITY

Staging Connections and SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre, one of New Zealand’s busiest convention centres, are delighted to announce their continued partnership, with Staging Connections to remain as their dedicated in-house AV supplier.

Staging Connections has worked collaboratively with SKYCITY for fifteen years, to deliver unforgettable experiences and creating engaging spaces using Asia Pacific’s largest range of event services including audio visual, multimedia production, and event technology.

Tim Morgan, General Manager Strategic Partnerships at Staging Connections commented on the success of the partnership.

“For fifteen years Staging Connections has worked closely with the SKYCITY team on exciting projects including Microsoft Ignite, Foodstuff and Chinese New Year parties. The strength of the partnership is measured by our length of tenure, with our team’s passion and expertise the cornerstones of our success. We are dedicated to continuing to deliver innovative solutions that will enhance our client’s customer experience.

“Our team in New Zealand excels in delivering the full breadth of event services, including total event management, audio visual solutions, set design, plus the latest in digital, webcasting and social media services.

“We are very proud of our longstanding relationship with SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre and are enthusiastic about our continued partnership with a number of major events and conferences at the venue already booked in for 2017 & 2018,” said Mr Morgan.

The exclusive contract is in recognition of Staging Connections varied experience and global reputation for successfully delivering engaging event solutions.

Warren Bias, Executive Manager Conventions SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre is thrilled to continue this long-standing relationship with Staging Connection and discussed the importance of continuity.

“We’re looking forward to continuing our successful partnership with Staging Connections, providing engaging event solutions and delivering high-quality services for every event.

“This partnership builds on SKYCITY’s commitment to delivering an enhanced customer experience whether a corporate meeting, gala function, or major conference, we’re confident in the services Staging Connections provides to our clients,” said Mr Bias.

Boasting world-class facilities and over 5000sqm of conference and event space, along with expert staff, SKYCITY is one of Auckland’s premier event destinations.

ARTEXPRESS AT THE ARMORY

NSW is home to some of Australia’s most-loved contemporary artists and the next big names may soon be discovered at an exciting new exhibition.

Presented at the Armory in Sydney Olympic Park, ARTEXPRESS is a free annual exhibition showcasing NSW visual art students’ works that have been created for the Higher School Certificate examination.

Assembled for the sixth consecutive year by respected curator Danielle Gullotta, the works featured in this year’s show are linked by the theme Wild Things.

“Wild Things presents a survey of artists that have found inspiration from the untamed wilderness, natural phenomenon, the animal world, human entangled relationships and the structures of contemporary society,” Ms Gullotta said.

The works span a broad range of expressive media forms including painting, photo-media, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, graphic design, documented forms, textiles, ceramics and time-based forms.

ARTEXPRESS is showing from Tuesday, 28 February to Tuesday, 25 April 2017, with free curator talks on 5 March and 23 April, and free kids’ workshops on 13 and 18 April.

For more information, visit sydneyolympicpark.com.au.

RANCHES & RODEOS

Cowboys are alive and well in Texas. So are the dreams of climbing into the saddle and riding off into the sunset like your childhood heroes. For an authentic cowboy experience, head out to one of the many guest and working dude ranches. Or take in a rodeo and watch the real deal do their best to stay in their saddles.

Horseback Riding

You don't have to be driving cattle to go horseback riding in Texas. In addition to the ranches, several state parks offer guided trail rides for all levels of experience. There's even horseback riding along some beaches. Whether or not you want to call out "Yippee–ki–yay" is up to you.

Stock Shows

Texas live stock shows and fairs are a great way to experience the sights, sounds – and spirit –of our long tradition of horse and cattle showmanship. It's also where you'll find many of our most popular rodeos.

Western History

Whenever you feel like taking a step back in time, you can pretty much turn left or right and find a museum, attraction or landmark illustrating our rich Old West heritage. You might even learn a couple of things too, partner. What do you know about chuck wagon cooking, cowboy poetry events and western music? Very little, you say? Well then, Texas is the place for you.

https://www.traveltexas.com/

CENTRAL NSW TOURISM PARTNERS WITH WOTIF

Mudgee

Central NSW Tourism has partnered with Destination NSW and Australia’s largest accommodation and airline booking site, Wotif.com, owned by Expedia Media, on a tactical advertising campaign to drive tourism to the region this Autumn.

The campaign, worth more than $100,000, is running over four weeks from 9 February 2017 and highlights accommodation operators, destination experiences and events.

The partnership will offer the region unmatched exposure in the accommodation booking space, as more people shop for travel on Expedia websites worldwide than any other online travel company.

To complement this activity, Central NSW Tourism has launched a social media competition to encourage people to share their favourite Central NSW experience or hidden gem, with the chance to win incredible travel packages. The competition will be promoted via Central NSW’s Facebook and Instagram @centralnswtourism.

The strategic partnership is co-funded by Central NSW Tourism and the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Central NSW Tourism, through Destination NSW, to deliver the next phase of the Unearth marketing campaign.

“This campaign will highlight the spectacular attractions – natural and man-made – that can be found across Central NSW. This region has so much on offer, from watching a race at the world-class track in Bathurst, to sampling the fantastic local produce from the wineries in Mudgee, to visiting the birthplace of Henry Lawson in Grenfell,” Mr Marshall said.

To view the campaign, visit www.wotif.com/g/pt/central-nsw-autumn.

RED BULL CRASHES INTO OTTAWA

For the first time, Canada’s capital city of Ottawa will host the Ice Cross Downhill World Series Season Finale on March 3-4, 2017.

All eyes will be on the final showdown as Red Bull Crashed Ice joins Ottawa 2017, a year of celebrations in honour of Canada's 150th year as a nation. 

Athletes from around the world will gather to compete on a brand new track where Canadian favourite Scott Croxall will be looking to reclaim his title on the top of the podium.

Destination Canada 1045 Howe Street Suite 800 Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada

Destination Canada 1045, rue Howe, bureau 800, Vancouver (Colombie-Britannique) V6Z 2A9, Canada

https://www.destinationcanada.com/en/

What’s New in the Whitsundays? Your quarterly update...

Restaurant earns Chef Hat

In a first for the Whitsunday mainland, the chefs at Walter’s Lounge have been awarded a Chef Hat by the Australian Good Food Guide for their exceptional cuisine. The restaurant, at the Port of Airlie, has only been open 18 months and owner Heath Bentley was overjoyed at the accolade. Qualia Resort on Hamilton Island is the only other restaurant in the Whitsundays with a Chef’s Hat. In fact, foodies have never had it so good in the Whitsundays with several new restaurants opening recently, including The Deck underneath the Heart Hotel and Gallery Whitsundays and the Treehouse, next to the Airlie Lagoon.

New properties

Heart Hotel and Gallery Whitsundays opened to much acclaim at the end of last year. Situated right in the heart of Airlie Beach, the hotel features thoughtfully decorated luxury rooms, complementary upper level club floor room and modern elegant suites with Airlie Beach or Coral Sea Views.

And one of the region's best-loved resorts, Club Croc, has been completely refurbished and has been re-branded as a Mantra hotel...watch this space!

New products

Long-term Whitsunday watersports operators Steve and Toni Ward launched their new tourism venture Island Jet Boating on Boxing Day. This exciting new product complements their existing tourism portfolio, which includes multi-award winning Whitsunday Jetski Tours and Daydream Island Watersports. It is “more than just a joy ride” with guests enjoying a one-hour thrilling jet boat ride as they journey through the beautiful Whitsunday Islands Marine Park and then another hour on Daydream Island.

Whitsunday Bullet is another new product, launched in January as part of the Explore Whitsundays portfolio. The 14-metre vessel is built to high-speed specifications with seat belts for the 42 passengers as they cruise at 25 knots. Featuring a covered roof for shade and a full-size toilet, the boat is also built for comfort as guests visit Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach and snorkel off Hayman or Hook Island.

Cruise Whitsundays, meanwhile, launched its ‘Seabob’ underwater jet in January as part of its Whitehaven Beach tours. The Seabob – the world’s most advanced propulsion vehicle - is safe, fun and easy to operate and is exclusive to Cruise Whitsundays, enhancing the experience for visitors both on and under the water.

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort is building one of Australia’s largest resort waterslide parks, with a choice of 13 different twisting and turning slides to take kids on a whole new adventure. Designed for young families, there will be a choice of slides with different speeds, heights and lengths, as well as a tipping bucket, water features for toddlers and a 300mm deep splash pool. The project is expected to be completed by April.

Daydream Island Resort Refurbishment

Daydream Island Resort & Spa’s owners China Capital Investment Group (CCIG) has announced a $50 million major redevelopment including accommodation refurbishments, renovations to existing attractions and installation of new features. The resort will close in early 2018 to ensure renovations can occur in the shortest possible time and with minimal disruptions.

Whitsunday Coast Airport $24.5 million upgrade

Whitsunday Regional Council has approved an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the design and construction of Whitsunday Coast Airport’s runway upgrade, designed to renew an aging asset and also cater for future growth. Council is currently in discussions with the State Government and the Queensland Treasury Corporation for co-funding opportunities.

MORE INFORMTION

Visit Tourism Whitsundays website for the latest deals and to download the Visitor Guide.

Or talk to one of our friendly team at the Whitsunday Region Information Centre for more information on accommodation, tours and great holiday packages!

Phone: +61 7 4945 3967
Email: info@tourismwhitsundays.com.au

First China-Myanmar Tourism Forum

Myanmar is holding its first tourism forum with China this week.

The inaugural China-Myanmar Tourism Cooperation Forum is taking place at the Myanmar International Convention Centre in Nay Pyi Taw from February 28 to March 4, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism said in a statement.

The ministry said the event, held jointly with the China National Tourism Association (CNTA), would boost the goodwill relationship and mutual understanding between both nations.

It is also hoped that the forum will provide the platform for tourism companies, hoteliers and airlines from both countries to discuss and address issues arising from bilateral tourism cooperation and private sector development, apart from promoting Myanmar tourism.

Full story at Myanmar Times.

Love aboriginal culture?

From the outback to the coast, discover wonderful Aboriginal cultural experiences. There are guided tours in spectacular World Heritage wilderness, ancient rock art in beautiful national parks, and bush tucker to savour and Dreamtime stories to hear. You will also enjoy exquisite art, dance and music.

ABORIGINAL CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

The ancestral stories of Aboriginal people explain their deep spiritual connection with the land, animals, sea and sky. On guided tours led by indigenous people and in art, dances and didgeridoo performances you’ll learn of the world’s oldest continuous culture and stories of the Dreamtime.

You can see rock art thousands of years old in spectacular national parks, follow ancient song lines on walking tracks, gain insights into bush medicine and savour bush tucker. You can even tour a World Heritage wilderness where the oldest site of ritual cremation in the world was discovered.

Regional art galleries curate significant indigenous collections, such as the Wollongong Art Gallery in Wollongong, the Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery in Lake Macquarie and the Moree Plains Gallery in Moree. You’ll find plenty of Aboriginal-run galleries and cultural centres selling authentic works.

The Aboriginal Blue Mountains Walkabout tour visits sacred sites in the spectacular World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains. At the Waradah Aboriginal Centre enjoy traditional dance and digeridoo, and admire works in the contemporary art gallery and browse the shop for hand-painted digeridoos.

In beautiful Country NSW are many wonderful experiences. Follow the Wagirra Trail for the Yindyamarra sculpture walk along the banks of the splendid Murry River in Albury-Wodonga. Harry Nanya Tours in Wentworth will take you into the World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park.

Bundyi Cultural Tours explore significant sites around Wagga Wagga. In the striking landscapes of Outback NSW, Mutawintji Eco Tours visits rock art in Mutawintji National Park and Brewarrina Aboriginal Fish Traps Guided Tour takes you to one of the world’s oldest man-made structures.

On the South Coast are marvellous experiences, such as an Aboriginal ranger tour in Booderee Botanic Gardens in Jervis Bay. In the Hunter region explore hand rock stencils with Ngurra Bu and on the North Coast enjoy Yarrawarra Aboriginal Culture Centre’s delicious bush tucker in Coffs Harbour.

Ca tru Ha Noi Festival 2017

The youngest singer
Nguyen Thuc Trinh at the festival

Ca tru Ha Noi Festival 2017 took place on 22 February at Van Phuc Village Cultural Centre in Ha Dong Dstrict.

The event was held by Ha Noi City’s Department of Culture and Sports to access professional activities of Ca tru clubs in the city and encourage young talents to exchange and improve singing skills and techniques.

It contributed to promoting the teaching of Ca tru in localities and introducing the art to people, preserving and promoting Ca tru arts in the city.

The event drew the participation of 30 singers from clubs in seven districts.

The eldest artisan is Nguyen Thi Khuou (91 years old) from Ca Tru Chanh Thon Club, Phu Xuyen District. While the youngest singer is Nguyen Thuc Trinh (8 years old) from Ca Tru Lo Khe Club, Dong Anh District.