Inviting the world to Sydney

Business Events Sydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith. Photo: Supplied

• Business Events Sydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith outlines why the future is bright for Sydney as a global events destination.

For more than 30 years, Business Events Sydney has been a trusted, independent, not-for-profit company that targets and bids for hosting rights for global meetings to be held in the NSW capital. The organisation’s CEO, Lyn Lewis-Smith, outlines what is in store for the year ahead.

What are your clients seeking in 2024?

Our customers want to know where we stand on sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion, and how we deliver corporate social responsibility outcomes. Customers are seeking values alignment, a deeper cultural connection, and a more immersive experience in the destination when they get here.

This is Sydney’s, and Australia’s, strength, as the city demonstrated by hosting the most welcoming, inclusive, accessible and sustainable WorldPride festival and Human Rights Conference in 2023, which delivered incredible social impact outcomes.

We have noticed as various global markets have emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, associations are looking for destinations that can tangibly demonstrate how hosting a meeting can benefit them and their members as much as it does the hosts.

What is the Change Starts Here agenda BESydney launched in 2023?

Seeing global trends such as sustainability, DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) and ESG/CSR (environmental, social and corporate governance/corporate social responsibility) and knowing this is something our venues, industry and PCOs do very well, we felt this provided a great opportunity to tell our unique Sydney story of being one of the most diverse, accessible, inclusive and sustainable meeting destinations on the planet.

Our social impact project started during the pandemic as a response to these trends. It is designed to leverage the business events we attract to Sydney as a platform to generate and measure positive, long-term social, economic and environmental impacts as a host destination.

Having been leaders in legacy research for the past decade, BESydney has taken the next step in formalising processes, with education and tools to more accountably define and measure these legacies and impacts. We’ve even appointed a new social impact manager to coordinate our efforts with stakeholders and the industry.

We are proud BESydney won the GDS-Movement and #MEEET4IMPACT Impact Award for destination management organisations which are committed to legacy and impact through business events. It is recognition we are heading in the right direction.

Which industries are events coming from and what does Sydney have that attracts them?

Sydney has seen the development and evolution of many innovation precincts: Tech Central for technology and innovation, Westmead Health and Innovation Precinct for health and life sciences, and Barangaroo for finance and professional services. In each of these precincts, corporations and startups are united in purpose.

The NSW Government is using the same lens to attract global talent and foreign direct investment to these precincts as we are using to attract international business events and widen the pool of delegates who wish to attend meetings here.

Together, these factors are a force to be reckoned with, and the people working and contributing to breakthroughs in medicine, science, innovation and tech are inspiring. These concentrated districts are drawcards for event site tours and unprecedented collaboration between business, education, government and research, which leads to commercialisation and manufacturing.

We want professional communities globally to experience this incredible city, get to know our people and discover their shared purpose.

* This story appears in the Autumn issue of Spice, as part of their annual Hot Seat feature, which shines a spotlight on the MICE industry’s movers and shakers, and outlines what’s in store for the next 12 months.

A Stay at Coliwoo Hotel Gay World, Your Premier Choice for Hotel Apartments in Singapore

Coliwoo Hotel Gay World

When I was recently in Singapore, I had the pleasure of staying at a co-living hotel called Coliwoo Hotel Gay World. I had not stayed there before, and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was.

I had just flown in from Australia and was looking for somewhere to stay the night before I flew into Thailand the next day. There is a multitude of internationally famous hotel brands to choose from but rather than a towering multi-room hotel, I was looking for a smaller and more intimate style hotel apartment in Singapore that was easily accessible. That is when I learnt about Coliwoo Hotel Gay World.

I left Changi Airport by train and just changed trains once to get to Coliwoo Hotel Gay World. This change of trains was just a simple matter of getting off the first train and walking to the other side of the platform to board the next train. It was then only a few stations down the line to reach the Kallang Station where I got off. I had only a short walk of 5 minutes to reach Coliwoo Hotel Gay World located on Geylang Road.

The hotel blends in with the streetscape of shops and has the outward appearance of the other shops along the road. It is an upscale co-living hotel for both short-term and long-term visitors.

Access to my room was convenient with the unique key card system they had in place. I was previously given a code to enter the front door, and another code to unlock my room key holder near the lift. I used the code and took my room key out, went up the lift and used it to enter my room.

Coliwoo Hotel Gay World

My fully furnished unit was perfect. It was not overly huge, just the right size for me. The queen bed was very comfortable to sleep on and had crisp white sheets and comfortable pillows. A smart TV was positioned so that I could view it while lying in bed. Apart from TV stations, it also had YouTube to view.

The kitchen part of the unit had a bench hotplate, sink and jug. I did not use the hotplate as I ate out, but used the jug to make cups of tea for myself.

The bathroom had a vanity, mirror and walk-in shower with plenty of hot and cold water.

The room was well-lit, with the appearance of a skylight in the ceiling as well as spotlights. At night, the room was nice and dark for a good night’s sleep. The room was very quiet, with no outside traffic noises to be heard all night.

There are four different room types at Coliwoo Hotel Gay World - Manhattan Queen Studio, Duplex Queen Studio, Vintage Queen Studio, and Classic Queen Studio.

That evening, I walked along the road where the Coliwoo Hotel Gay World was located, enjoying wandering past the many cafes, restaurants, market stalls and local supermarkets. To add to the variety, there were also some hardware stores to explore.

The next morning, I walked about 15 minutes to the Aperia shopping mall and had breakfast at McDonald’s. There is a supermarket, gift stores, cafes and restaurants in this modern mall. I then walked back to the shops surrounding Coliwoo Hotel Gay World and explored them in daylight.

It was then time to say goodbye to Coliwoo Hotel Gay World and I boarded the train back to Changi Airport.

The Coliwoo Hotel Gay World is a co-living hotel ideally located away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but access is easy by bus and train, or even walking. Nearby are the Kallang River and Kallang Riverside Park, Kallang Wave Mall, National Stadium and Singapore Sports Hub and Bugis and Leisure Park Kallang.

If you are looking for similar co-living hotels in Singapore, the Coliwoo Hotel Pasir Panjang is another excellent option to consider. With its convenient location close to several business parks, industrial estates, and renowned universities, as well as modern amenities, it is what you need for a comfortable and memorable stay.

Get in touch with Coliwoo to find out more.

Coliwoo Hotel Gay World

Address: 115 Geylang Road Singapore 389218
Phone: +65 9790 8585
Email: enquiry@coliwoo.com
Website: https://coliwoo.com/hotel-apartment-rental/gay-world/

Summer specials lined up at InterContinental Bangkok

As the summer sun shines and the city heats up, head to InterContinental Bangkok where a schedule of sunny day specials is lined up. From Khao Chae to summer smoothies and Songkran celebrations we are ready for good times for all in the centre of the city.

Khao Chae at Balcony Lounge

Savour the taste of tradition with Khao Chae, a royal court dish at the serene setting of Balcony Lounge. Guests can enjoy this cool, refreshing jasmine rice in fragrant chilled water, served with contrasting savoury condiments including stuffed shallots with fish, shredded sweetened pork, and deep-fried shrimp paste ball.

Available from 1st to 30th April, 2024, this refreshing classic Thai delicacy is being served daily at Balcony Lounge from 11.00 to 17.00 hours. Priced at THB 460++ per set.

Summer Smoothies at Butter

From April 1st to May 31st, 2024, Butter has a choice of summer smoothies that will cool you down and revitalise you with their wholesome, fresh ingredients. Served from 08.00 to 19.00 hours, indulge in a burst of flavour starting from THB 220 net per glass.

Songkran Celebration Splash

During the holiday, from April 12th to April 21st, add an extra splash of Songkran excitement with cocktails and mocktails specially crafted to evoke the spirit of the traditional Thai New Year, available at various times throughout the day at InterContinental Bangkok.

Cocktails are priced from THB 390++ and mocktails are priced from THB 250++. Available at Espresso from 06.00 to 22.30 hours, Summer Palace from 11.30 to 14.30 hours and 18.00 to 22.30 hours, and Balcony Lounge from 08.00 to 24.00 hours. SoCal has its own special listing of creatively crafted cocktails, serving them up with Californian pizzazz from 11.30 to 23.00 hours.

Indulge in Rum Songkran, a delightful cocktail artfully crafted with the finest Kosapan rum, coconut juice, a splash of fresh lime juice, harmonised with the rich flavours of Thai tea syrup, pandan syrup and Thai rose syrup. For those seeking a non-alcohol alternative the signature mocktail is the Malai with watermelon juice, exotic dragon fruit syrup, fragrant jasmine syrup and lime juice, all gracefully complemented by the essence of coconut water.

For reservations and inquiries, please contact InterContinental Bangkok at dining.bkkhb@ihg.com or by calling +66 (0) 2 656 0444.

For more information, please visit intercontinental.com/bangkok.

SYDNEY SPIRITS FESTIVAL ADDS EXCLUSIVE RUM AND ESPRESSO MARTINI MASTERCLASSES

The inaugural Sydney Spirits Festival, Australia's landmark event in the world of spirits, arrives with a splash from 10-12 May 2024 at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Sydney Cove. Alongside an expansive showcase of over 148 spirit brands, the festival is set to captivate attendees with two new masterclasses: an exclusive delve into the world of Planteray Sealander Rum and a celebratory Espresso Martini masterclass on Mother’s Day.

Discover the pioneering Planteray Sealander Rum in a masterclass hosted by the esteemed Grazia di Franco, where attendees will explore the unique characteristics of rums from Barbados, Mauritius, and Fiji. In a festive twist, the Espresso Martini masterclass, presented by Kendor Distillery, offers a creative journey through coffee and cocktail craft, perfectly timed for Mother’s Day celebrations.

The Sydney Spirits Festival is more than just masterclasses; it’s a comprehensive celebration of the spirit industry’s finest. With over 148 brands featuring whisk(e)y, gin, rum, and beyond, the festival is a playground for the senses.

Attendees will have the unique opportunity to meet and learn from spirits industry luminaries such as Tasmanian whisky legend Bill Lark and bourbon expert Gee David from Buffalo Trace Distillery. These sessions, alongside others led by distinguished figures like Mikey Enright of Hickson House and the innovative team behind Ester Spirits, will offer deep dives into the craft and culture of spirit-making.

The festival isn’t just a spirits paradise; it’s a gastronomic journey. Sample a selection of international cuisines like succulent Japanese sushi, authentic Italian pasta, artisanal French cheeses, and spicy Mexican street food. There’s even HUGO Vodka tastings with a Caviar Bump on offer for every bottle purchased.

Each festival day is packed with opportunities to explore, from tasting sessions to interactive masterclasses. These exclusive learning experiences with industry experts offer attendees a deeper understanding of the spirits world, enhancing the festival's vibrant tapestry of tastes and tales.

As the festival approaches, excitement builds for these unique masterclasses and the broader spectrum of activities. Secure your spot in the heart of Sydney’s spirits scene by visiting www.sydneyspiritsfestival.com for tickets and more information.

General Tasting Sessions are priced at $80 per person, with an extra 30 minutes on Friday.

Premium Any Session tickets are available for $120.

Session Schedule:
Friday, 10 May: 5.30pm - 9pm
Saturday, 11 May: 10am - 1pm / 2pm - 5pm / 6pm - 9pm
Sunday, 12 May: 11am - 2pm

For more details and to purchase tickets, visit www.sydneyspiritsfestival.com/

Countdown on for TIGC24

This is Gold Coast is celebrating 10 years this July with event planners, hosted buyers and conference organisers heading to the city for the annual event.

This is Gold Coast 2024 (TIGC24) will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year as planners and buyers head to the city for multi-day programs.

Over either a three-day or four-day program, hosted buyers will have the opportunity to meet with the Gold Coast’s tourism and experience partners alongside business events experts.

Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn says the business events sector is a vital part of the Gold Coast’s weekday visitor economy.

“Over 10 years, This is Gold Coast has connected hundreds of conference and event organisers and key decision makers with the city’s most inspiring venues, extensive range of accommodation and unique once in a lifetime experiences,” he says.

“Last year this event generated more than $59 million in business event leads, which is a testament to our team, our tourism partners and our city’s business event offerings.”

Experience Gold Coast head of business events Brooke Campbell says the annual event is a cornerstone of the business events sector.

“The Gold Coast is continuing to invest in business events infrastructure, we are growing a reputation as one of the most accessible and inclusive cities in Australia, and we are working towards greater sustainability within the events industry,” she says.

“TIGC24 presents an exciting opportunity to showcase the city’s wealth of business event products, surrounded by incredible natural landscapes and world-class experiences that will stimulate the imagination, growth and development of their delegates.”

About 70 event professionals from Australia and New Zealand will meet at various venues, including Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on 22-25 July, 2024.

ATM's sold-out Travel Tech area sees 56% YoY growth; global travel technology market projected to reach $21 billion by 2032

• 
  ATM 2024 to host more than 100 Travel Tech exhibitors from 6-9 May at DWTC
• Sponsored by Sabre, the ATM Future Stage – formerly the Travel Tech Stage – will feature over a hundred expert speakers and a range of cutting-edge innovations

More than 100 of the world’s leading travel technology companies will be exhibiting at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in the UAE from Monday 6 to Thursday 9 May.

ATM 2024’s sold-out Travel Tech space will be 56% bigger than last year with 33% more exhibitors participating this year, thanks to unprecedented demand from companies looking to showcase their innovations in front of a global audience. Sponsored by Sabre, the ATM Future Stage – formerly known as the Travel Tech Stage – will host over a hundred expert speakers from across the global travel and tourism industry, plus a diverse selection of cutting-edge innovations designed to improve efficiency and profitability within the sector. Delegates will explore how advanced tech can be leveraged to drive improvements across a range of segments, including payment, professional development, accessibility, sustainability and more. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “My colleagues and I are delighted to introduce the ATM Future Stage, which will harness the ever-increasing levels of innovation our industry is witnessing while building on the long-standing success of our Travel Tech offering.”

The global travel technology market was valued at $9.4 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $21 billion by 2032, according to Allied Market Research. The ATM Future Stage will host a selection of presentations and sessions designed to highlight opportunities within this space. These include; Navigating the Future: A Futurist's Prediction, Strategic Capabilities and Implications of AI within Business, Putting the Traveller First with AI and Unlocking the Value of Travel: Harnessing Technology for Enhanced Traveler Journeys, which will be held in association with Amadeus. This year’s show will see the return of the ATM Start-up Pitch Battle, which will be held in association with Intelak. The third edition of the competition will see a number of the region’s most promising startups take to the Future Stage to showcase a range of innovative and potentially industry-changing solutions in front of expert judges.

Several Travel Tech exhibitors also plan to get involved in other areas of ATM 2024. Tech giant Huawei, for instance, will sponsor this year’s Capitalising on China's Predicted Tourism Surge summit on the ATM Global Stage.

Confirmed tech exhibitors include Hotelbeds, TBO.com, WebBeds, Moonline Travel and Trade, Trip.com, HeyTrip and Verteil Technologies, plus returning brands such as Travelport, The Travelbook Group, HotelRunner, gtbeds, iTrip, Techno Heaven, QuadLabs, Cover Genius, Fly Today, Traveazy, Multireisen, City Travel DMCC and Illusions.

First-time exhibitors include ExploreTECH, iClick bedsopia.com, OneVasco, GP Solutions, WegoPro, Mondee, Triple-A, Typsy, Nativex, Tour Review and SophiOutsourcing.

“With an exciting combination of ambitious startups and well-established brands, this year’s Travel Tech space is perfectly aligned with ATM 2024’s theme, ‘Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship’,” added Curtis.

ATM 2024 will also feature a ‘Best Use of Technology’ award at its annual exhibitor awards for the first time. Exhibitors will be evaluated on how and to what extent they have embraced and deployed technology on their stands.

In line with its theme, ‘Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship’, the 31st edition of ATM will once again host policymakers, industry leaders and travel professionals from across the Middle East and beyond, encouraging them to forge new relationships, exchange knowledge and identify innovations that can reshape the future of global travel and tourism. From startups to established brands, the

upcoming show will highlight how innovators enhance customer experiences, drive efficiencies, and accelerate progress towards a net-zero future for the industry.

More than 40,000 travel trade professionals, including 30,000 visitors, attended the 30th edition of ATM in May 2023, setting a new show record. The exhibition attracted more than 2,100 exhibitors and representatives from over 155 countries, providing a global platform for the unveiling of ATM’s net-zero pledge.

Held in conjunction with Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM 2024’s strategic partners include the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) as Destination Partner, Emirates as Official Airline Partner, IHG Hotels & Resorts as Official Hotel Partner, and Al Rais Travel as Official DMC Partner. The latest ATM news stories are available at https://hub.wtm.com/category/press/atm-press-releases/.

To register your interest in attending ATM 2024 or to submit a stand enquiry, visit https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb/enquire.html.

Thredbo's Winter 2024 Season Passes Go On Sale With A Huge New Range Of Benefits!

• Kicking off 8 June, this winter will be Thredbo's biggest yet with several new offerings and developments launching including the new Alpine Coaster, the country's largest winter events and experiences calendar and Australia’s best skiing and snowboarding.
• Winter 2024 season passes will include access to the largest-ever benefits program, offering huge discounts across the resort.
• Thredbo has unveiled new ways for guests to save this winter, offering discounts on Value Season lift passes, advanced bookings and rental equipment bundles.

Australia's Best Ski Resort is excited to launch its winter 2024 offering today with its new benefit-loaded season passes, lift passes, rentals, lessons, backcountry tours and more now available to purchase at thredbo.com.au.

Kicking off on June 8 through to October 7, Thredbo will provide the Southern Hemisphere's most premium winter experience with access to Australia's best skiing and snowboarding, the launch of the Southern Hemisphere’s first Alpine Coaster, a curated winter events, entertainment, and experiences calendar boasting Australia's biggest acts plus lots more.

Voted Australia's Best Ski Resort for the seventh year in a row at the 2023 World Ski Awards, Thredbo makes significant upgrades every year to ensure each season is better than the last and 2024 will be no different. With the all-new Thredbo Alpine Coaster, snowmaking upgrades, new on-mountain machinery, new dining options plus lots more, Thredbo has elevated many aspects of its offering to ensure this will be the biggest and best winter to date.

Thredbo General Manager, Stuart Diver says that the success of the resort's recently redesigned premium business model coupled with the new developments puts Thredbo in a strong position this winter.

“Our focus on prioritising capacity utilisation on the mountain is continuing to drive a more premium experience overall. Combine this with the new Alpine Coaster, Australia's biggest winter events calendar plus our incredible skiing and snowboarding offering, and we're confident that this winter will be one of our best. We can't wait to welcome all our guests back to make more once-in-a-lifetime memories in the mountains," said Mr Diver.

Huge New Benefits With The Winter 2024 Season Passes

A limited number of winter 2024 season passes are now available to purchase from today including the Thredbo Season Pass, the Thredbo Season Pass + Ikon Base Pass, and the Value Season Pass (includes blackout dates from 6 – 21 July 2024).

Purchasing a 2024 winter season pass will provide access to Thredbo's largest benefits program ever including significant discounts on Alpine Coaster rides, private lessons, food and drinks, rental, retail, backcountry tours, bring a friend vouchers, unlimited access to the Leisure Centre and lots more.

A great value option for those who also want to ski and snowboard overseas is the Thredbo Season Pass + Ikon Base Pass. Enjoy huge savings when you combine the benefits of both passes, providing unlimited access to Thredbo’s winter 2024 season plus unlimited access at 14 destinations and up to 5 days at a further 36 destinations.

More Ways To Save This Winter!

New this winter, Thredbo is offering ways guests can save including: Value Season discounts of up to 50% for kids and up to 30% for adults on 3-to-5-day mid-week lift passes between June 8 - 28 and September 9 - October 7.
Great value discounts all season by booking lift passes 7 days in advance, plus 20% off rental hire when bundled with their pass.

A limited number of lift passes, rentals, lessons, backcountry tours and more are now available to purchase for winter 2024. To improve guests’ experiences on the mountain and throughout the resort, Thredbo limits the amount of daily tickets sold and therefore recommends planning ahead and booking early to avoid missing out.

New Alpine Coaster, Snowmaking Upgrades, More Snowcats

Thredbo is committed to continued growth and a premium experience for guests, completing six significant developments since 2022.

Construction is progressing for the Southern Hemisphere’s first-ever year-round Alpine Coaster, opening this winter season. The new Thredbo Alpine Coaster will diversify the resort’s year-round recreational offering as an all-weather, action-packed way to experience the mountain. At 1.5km in length, passengers will be able to control their speed of up to 40km/h as they travel along a mix of uphill and downhill tracks featuring a tunnel, bridges and circles that traverse the alpine environment. 

Thredbo is further improving its skiing and snowboarding technology, growing its existing snowmaking, grooming and parks building fleets. Thredbo will replace the pipeline snowmaking gun and add three new fan guns towards the base of the Kosciuszko Chairlift, building upon the fifteen snowmaking guns added in 2022 and 2023. There will also be a new Pisten Bully snowcat and Prinoth Demo snowcat added to the fleet, ensuring Thredbo machinery remains top of the line for grooming and terrain park building.

As part of this wide-scale development plan, Thredbo has a chairlift infrastructure upgrade program in place, launching Freddie’s Snowrunner in 2023 plus the Easy-Rider T-Bar and the Merritts Gondola in 2022. The Snowgums Chairlift is the next lift to be replaced in 2025 as part of this plan.

Australia's Biggest-Ever Winter Events and Experiences Calendar

Boasting Australia’s largest winter calendar every year, Thredbo’s curated lineup of events, experiences and entertainment will be its biggest and most diverse to date this winter. Elevating the customer experience, guests will enjoy daily live music and entertainment, the weekly flare run and fireworks show, a huge lineup of its famous après events, kid’s festivals, skiing and snowboarding events and a series of once-in-a-lifetime on-mountain experiences.

Thredbo will be sharing further details on the 2024 winter events and experiences calendar over the coming weeks.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME IN ROCKHAMPTON – INCLUSIVE TOURISM AT ITS BEST

Rockhampton in Queensland Australia offers an experience for every kind of traveller and every kind of accessibility level. Whether it be soaking in the stunning views from atop Mount Archer (Nurim), or meeting our mischievous mob of meerkats at the Rockhampton Zoo, you can explore Rockhampton at ease with everything you need to know to stay, play and eat in our region.

From detailed accessibility guides to firsthand accounts of remarkable adventures, we’re set to redefine inclusivity in travel.

Advance Rockhampton has launched the Explore Rockhampton accessible tourism campaign, aiming to assist local tourism operators in catering to the accessibility needs of travellers.

The campaign's first phase will focus primarily on mobility, showcasing inclusive experiences across Rockhampton, with subsequent phases addressing other accessibility needs such as hearing or vision impairment.

Ensuring everyone can enjoy the region's offerings, the campaign includes producing content that highlights the more technical aspects of travel, like hallway width, lift access and ramps, alongside descriptions of lived experiences, empowering those with disabilities and their companions to make informed decisions when planning a trip to Rockhampton.

Vietjet Launches New Direct Routes Between Sydney and Hanoi, Making It Easier to Fly to Australia

Vietjet is excited to announce the latest addition to its route network, connecting the beautiful port city of Sydney to the capital city of Hanoi. This follows closely on the heels of the recent announcement of its route between Melbourne and Hanoi earlier this month. By continuously expanding its flight network to meet the demands of its customers and showcasing its commitment to the Australian market, Vietjet has introduced new direct routes, thereby bringing the total number of routes connecting Vietnam and Australia to seven.

The new route from Sydney and Hanoi will commence operations from 8 June 2024. These flights will run twice a week, with each leg taking approximately 10 hours. Flights from Sydney to Hanoi will depart every Thursday and Sunday at 8:30 local time, arriving in Hanoi at 16:00 on the same day (local time). Meanwhile, departures from Hanoi to Sydney will occur every Wednesday and Saturday at 17:10 local time, arriving in Sydney at 06:10 the following day (local time).

With Vietjet, Vietnam is now closer than ever to Aussies. Passengers can book their flights with Vietjet for a modern and eco-friendly journey to Australia. The professional and dedicated cabin crews ensure the passengers' comfort on board, and they can indulge in delicious hot meals featuring the finest international and Vietnamese cuisine, including Pho and Vietnamese Banh Mi. Passengers can also fly with peace of mind with complimentary SkyCare insurance provided for all passengers and take advantage of many attractive promotional programs.

Vietjet’s recent introduction of its Sydney-Hanoi and Melbourne-Hanoi routes reflect its outstanding 2023 business performance, which saw the airline complete 133,000 flights with 25.3 million passengers onboard (excluding Vietjet Thailand) – of which more than 7.6 million were on international flights. In 2023 alone, Vietjet continued to grow its flight network with 33 new international and domestic routes, including the five new routes in Australia (Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney), bringing the total number of routes to 125, including 80 international and 45 domestic routes. Vietjet is currently the largest Vietnamese airline operating in Australia with 48% seat capacity, ahead of Vietnam Airlines (40%) and Jetstar Airways (12%). **
(**) Source: Cirium, March 2024

Record-breaking year for NSW as visitor expenditure soars past $50 billion

Sydney

The NSW visitor economy has surpassed $50 billion in expenditure for the first time in history and is leading Australia's post-pandemic rebound.

Data from Tourism Research Australia (TRA) shows domestic and international travellers contributed a record $51.4 billion to the NSW visitor economy in the year ending December 2023.

NSW welcomed the most international visitors, nights spent and visitor expenditure nationally during the period, which contributed $11 billion to the visitor economy. NSW also saw the largest absolute growth in international visitor numbers (up 1.8 million), nights (up 42.8 million) and expenditure (up 6 billion) of all states and territories.

International arrivals reached 78 per cent of pre-pandemic levels with visitor nights at 90 per cent and expenditure at 96 per cent in comparison to 2019. The United States, New Zealand and the United Kingdom remained NSW's top international source markets in 2023, with China showing strong recovery as the fourth largest. South Korea saw the fastest visitor growth, while Indonesia excelled in both nights spent and expenditure and Singapore led in expenditure growth.

Sydney cemented its position as the undisputed visitor economy leader among Australian capital cities in 2023. It attracted 53 per cent of all international visitors to Australian capitals, who stayed for a combined 73.1 million nights and spent an estimated $10 billion, representing 40 per cent and 44 per cent of total nights and expenditure respectively.

Domestic visitors to NSW surged 9.3 per cent, driving the state's highest-ever domestic expenditure at $40.5 billion. Regional NSW continued to shine with its natural attractions and experiences, leading regional Australia in domestic daytrip visitor levels.

Nature-based activities and caravan and camping holidays were major draws, with NSW remaining the top destination for caravan and camping in Australia. More than 15 million overnight visitors also engaged in nature-based activities during their trips, spending a combined $16.1 billion across their whole trip to NSW.

Western Sydney accounted for one in five domestic overnight visitors to Sydney in the year ending December 2023. There were a total of 2.2 million domestic overnight visitors during the period, up 3.1 per cent on the previous year. These visitors stayed 5.6 million nights and spent $1.4 billion - an increase of 8.4 per cent and 30.4 per cent respectively on the previous year.

Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox said: “The NSW visitor economy is leading the country’s recovery from the pandemic and attracting the majority of international visitors to Australia as well as setting new benchmarks domestically.

“The diversity of natural and cultural experiences in NSW is unrivalled and puts our state in a unique position to attract visitors from around the world.

“These results are a testament to the world-class visitor experiences on offer in NSW from Ballina to Broken Hill and Narooma to Newcastle. Congratulations and well done to the thousands of people working hard each and every day to grow our visitor economy, support local jobs and inject billions into our state.

“It is gratifying to see Western Sydney’s visitor economy go from strength to strength. It is already Australia’s third largest economy and is on the runway to becoming an even bigger powerhouse for the state’s visitor economy. When Western Sydney International Airport opens in 2026 it will have capacity for 10 million passengers per year from day one, further boosting visitation to Greater Sydney and regional NSW.”

International visitor fast facts

• NSW recorded 3.4 million international visitors, 87 million nights and $11 billion in expenditure in the year ending December 2023
• Visitation recovered to 78 per cent of 2019 levels
• Visitor nights reached 90 per cent of 2019 levels
• Expenditure reached 96 per cent of 2019 levels
• Average expenditure per night grew to $126 in 2023, up from $118 in 2019
• Top 3 source markets: US, New Zealand, UK
• Fastest recovering markets: South Korea (visitors), Indonesia (nights and expenditure), Singapore (expenditure)
• Sydney received 53 per cent of all international visitors to Australian capitals
• Sydney received 3.2 million international visitors who stayed 73.1 million nights and spent $10 billion
• Regional NSW received 79 per cent of its 2019 international visitors
• 583,500 international visitors to NSW participated in an Aboriginal cultural tourism experience.

Domestic visitor fast facts

• NSW attracted 102.5 million domestic visitors in the year ending December 2023 (9.3 per cent increase YoY)
• Domestic visitor expenditure reached a record hf $40.5 billion
• NSW, regional NSW and Sydney all achieved record domestic expenditure
• Sydney received 36 million domestic visitors who stayed 30.7 million nights and spent $15 billion
• Regional NSW received 67.5 million domestic visitors who stayed 86.4 million nights and spent $25.5 billion visitors participated in nature-based activities, spending $16.1 billion across their whole trip to NSW.
• Regional NSW led regional Australia in daytrip visitors and expenditure
• Nature-based activities and caravan/camping were major drawcards for visitors. NSW remained the top destination for caravan and camping in Australia
• 15.9 million overnight visitors participated in nature-based activities, spending $16.1 billion across their whole trip to NSW.