Boosting Business Events Bid Fund launched

Tourism Australia will extend its existing support of the Australian business events industry through a new A$12 million fund launched last week by Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon Steven Ciobo MP. Managed by Tourism Australia’s business events unit, Business Events Australia, the program offers financial support at the critical bidding stage of new international business events. Tourism Australia has published a prospectus and quick reference guide for the fund and will be taking applications via www.australia.com/businessevents from 1 May with funds for successful applications available from 1 July. Minister Ciobo said Australia’s natural beauty, safety and stability and friendliness provided the perfect base to build a thriving business events sector.

Destination Australia Conference 2018

Australia's top tourism marketing conference was held for the fourth time in Melbourne on Thursday 15 March. View photos and watch recordings of presentations from the conference. Industry are invited to register interest for next year’s conference to be held on Thursday 14 March 2019 in Brisbane.

Aussie Specialist Program relaunches in New Zealand

The award-winning Aussie Specialist Program has relaunched in New Zealand providing a dedicated free online training resource for frontline travel sellers. The updated website has been designed to equip agents with information about regions, destinations and experiences within Australia. Tourism Australia Managing Director John O’Sullivan said with repeat visitation already above 90 per cent, a key objective in relaunching the program was to help New Zealand agents sell more Australian business and introduce Kiwi travellers to less familiar destinations and experiences. “We need to equip frontline sellers with fresh itinerary suggestions and new news to keep Kiwi travellers coming back for more,” he said.

Australia showcased on popular American TV talk show

Australia’s food and wine, wildlife and sporting experiences will feature on ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’ this week, a popular American talk show. The segment, presented by comedian Amber Ruffin, will feature Friends of Australia Jessica Mauboy, Matt Wright and Ben Shewry, along with AFL player Matthew “Richo” Richardson and Monalto chief winemaker Simon Black. On the show the stars share some uniquely Australian experiences including cuddling koalas, sandboarding and spotting dolphins on Kangaroo Island as well as visiting The Rooftop Cinema and Bar and trying out AFL in Melbourne and wine tasting in the Mornington Peninsula.

Australia’s ‘bottom end’ showcased on National Geographic

Aussie News Today anchor Nick “Honey Badger” Cummins has filmed a new National Geographic Channel program exploring Australia’s ‘bottom end’ from the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia to Margaret River in Western Australia. Supported by Tourism Australia, the special program ‘Meanwhile in Australia’ sees the Honey Badger meet Australian characters such as conservationist and Friend of Australia Brinkley Davies during his journey. The program is available to view on National Geographic’s app.

Australian experiences on show at SXSW festival in Austin

Thousands of visitors to the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas last week were able to experience the inaugural AUSTRALIAHouse as part of Australia’s ongoing G’Day USA activities. Tourism Australia collaborated with Austrade and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on AUSTRALIAHouse which presented the very best of Australian tourism, innovation, film, music, food and wine. Tourism Australia Managing Director John O’Sullivan said the SXSW theme exploring ‘what next’ presented the perfect opportunity to pitch Australia to high value American travellers.

New Expedia campaign in the US

As part of the ongoing Dundee-inspired campaign activity in the US, Tourism Australia has partnered with Expedia on a new promotion to help make it easier for Americans to plan and book an Australian adventure. The Expedia campaign, which runs until April, provides destination highlights along with flight and hotel offers and an interactive quiz to help people plan and book their trip. The campaign is in partnership with Visit Victoria, Tourism and Events Queensland, Tourism Western Australia and Tourism Northern Territory.

Routes Asia 2018 held in Brisbane

More than 1000 airline, airport and tourism delegates from 100 countries attended Routes Asia 2018 in Brisbane this week to discuss new and existing air services. At the Routes Asia 2018 Marketing Awards Adelaide Airport won the ‘4 to 20 Million Passengers’ category and Townsville Airport was highly commended in the ‘Under 4 Million Passengers’ category. Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon Steven Ciobo MP, and Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon Mark Coulton MP, welcomed the event.

Vivid Sydney festival of light, music and ideas returns for 10th year

The world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, Vivid Sydney, is back for its 10th year from 25 May to 16 June. Customs House will feature again this year with an animation of May Gibbs’ classic characters Snugglepot & Cuddlepie, celebrating their 100th birthday since their stories were first published. Luna Park will also join the program as a new precinct.

Quay Restaurant in Sydney to retire famous Snow Egg dessert

Quay Restaurant in Sydney will temporarily close its doors on 1 April 2018 for three months whilst it undergoes a major renovation to the restaurant and kitchen. Quay’s dining experience will also undergo extensive changes including a complete transformation of the menu, which will see the famous Snow Egg dessert retired from the menu. Guests will be able to experience the dessert until the restaurant closes on 14 April.

Coastal Pavilions at Freycinet Lodge in Tasmania now open

The new Coastal Pavilions at Freycinet Lodge on Tasmania’s east coast are now open, offering guests the opportunity to be fully immersed in the natural surroundings. The nine pavilions provide an environmentally sensitive and architecturally innovative accommodation offering. Designed by an experienced consultant team led by well-known Tasmanian tourism developer Brett Torossi and Liminal Architecture, and built by Tasmanian company Cordwell Lane, they nestle gently along the coastline of Great Oyster Bay.

New guided trek along Queensland’s Sunshine Coast

Small-group trekking specialists Tropical Treks will launch a fully-guided trek along the Queensland Sunshine Coast’s spectacular Cooloola Coast in April 2018. The 88km, 5-day/4-night, fully-guided, self-sufficient trek, links the Noosa Northshore to Rainbow Beach via the 500,000 year-old Cooloola Sandmass and its unique dune, water, and vegetation systems. Guides will lead the tours highlighting the many rare and native animals inhabiting the Sandmass, including Ground Parrots, Feathertailed Gliders, Koalas and Wallabies, along with rich flora and myriad wildflowers.

Sydney’s Moore Park Golf added to Great Golf Courses of Australia

Located in Sydney’s beautiful Centennial Parklands, the Moore Park Golf course has now joined the Great Golf Courses of Australia portfolio as one of the ‘Unique Golf Experiences of Australia’. The facility boasts panoramic views of the city skyline and proximity to other landmarks including the Sydney Cricket Ground. The facility has developed a range of exclusive golf development and learn packages which will be distributed to international clients and trade through the Great Golf Courses platform.

W Brisbane to open 1 June 2018

Opening on Friday 1 June W Brisbane will be the first five-star hotel to open in Brisbane in 20 years and will mark the re-entry of the iconic W brand into Australia. Located at 81 North Quay, W Brisbane will boast stellar views across Brisbane River to South Bank and Mount Coot-tha, as well as three happening bars and restaurants including the launch of Three Blue Ducks Brisbane.

Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon Steven Ciobo MP, is visiting Hong Kong this week to advance Australia’s trade, tourism and investment interests.

Will Hodgman MP, the Premier of Tasmania, will also remain the State's Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events amongst other portfolios following the recent State election.

Virgin Australia will commence a twice-weekly service between Brisbane and Alice Springs from 19 June.

Vietnam’s largest budget airline, Vietjet Air, will fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Brisbane from 2019.

Tourism WA has developed a range of marketing and communications materials that tourism businesses can use in support of its Hotel Perth campaign.

Registration is open for the City of Perth’s 2018 Perth Tourism Industry Exchange on Thursday 24 May at the Perth Arena.

Applications are open until 30 June for one-off support funding of up to $5,000 under the Northern Territory Government's China Ready Program.

Destination Melbourne is holding an accessible tourism masterclass on Tuesday 1 May.

Tourism Western Australia has launched a two-year action plan to grow the number of visitors to the State.

Applications are open until Monday 30 April for the NT Government’s $3 million Visitor Experience Enhancement Program, part of the Turbocharging Tourism stimulus package.

Nominations are open for the 2018 NSW Regional Tourism Awards and the 2018 NSW Tourism Awards as well as and the 2018 South Australian Tourism Awards and the 2018 Queensland Tourism Awards.

Registration is open for the 2018 WYSE Exchange Australia Youth Tourism Conference to be held on Wednesday 9 May at the Ovolo Woolloomooloo Hotel in Sydney.

Registration is open for the Tourism and Transport Forum’s Outlook Tourism Industry and Policy Conference to be held in Sydney on Thursday 17 May.

Registration is open for Destination Food, Australia's first culinary tourism conference to be held at the Museum of Sydney on Monday 21 May.

Applications are open until Thursday 29 March for the Australia-India Council 2018 Grant Program.

Registration is open for the Backpacker and Adventure Tourism Industry Forum on Wednesday 2 May in Byron Bay.