LEONARD COHEN Returning to Melbourne for Encore Performances

Early last year audiences across Australia and New Zealand were privileged to experience the incomparable live talents of Leonard Cohen. Rapturous reviews followed, with many critics calling the shows the best they have ever seen. The tour went on to win the Helpmann Award for the Best International Concert in 2009. Those lucky enough to be in attendance at the concerts described them in glowing and effusive terms, earning the envy of those who had missed out on what many speculated would be the last opportunity to see Leonard Cohen on our shores.

Friday 12th November – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

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Culture card gives overseas students a key to Melbourne city

Melbourne, May 25 (ANI): Victoria's 165,000 international students are set for a cultural boost thanks to a new card designed to enhance their way of life while studying down under.

Buzz up!The Culture Card - launched today by Skills and Workforce Participation Minister Bronwyn Pike, Committee for Melbourne CEO Andrew MacLeod and North Melbourne Football Club Captain Drew Petrie - will give international students living in Victoria a virtual key to some of the state's best attractions.

Speaking at the National Sports Museum at the MCG, Ms Pike said the Culture Card would ensure international students get the best from their study experience in Victoria.

"The Culture Card will be available free to every international student living in Victoria," she said.

"The card will help students get a better understanding of Victoria's culture, our obsession with sport and food, and our interests in zoos, parks and gardens.

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Titanic - The Exhibition (Melbourne Tourism Events)

On April 15, 1912, Titanic, the world’s largest ship, sank after colliding with an iceberg, claiming more than 1,500 lives and shaking the world’s confidence in the infallibility of modern technology. Almost 100 years later, Melbourne Museum will pay tribute to the tragedy in Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition, which showcases more than 280 artefacts retrieved from Titanic’s debris field, offering visitors a poignant look at this legendary Ship and its passengers and crew.

The Exhibition has been created with a focus on Titanic’s compelling human stories, told through authentic artefacts and exacting re-creations of the Ship’s interior. Delicate bottles of perfume, china bearing the logo of the elite White Star Line, even a piece of the hull of Titanic - these and many other objects collected from the wreck site offer poignant connections to lives abruptly ended or forever changed by one of the world’s greatest maritime disasters.

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Victoria makes bid for more Chinese tourists

The Victorian Government is launching an $8 million campaign to market Melbourne and regional Victoria to China.

Tourism Victoria will lead the scheme, in a bid to make China the state's largest international visitor market by 2014.

The Tourism Forecasting Committee predicts more tourists will come from China in four years time than from the traditional markets of New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

The campaign will begin next year and promote Victoria's sights, wildlife and history.

Appeal for big Vic tourism investment (Tourism Victoria)

Business chiefs have called for a big state government investment in tourism along the Victorian coast, saying it would lure more visitors to the state, encourage them to stay longer and boost regional economies.

Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Wayne Kayler-Thomson urged the government to make tourism infrastructure a priority in its regional blueprint, to be released next month.

VECCI is calling for maritime projects, including a car ferry service from Phillip Island to Stony Point, on the Mornington Peninsula. Mr Kayler-Thomson said the service had been identified as a top-priority tourism project in Victoria, and would complete a coastal link for tourists driving from Sydney to as far as South Australia.

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Soccer: History suggests All Whites are in with a shout

MELBOURNE - Soccer's world ratings and bookmakers confirm New Zealand's status as rank outsiders for tonight's pre-World Cup friendly against Australia at the MCG - but a virtual cricket score is no formality for the Socceroos.

Australia do not expect the All Whites to spoil their send off for South Africa but history suggests New Zealand - ranked a lowly 78 and $11 outsiders - are prone to embarrassing their better-credentialed neighbours at the most opportune moments.

New Zealand has twice prevented Australia - currently ranked 20th by FIFA - qualifying for the sport's global showpiece. They also surprisingly sabotaged two lucrative Confederations Cup campaigns the Socceroos figured were a formality.

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Metro Apartments Melbourne defy tourism slump - A Melbourne Servced Apartment

Located in a unique 100-year old Victorian building complete with rough hewn bluestone façade, Metro Apartments on Bank Place in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, sets a new benchmark for stylish yet affordable inner city accommodation.

According to George Bedwani, Chief Operating Officer of Metro Hospitality Group, this particular property continues to defy the economic climate, maintaining strong occupancy despite a downturn in leisure and corporate travel to Melbourne during the last financial year.

“The Apartments are very popular and enjoy significant repeat business, largely due to their central location, personalised service only a boutique hotel of this size can offer, and their competitive rates.

“Guests have the luxury of staying in a fully serviced studio or one bedroom boutique apartment in one of the city’s central and most exclusive locations, with rates starting from $125 per night for a studio room and $135 for a one bedroom apartment,” Mr Bedwani said.

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Russell Brand returns to perform for the first time at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena

Russell Brand, England’s most scandalous comedian, brings his infamously hilarious, quick-witted and charismatic dandy charm to Australia this June.

Following a sold-out March 2009 tour, Brand returns to perform for the first time at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.

Brand will also be appearing at the Sydney premiere of his latest movie Get Him To The Greek on 11 June.

The film, which opens nationally on June 17 (distributed by Universal Pictures), stars Brand, reprising his stand out roll of dissolute rock star Aldous Snow, his character from the 2008 box office hit Forgetting Sarah Marshall, teaming up again with director Nicholas Stoller and writer Jason Segel.

Of life experiences Brand’s had a tad more than most 34-year olds.

An unhappy childhood in Essex, stints in rehab, infamous run-ins with MTV and the BBC have fueled his comedy, ultimately resulting in colossal achievement and a notorious celebrity.

Brand’s resume now boasts a number of feature films, with more on the horizon including remakes of Arthur and Drop Dead Fred, a best selling autobiography, TV series, radio show, newspaper column, countless TV appearances including hosting the NME, Brit and MTV Awards, and numerous stand-up tours selling-out shows across the UK and US.

TOUR DATE*:
Wed 9 Jun - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
*Ticketek is selling for the above venue only.

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