Tourism Set to Cash In On Big Summer For International Sport

An unprecedented summer of international sport is set to boost Canberra's tourist numbers after a major decline in business stays and spending in the past year.

With seven Asian Cup football games including a quarter final, three cricket World Cup games and an extra one day International in November, Canberra's tourism boss expected locals to be joined by a mass of regional and international visitors for the sporting feast.

Visit Canberra director Ian Hill said it would be the strongest summer of sport the city had enjoyed. 

"Two absolutely world class events, and I certainly know tickets for those cricket World Cup games have been selling really well."

The National Visitor Survey released last month showed visitor nights were down 790,000 in the domestic business sector for the year to June, a drop of 37.5 per cent. Overall domestic nights were down 16.4 per cent and expenditure down 11.4 per cent, or $14 million. 

International visitor nights also fell 12 per cent, or 570,000 nights, in the same period, with expenditure down 6 per cent.

Mr Hill said the tourism authority was working closely with hoteliers and organisations elsewhere to help them package and promote events.  

"One of those [Asian Cup] games is a China [vs] Korea game; China don't play in Sydney and there's a big group of Chinese background people who live in Sydney, so we're working with some of the multicultural media in Sydney," he said. 

The tourism chief said the key to maximising the windfall for Canberra was ensuring visitors saw other attractions  during their stay, and a rejuvenated cultural and hotel scene would help.

"Places like Braddon are important, Lonsdale Street Roasters is an important place, New Acton, and with new hotels like Hotel Hotel, Peppers has just rebranded, we've seen QT do a fit out at Rydges, the Kurrajong is about to reopen after being refitted – a great location for visitors in the Parliamentary Triangle. I think visitors are seeing a new side of Canberra," Mr Hill said. 

Mr Hill said stories on last week's OECD finding that Canberra was the world's best city to live in,  trumpeted in the New York Times and elsewhere, helped spread the word. 

The Australian Hotels Association ACT recently told ABC TV that occupancy rates were at about 65 per cent, down from the same time last year, but investment was strong, with another 500-600 hotel rooms available by mid-next year. 

Pacific Tourism Event Heads Down Under to Melbourne

After a successful inaugural South Pacific Tourism Exchange Event in Auckland in 2014 the organisers are now heading to Australia to sell the Pacific tourism market in June 2015.

Officially announcing the SPTE 2015 event today, South Pacific Tourism Organisation Chief Executive Ilisoni Vuidreketi said the positive feedback from buyers and sellers in New Zealand this year justified the second event this time in Australia.

“Apart from displaying the Pacific at our 2014 exhibition we received feedback from the participants that the networking was an opportunity never to be missed,” he said.

“This event will be staged in conjunction with the Australian Tourism Exchange 2015 event at the Melbourne Exhibition Convention Centre so we have the opportunity to also benefit from their own international and domestic networks.

“A number of participants in Auckland had asked for more time to conduct the event and such feedback has encouraged us as we plan the way forward for SPTE 2015.”

He said in terms of sales from the 2014 event, most participants (76 per cent) reported they were able to establish relations with a wholesaler with 18 per cent actually establishing new business with a wholesaler and the rest already enjoying some partnership but used the event as an opportunity to create and strengthen better contacts.

“We had a total of 1,300 business appointments during SPTE 2014 and anticipate an even higher response when we arrive in Australia for SPTE 2015,” he said.

Mr Vuidreketi said they were announcing the dates earlier as the lessons learned from the inaugural event meant they had to plan in advance to allow international buyers (wholesalers) time to prepare their business travel for the new year.

“As you can see the date is June 2015 so you must be asking why are we announcing the event so early,” he said.

“The reason is there is a lot of planning involved this year to enable us to realise the real cost and logistics involved in planning next year’s event as we are dealing with more than 50  Pacific tourism suppliers (sellers) from our region and about 60 international wholesalers (buyers), for SPTE 2015.

“While it may seem early to reveal our plans we hope to make SPTE 2015 much bigger than the 2014 event – learning from the valuable lessons we gained  this year.

“I urge all buyers and sellers intending to attend this event to please start planning now for SPTE 2015 as we try to enhance our position in the region.

The SPTO is currently consulting with tourism stakeholders including Tourism Australia to promote the SPTE which takes place from June 19-20 at the Melbourne Exhibition Convention Centre.

The Australian Tourism Exchange event takes place at the same venue from June 21.

Strong International Theme at EEAA 2014 Conference

The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) has secured a top line-up of speakers for the EEAA 2014 Conference to be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre next month. 

EEAA Chief Executive, Joyce DiMascio, said the conference program will tackle three key themes: “Internationalising” events, products and services; the security landscape around events and what's driving consumer engagement.

“We are honoured to have the CEO of Austrade, Bruce Gosper, and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Director - Australia and New Zealand, Bonnie Shek head the line-up for the international theme,” Ms. DiMascio said. “Matt Jones, Director & Creative Strategist of Better Happy will deliver a wake-up call about customer communications and behaviour. 

In addition, a panel including Victorian Police will address the topical subject of event security. We always aim to deliver outstanding content and this year will be no exception. The program is intensive, strategic and challenging and directly aligned with issues that matter to the industry – right here, right now.”

2014 has marked the establishment of strengthening ties between EEAA Members and the Australian Government’s export agency, Austrade. So it is most fitting that EEAA should hear from Austrade CEO, Bruce Gosper. Mr. Gosper helped kick-start EEAA’s positive work now being undertaken with Trade Commissioners in the Austrade network across Asia.

In the Asia-Pacific region, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a leading player in the business events sector, launching highly successful partnerships with the exhibition industry. EEAA is honoured that the HKTDC is joining Association Members to talk about their successful initiatives.

Ms. DiMascio said, “The program also includes speakers from within the EEAA community. Our Members are always keen to hear from organisers of trade and consumer exhibitions so we’ll have an interesting panel discussion with Reed Exhibitions Executive Director, John Gorton; Gaming Technologies Association CEO, Ross Ferrar; Exhibitions & Trade Fairs MD, Gary Daly; National Media MD, Mark Harvey; and WALDRONSMITH Management MD, Kate Smith.”

The conference begins with a Welcome Reception at Cargo Hall, on Melbourne’s South Wharf Promenade on Wednesday, 19 November with the 2014 Conference and Awards for Excellence on Thursday, 20 November. The Awards night will honour the high achievers in the industry in the Melbourne Room at the MCEC.

“This year’s Conference encourages in-depth discussions with top-tier speakers, offers great networking and will be a rewarding experience for attendees. The industry has undergone many changes in 2014 following the closure of the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre – events have relocated to other venues and cities. 

New events have been launched. The conference, which coincides with the end of the 2014 event season, will provide an important opportunity to assess where the industry has landed,” Ms. DiMascio said.

To view the Preliminary Program, go towww.eeaa.com.au/pdfs/2014/EEAA_2014_Conference_Preliminary_Program_V1.pdf.

Register to attend the EEAA 2014 Conference and Awards for Excellence:http://www.eeaa.com.au/conference.php.

KEY DATES:
2 October - Registration opened
20 October - Early bird discount ends

KEY CONFERENCE DATES: 
19 November - Welcome Reception
20 November - EEAA 2014 Conference

KEY AWARDS DATES: 
Mid-October - Finalists announced
20 November - EEAA 2014 Awards for Excellence

About EEAA 

The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) is the peak association for the exhibition and event industry, representing organisers, venues and suppliers. As a not-for-profit organisation, EEAA’s primary objective is to maintain high industry standards and ensure industry growth by promoting the professionalism of EEAA members and unique benefits offered by exhibitions. For more information, go to www.eeaa.com.au.

Contact:
rius@eeaa.com.au

Melbourne Music Week 2014 Full Program Announced, And its Epic!

Back for its fifth big year, Melbourne Music Week’s 2014 program has been release today and it’s bigger and bolder than ever. The 10-day curette music program is hurting with 110 dynamic event to be held morning, noon, and night across 40 uniquely Melbourne locations.

From quirky music events in laneways, trams, power stations and elevators to experiential performances at iconic Melbourne institutions, MMW’s 2014 program celebrates the crossover between music, art, film, food and design in the country’s cultural capital.

Chair of Council’s Marketing Melbourne committee, Councillor Beverley Pinder-Mortimer said the City of Melbourne continues to work with the music industry to produce an event like no other.

“The city becomes the stage for this 10-day event which highlights the breadth of music in Melbourne. Melbourne is one of the world’s great music cities and Melbourne Music Week absolutely highlights this,” said Cr Pinder-Mortimer.

As previously revealed, this year MMW’s flagship venue, Queen Victoria Market (QVM), will transform into a vibrant performance space with an impressive line-up of local and international acts. Midnight Juggernauts will debut the Melbourne premiere of their visual and musical installation, Aerials, celebrating their tenth anniversary on Saturday 22 November.

Legendary Detroit techno collective Underground Resistance will present a night of jazz and techno music with visionary founder Mad Mike on Tuesday 18 November.

QVM will be pumping as DJ duo Pachanga Boys, the project formed by Superpitcher and Rebolledo, will be joined by Optimo on Wednesday 19 November. In collaboration with SPOOK Magazine, Guerre, Milwaukee Banks and Banoffee will take to the stage on Monday 17 November for an evening of progressive contemporary music.

Co-presented with DUST, avant-garde electronic musician Oneohtrix Point Never will present his world acclaimed visual spectacle on Friday 21 November, supported by Robin Fox and his new laser show RGB.

The Operatives will present DJ Spinn and Remi for an afternoon and night beats and bass showcase on Sunday 23 November. Food will be a highlight at QVM with curated menus drawing draw from the market’s fresh local produce stalls and a rotation of restaurants from the QVM Night Market.

Chair of Council’s Arts and Culture Committee, Councillor Rohan Leppert, said MMVV celebrates local talent and works with the industry in a distinctive co-production model. “MMW is an event that gives back to the labels, artists and venues themselves.

“Over 75 per cent of artists are from Victoria, and this yea, MMW is more accessible than ever with free events making up more than half the program and 90 per cent of ticketed events are under $50,” said Cr Leppert.

Beyond the already fast-selling show at Melbourne Town Hall, German headliner Tangerine Dream will present an exclusive interactive film event at ACMI, playing the live score to the 1977 American existential film, Sorcerer. Tangerine Dream’s front man Edgar Froese will also host a panel discussion at industry event Face The Music, sharing his much-coveted musical insights with Melbourne music lovers.

The most popular night of the program in recent years, Live Music Safari, will once again awaken the city on Thursday 20 November with 14 venues opening their doors for a free night of local music. The program welcomes two new venues, The Hi-Fi and Kelvin Club, as well as expanding to nearby laneways.

MMW’s Self-Made series will return with a new program of innovative events popping up throughout the city. With surprise performances in CBD elevators, daytime musical tennis matches, DJ roller raves, and to parties with performances by yet-to-be-announced musical guests, the series supports the ingenuity and boundless talent of Melbourne’s creative community.

The MMW program boasts a series of unique one-off concerts and artistic collaborations with NGV, MPavilion, Rooftop Cinema, SWELL and Residency that reinterpret public performance spaces and blur the line between art, film, design and music.

The full MMW 2014 program is now available online at melbourne.vic.gov.au/mmw. Tickets are available from Dash Tickets via melbourne.vic.gov.au/mmw from 12:00pm today.

Melbourne Music Week 2014 Lineup

TANGERINE DREAM
ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI
UNDERGROUND RESISTANCE presents TIMELINE
MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS
THE CHURCH
PACHANGA BOYS
DUSKY
ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER
A WINGED VICTORY FOR THE SULLEN
CUT COPY (DJ SET)
DJ SPINN
OPTIMO
TEN WALLS
REMI
ALLDAY
THE HARPOONS
LAURA JEAN
BLACK CAB
SAFIA
MILWAUKEE BANKS
AND MORE

Melbourne Music Week 2014

14th – 23rd November, 2014

See Source

Mariah Carey "The Elusive Chanteuse” Tour

On the heels of the most critically acclaimed album of her career, ‘Me. I am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse,’ the best-selling female artist of all time, MARIAH CAREY, has confirmed Australian dates, extending her previously announced “The Elusive Chanteuse Show” world tour.

Live Nation are thrilled to announce that Nathaniel will be the support act on the Australian leg of Mariah Carey’s “The Elusive Chanteuse Show” world tour.

Mariah Carey will tour Australia in just over a month.

The five-time Grammy Award-winning songstress has extended her The Elusive Chanteuse Show world tour to include a national tour Down Under - her first in more than 15 years.

Fans in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney will have a chance to see Carey perform live, while she'll also do winery shows at A Day on the Green in the Yarra Valley and Mount Cotton, near Brisbane.

Carey’s set list will be an exciting mix of her biggest hits, fan-favourite album cuts, never-before-performed selections from her #1 R&B Album “Me. I am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse” and many more surprises! 

“I want to experience the spontaneity and emotion that I put into this album on stage with my fans,” says Carey. “I can’t stop writing songs so don’t be surprised if you hear a brand new song that I just wrote the night before the show in your city!”

Carey last visited Australia for three east coast shows in January 2013.

But the highest-selling female artist of all time hasn't performed a national tour since her Butterfly world tour in 1998.

Last year, the 44-year-old was joined in Australia by her toddler twins Monroe and Moroccan and her actor and comedian husband Nick Cannon.

The couple, who married in 2008, recently split.

Carey will kick off her world tour in Japan on October 4. No further dates have been announced after the Australian leg.

"I want to experience the spontaneity and emotion that I put into this album on stage with my fans," Carey said of the tour in a statement released on Thursday.

"I can't stop writing songs so don't be surprised if you hear a brand new song that I just wrote the night before the show in your city."

Carey's latest album Me. I Am Mariah ... The Elusive Chanteuse has been a critical success, but sales since its release in May have been unspectacular.

Tickets for all shows go on sale on September 26 at 9am (AEST).

MARIAH CAREY AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES:

November 2 - Sandalford Estate, Perth

November 5 - Entertainment Centre, Adelaide

November 7 - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

November 8 - Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley (A Day on the Green)

November 10 - Qantas Credit Union Arena, Sydney

November 16 - Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton, Brisbane (A Day on the Green)

Mariah Carey is a true music icon and the best-selling female artist of all time, with more than 220 million albums sold to date and 18 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles (17 self-penned), including 'Fantasy', 'Always Be My Baby', 'Hero', 'Touch My Body', 'One Sweet Day', and 'We Belong Together' - more than any solo artist in history.

With her distinct five-octave vocal range, prolific songwriting, and producing talent, Mariah has redefined the modern pop performance. As a singer/songwriter/producer, she has been recognized with multiple Grammy Awards, 21 American Music Awards, Billboard's “Artist of the Decade” Award, the World Music Award for “World's Best Selling Female Artist of the Millennium,” and BMI's “Icon Award” for her outstanding achievements in songwriting, to name a

Mariah Carey's ongoing impact transcends the music industry to leave an indelible imprint upon the world at large. She has made substantial marks in film with critically acclaimed roles in Precious (2009) and also in Lee Daniel’s The Butler (2013).

A Congressional Award recipient, Mariah has generously donated her time and energy to a range of philanthropic causes near to her heart including Save the Music, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, World Hunger Relief, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, among many others.

A tremendous supporter of children’s charities, both domestic and international, Mariah founded Camp Mariah in partnership with the Fresh Air Fund, a retreat for inner city children to explore career development.

Prices:

• Diamond - $299.90
• Platinum - $250.00
• Gold - $199.90
• Silver - $159.90
• Bronze - $99.90

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