Melbourne Tops Sydney in Domestic Travel

Melbourne has outranked Sydney as the most popular domestic destination for Aussie travellers in 2010.

According to a 2010 Hotel Price Index survey, Australia’s city of culture and art replaced Sydney because the NSW city has been deemed as too expensive, Nine News reported.

Hotels.com Asia Pacific vice president Johan Svanstrom said in 2010 Aussie holiday makers were cautious of costs during booking, which pushed Melbourne to the top.

"What helped Melbourne scoot up to No.1 over the course of last year was the particularly fast rise in prices in Sydney," Mr Svanstrom told the source.
"Clearly, when prices go to very high levels and are perceived to be high, people start looking elsewhere."

The survey outlined that Sydney hotel price average rose by 16 percent last year to AU$168 a night while Melbourne accommodation prices remained steady, averaging at AU$146 a night.

The Gold Coast followed Sydney for the third spot, Cairns came in at fourth while Adelaide jumped from eighth place in 2009 to fifth in 2010.

(Source: eTravelBlackboard, 23rd March 2011)

P&O Adds Melbourne

P&O Cruises announced it will base cruises out of Melbourne for the first time.

P&O’s 2012-13 program features 126 voyages between June 2012 and April 2013, including 24 voyages of less than one week as part of P&O’s focus on adding more short breaks.

The homeporting out of Melbourne will include seven summer cruises from late 2012 onboard Pacific Sun. Fremantle, in Perth will again welcome the Pacific Sun for a third season of cruising in 2012, while

Brisbane will be the base for 36 cruises onboard Pacific Dawn and Pacific Sun.

Melbourne scores historic coup with Amway India

MELBOURNE won the bid to host the largest Indian incentive in Australia’s history—Amway India’s Leadership Seminar for more than 4,000 delegates in 2012.

Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Louise Asher, said the event would generate significant benefits for the local economy and tourism industry.

“The Amway India Leadership Seminar has never been held in Australia. This is a significant coup for Victoria,” Asher said.

Sandra Chipchase, Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau CEO, said the event would generate an estimated AUD$20.98 million (US$21.06 million) in revenue.

Rita Tandon, senior manager special events for Amway India, said Melbourne’s “impressive infrastructure and unique range of attractions and activities” played a major role in the group’s decision.

This is not the first time Melbourne is hosting large Amway incentives, having received 7,200 delegates from Amway China in 2008.

(Source: TTG Asia 10th March 2011)

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