Museum Victoria Smashes Attendance Records

Museum Victoria has had its most successful year ever, with more than 2.3 million visits for the year to 30 June 2011, and record-breaking numbers visiting Melbourne Museum.

Ticketed attendance across Museum Victoria’s four venues in 2010-11 equated to a nine per cent increase (around 200,000 people) on last year’s record tally. This was the second year in a row that attendance figures topped the two million mark, making Museum Victoria the most-visited museum organisation in Australia.

Melbourne Museum is the country’s most popular museum, with a 33 per cent increase contributing to a best-ever 1.4 million visits. Immigration Museum also topped last year’s figure with 128,350 visitors, while both Scienceworks and IMAX Melbourne Museum maintained strong visitation with 447,708 and 325,262 attendances respectively.

“Museum Victoria continues to be a great place for Victorians to visit and to bring their interstate and international guests. Visitors are delighted by our own innovative exhibitions and programs and enjoy the great international exhibitions that we present,” said Gillian Hoysted, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Museum Victoria.

The Melbourne Museum is currently undertaking a major redevelopment of the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, with additional redevelopment plans for Scienceworks.

(Source: Tourism Victoria, Edition 81, 14 July 2011)

RACV Victorian Tourism Awards - People's Choice Awards

Following on from last year's success of the People's Choice Awards, Tourism Victoria and RACV are again inviting Victorians to determine the winners of the two People's Choice Awards in this year's RACV Victorian Tourism Awards.

The People's Choice Awards were introduced in 2010 to increase consumer interest in the Tourism Awards and to encourage more Victorians to holiday in their own backyard.

RACV's online review process asks guests to rate the property in six areas; cleanliness, facilities, service, atmosphere, location and value and to also write comments on what was great about their stay or what needs improvement.

The winner of the RACV People's Choice Award for Guest Satisfaction will be decided on an average from all six criteria ratings while the RACV's People Choice Award for Service will be judged on the service score only.
Eligibility for these two awards will be restricted to accommodation properties, listed on the RACV website*, recording more than 50 entries during the campaign period which runs until 30 October 2011. Guests are able to review properties they have stayed at from 1 November 2010 until the end of the campaign period.

Last year we had over 2,000 votes cast at racv.com.au/travel for the People's Choice Awards campaign and this year we are hoping to increase the public's involvement in the voting.

Guest reviewers also have the chance to win one of seven monthly $500 RACV Cruises and Tours Travel vouchers** by reviewing one or more properties.
There will also be a random draw for a $1,000 RACV Cruises and Tours Travel
voucher** at the end of the competition period.

You can get involved in this campaign by:-

. Encouraging visitors to post a review online at racv.com.au/travel
for your property.

. Place the RACV Victorian Tourism Awards live link and image (at the
bottom of this email) on your website. The RACV web address is:
http://www.racv.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/Internet/Primary/travel/RACV
+Victorian+Tourism+Awards

. Use the attached press releases from RACV and Tourism Victoria for
promotion in your newsletters and website.

. People's Choice Awards promotional cards will be mailed out to you
shortly. Give a card to your guests on check out to encourage them
to post an online review for your property.

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards,

Neil James
General Manager Tourism & Travel
Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) Limited Level 2, 550 Princes Highway Noble Park North VIC 3174

Neil_james@racv.com.au
(03) 9703-6147
(03) 9790-2844
www.racv.com.au

Melbourne Wins Rights to Prestigious Cardiology Congress

Melbourne has had another major events win with one of the world’s largest and most prestigious medical conferences, the World Congress of Cardiology (WCC), confirmed for Melbourne in 2014.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher said the four-day Congress will attract more than 9,000 cardiologists and other healthcare professionals, including cardiovascular researchers, nurses and representatives from pharmaceutical companies from all over the world.

“Given that a high number of Australians are at risk of developing cardiovascular disease, its detection, prevention and management is essential for the future of our country.

“Victoria’s health, research and educational institutions are internationally renowned. In addition, Victoria is home to 138 biotech companies, 13 major medical research institutes, 10 teaching hospitals and nine high quality universities,” Ms Asher said.

Ms Sandra Chipchase, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MCVB, who secured the event, said the win added to a string of health-related events being held in Victoria, including the Western Pacific Congress on Chemotherapy and Infectious Diseases 2016 and the International Congress of Immunology 2016. These events will provide considerable economic benefits to the state.

“The WCC has never been held in Melbourne, which presents us with an excellent opportunity to showcase the city and regional Victoria. We expect the congress to inject $36 million into the Victorian economy,” Ms Chipchase said.

Mr James Cameron, President of local hosts the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ), said the Congress would play a key role in overcoming the scourge of cardiovascular disease.

“It is estimated that 1.4 million Australians will experience a disability associated with the cardiovascular system, while 17 million people worldwide die each year of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the importance of harnessing our research and biotechnology capabilities cannot be understated,” Mr Cameron said.

Leigh Harry, Chief Executive of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), said MCEC are delighted to be hosting the World Congress of Cardiology in 2014.

“The World Congress of Cardiology is the largest global event in the World Heart Foundation’s calendar and a huge win for Melbourne.

“The Congress will provide a significant opportunity for Victorians to come together and share knowledge with global experts in the cardiology field,” Mr Harry said.

AFL Final: The Irish are Coming – Another Major Events Win for Melbourne

The International Rules Series between Australia and Ireland provides elite footballers in the AFL and Ireland's Gaelic Athletic Association competition with an opportunity to represent their country on the football field.

AFL Final: The Irish are Coming – Another Major Events Win for Melbourne

Goodie Bag Package at Metro Apartments on Bank Place @ Metro Apartments on Bank Place - Metro Hotels

For just $175.00* per night, Stay in a one-bedroom apartment for two guests in a queen bed including:

"Goodie bag" on arrival containing two breakfast boxes (each with single serve cereal, milk, juice drink and muesli bar)
Late check-out of 12 noon
Bottle of wine
Metro Hotels Tote Bag

http://www.metrohotels.com.au/special/91#.ThJebfBphmc.blogger

Melbourne Zoo Fosters Innovation to Achieve Tourism Excellence

The Tourism Excellence program has been developed as part of Tourism Victoria’s commitment to raising the service skills and professional standards of the Victorian tourism industry.

Organised around seven key modules, the initiative is designed to help tourism businesses and destinations get the best from their workforce, deliver the best possible visitor experience, grow tourism by working together, and ensure a sustainable industry.

Zoos Victoria has been recognised by the Tourism Excellence program for fostering innovation, particularly with regard to conservation. Please click here for a case study.

Metro Apartments on Bank Place offer Ideal Melbourne Accommodation

School Holidays Australia: Kids Can Now Visit the Zoo for Free - Melbourne Zoo's

The Victorian Government is giving kids free entry to three of Victoria's outstanding zoos - Healesville Sanctuary, Werribee Zoo and Melbourne Zoo - as part of their efforts to subsidise zoo entry fees for an estimated 266,000 kids.

School Holidays Australia: Kids Can Now Visit the Zoo for Free - Melbourne Zoo's