Melbourne And Olympic City London Take The Top Awards For Ultimate Sports Cities

Melbourne has come a close second only to the 2012 Olympics host city London in the prestigious World's Ultimate Sport Cities Awards based on industry rankings from SportBusiness International.

As Melbourne prepares to host the Game One blockbuster of the 2012 Harvey Norman State of Origin Series between the Queensland Maroons and New South Wales Blues at Etihad Stadium tonight Premier Ted Baillieu announced that Melbourne is at the top of the world sporting events table.

"Melbourne topped the rankings for the World's Best Sport Venues and the World's Best Major Events Strategy, and was named the Best Sports City in the 'large' category for cities with a population of between four and six million people," Mr Baillieu said.

London, host of this year's Olympic Games, finished just 10 points ahead of Melbourne in the overall category.

"Major sporting events deliver significant economic benefits for Victoria, and major events generate jobs in the events industry as well as our hotels, restaurants, retail businesses and tourist attractions," Mr Baillieu said.

"Importantly major events showcase our great State to the world and that generates tourism and business investment.

"The Victorian Coalition Government is strengthening Victoria's competitive edge, we have successfully secured new major events and we are investing in our sporting venues to attract more major events and to continue to deliver an outstanding spectator experience," Mr Baillieu said.

The Coalition Government has provided new funding to maintain and upgrade Victorian world's best sports venues with planning starting on Stage 2 of the Melbourne Park redevelopment to ensure the Australian Open remains in Melbourne, the completion of Lakeside Stadium as a world class track and field venue and ongoing support for the operation of the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre and the State Hockey and Netball Centre.

The Government has also been delivering upgrades at the MCG and Stage 1 of the Melbourne Park redevelopment.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher said Victoria's major events calendar was worth $1.4 billion in economic benefit to our State each year.

"The Victorian Coalition Government has successfully attracted additional major events for Victoria and is committed to boosting Victoria's major events calendar in Melbourne and regional Victoria," Ms Asher said.

Ms Asher said the Coalition Government had secured matches of the 2013 British and Irish Lions Tour of Australia (Rugby), matches of the 2015 AFC Asia Cup, 2014 Masters Rowing World Championships (Ballarat), Host City ISAF Sailing World Cup, Olympic Farewell Series Australian Boomers and Opals (men's and women's basketball teams), WTC Asia-Pacific Ironman Championship, and the FIH Hockey Champions Trophy 2012.

The biennial SportsBusiness Ultimate Sports City Awards recognise the achievements of cities around the world in a number of areas relating to the cities' capacity to support sporting events.

The Awards are assessed by a panel of industry judges convened by SportsBusiness International using a range of criteria including: the number of annual sports events held; major events held or won between 2008 and 2016; numbers of federations hosted; the calibre of events for which bids are currently being made; facilities/venues; transport; accommodation; government support; security; legacy; public sports interest; quality of life; marketing; and the use of social media.

The Top 10 rankings for Ultimate Sports City

1. London 491
2. Melbourne 481
3. Sydney 421
4. New York 406
5. Manchester 398
6. Singapore 393
7. Berlin 370
8. Copenhagen 353
9. Glasgow 344
10. Paris 337

China Strategy Launched in Melbourne

Premier Ted Baillieu has launched Victoria's China Tourism Strategy at the Australia-China Business Week luncheon in Melbourne.

Mr Baillieu said China was Victoria's fastest growing tourism market with more than a quarter of a million Chinese tourists expected to visit this year, and the new ten year strategy aimed to take this growth to new heights.

"The strategy aims to lift the growth of China's tourism market in Victoria from 7% to more than 11% per year," Mr Baillieu said.

"The strategy would generate almost 42,000 additional jobs in Victoria, deliver up to $2.3 billion in annual visitor expenditure and boost gross state product over the ten year period by $18.2 billion.

"Victoria's China Tourism Strategy sets out a clear plan with five key priorities and an agenda that will engage government, business and the tourism industry to strengthen Victoria's relationship with China to reach ambitious targets that will deliver significant economic benefits," Mr Baillieu said.

The five priorities are:

• strengthening Victoria's market positioning;
• building on Victoria's strong education, migrant and business links;
• improving visitor access with China;
• enhancing the quality of the visitor experience; and
• aligning tourism investment to the Chinese visitor market.

Mr Baillieu said part of Victoria's China Tourism Strategy was an $8 million China tourism marketing campaign.

Tourism and major events minister Louise Asher said the strategy – the first of its kind for Victoria – was a blueprint for the tourism industry and business sector to leverage opportunities and address the challenges that lie ahead.

"The economic benefits of this market, worth $816 million last year alone, will depend on how well we deliver new and innovative experiences and satisfy the consumer demands of Chinese visitors," Ms Asher said.

"Other key aims of our strategy include improving Chinese language and cultural literacy services in Victoria and implementing a sophisticated digital marketing strategy," Ms Asher said.

According to the International Visitor Survey, China is Victoria's largest source of international overnight visitor arrivals, after overtaking New Zealand in the year ending December 2011.

Chinese visitors spent $816 million in Victoria in the year ending December 2011, the highest figure of any international market and representing a substantial increase of 19.1 per cent compared to the previous year.

Mr Baillieu said China was Victoria's largest and most important trading partner and this solid base would become a dynamic driver of growth and prosperity for Victoria over the next 30 years.

Victoria and China enjoy a deep bilateral relationship with strong ties and a number of linkages through trade and formalised partnerships," Mr Baillieu said.

Victoria's China Tourism Strategy maps out key priorities relating to market positioning, airline connections, investment, improving the Chinese visitor experience and building on Victoria's strong education, migration and business links with China.

(Source: www.accomnews.com.au)

Travelling Like a Fella to Melbourne

Australia’s cultural capital has ranked tenth behind powerhouses such as London, New York and Rio in AskMen’s fourth annual ‘Top 29 Cities for Men’ 2012.

As part of the AskMen study, men found Melbourne’s ‘buzzing night life’ and sports scene was key to drawing in the fellas while popular city, Sydney failed to even garner a showing.   

AskMen Australian editor Jamie Watt said he understood the appeal behind Melbourne, which managed to steal attendance from both local and international males.

London took top spot, with men declaring it “the centre of the world”, while Peru’s capital Lima was described as “the next sexy South America city you’ve never been to” and ranked in at number 13.

“From Olympic fever in London (#1), to the adventure of a lifetime in Mumbai (#2), to preparing to be the most watched city on earth in 2014 – thanks to Rio (#3) hosting the Soccer World Cup and of course, enjoying ‘the beach party of your dreams’ in Cartagena (#7) – when it comes to this year’s ‘Top 29 Cities for Men’ it’s all about world sporting spectacles, soaking up the sun, partying and enjoying the foodie factor in exotic locations,” an AskMen representative said.

Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh (#14) was also incorporated into the list this year “because the food keeps getting better” as well as Cartagena in Spain for hosting the “beach part of your dreams”.

(Source: Travmedia.com)

MCVB’s 2012/2013 Strategic Business Plan Revealed

The Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau’s (MCVB) Chief Executive Officer Karen Bolinger officially launched the organisation’s 2012/2013 Strategic Business Plan at IMEX this week.

The plan, which centres around the organisation’s vision of Melbourne becoming globally recognised as the world’s premier city for business events, also aims to have MCVB acknowledged as a thought-leader, an innovator and driver of significant economic impact to the city, state and country.

Ms Bolinger said the multi-layered strategic plan had been developed in consultation with clients, stakeholders and staff at all levels of the organisation, which has resulted in a comprehensive, cohesive document that clearly sets the direction for the future.

“We have reassessed who we are as an organisation and what we want to achieve, and in-line with this we have worked hard to establish what we are doing well and what we want to do better,” she said.

“Over the last few years the landscape of business events across the globe has changed significantly, with many cities, governments and countries recognising the value of business events beyond delegate numbers and economic impact.

“As the economic and competitive landscape changes, the strategic direction of MCVB needs to move with it and this new plan has been developed to identify how we can remain competitive on a global stage.

“The six strategic projects provide us with a platform on which to build a focussed organisation with a set direction. We’ve got rid of the clutter and in some instances redirected our resources in order to streamline our activities to deliver us better conversion across the board and ensure our clients, stakeholders and staff are all engaged.”

Ms Bolinger added that the MCVB team was looking forward to achieving the goals they had set for themselves.

“Provided these strategic projects are effectively executed, there’s no doubt MCVB and Melbourne will be positioned extremely well for the future,” she said.

(Source: etravelblackboard.com)

MCVB’s 2012/2013 Strategic Business Plan Revealed

Shows Australia: Cirque Du Soleil Prepares for Mass Insect Migration From Portland to Brisbane

The countdown to OVO is on!

Who would have thought that relocating a cast of butterflies, crickets, spiders, ants, scarab beetles, fireflies, fleas, a ladybug and a blue fly would take a military-style international operation worthy of a Mission Impossiblescript?

But these are no ordinary insects. They are the stunning cast of the critically-acclaimed family-fun packed OVOby Cirque du Soleil, set to have its Australian premiere in Brisbane on July 14 with a limited season under the trademark blue-and-yellow Big Top at Northshore Hamilton. (amazing images and cool interviews available on request!)

OVO finished playing in Portland, Oregon, USA on Sunday. Before the 12-month Australian tour can commence, the cast, crew, big top and its surrounding village must be transported all the way from Portland to Brisbane.

“The Australian tour is the first time OVO has traveled outside North America, and it’s a mammoth logistical operation, one which is planned and managed internationally by Cirque du Soleil’s Tour Logistics Department,” said OVO Production Operation Manager Derrin Brown. The complex operational plan will ensure that the big top, sets and costumes – some 1200 tons of equipment - are pulled down, packed up and shipped to Australia in time for the first performance in Brisbane on Saturday 14 July.

“Transport of the equipment takes place over a two month period, which began in early May. Making co-ordination even more complicated is the fact that equipment for the Australian tour is originating from different countries – Canada, the UK and Germany, with the main portion coming from Portland in the United States.

The Portland equipment will sail to Australia out of the Port of Seattle,” said Brown. “Approximately 78 containers will be transported, with all equipment travelling by boat.

“To ensure Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services requirements are fully met, all the equipment – down to the ‘nails’ that hold the tents down - must be washed before being placed in the containers.   It’s a huge operation, but all equipment should be safe and sound in Brisbane by early July.”

Then there’s the cast and crew. Over 60 bicycles and 410 suitcases will be transported to help make Australia their home for the next year. The cast of OVO features 54 performing artists from 16 countries specializing in many acrobatic acts. One highlight of the show is the stunning Flying Act in which a group of scarab beetles soar high above the stage, from both edges to the middle landing on a platform. This breathtaking act combines many circus disciplines: banquine, Russian swing and swinging chair.

Since its world premiere in 2009, OVO has visited more than 15 cities in Canada, United States and Mexico, delighting over 2 million spectators.  OVO, meaning “egg” in Portuguese, is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement.

Cirque du Soleil

From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is a major Québec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 artists from more than 50 different countries. Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in more than 300 cities in over forty countries on six continents. Cirque du Soleil International Headquarters are in Montreal, Canada.

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL - OVO - 2012/2013 AUSTRALIAN TOUR

Brisbane - From July 14 2012, Northshore Hamilton
Sydney - From September 13 2012, Showring at The Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park
Adelaide - From December 6 2012, Location to be advised
Melbourne - From January 17 2013, Melbourne Docklands
Perth - From April 14 2013, Langley Park

Cirque Du Soleil Prepares for Mass Insect Migration From Portland to Brisbane

Visitors Into Melbourne Airport On The Rise

Recent statistics reveal international visitors into Melbourne Airport for April 2012 grew by 2.2 percent compared to last April, with a significant growth from the China region.

Melbourne Airport chief executive officer Chris Woodruff attributed the increase in visitors to the Easter holiday break being earlier this year.

“Last year, Easter was late in April with many people also combining travel with the Anzac Day public holiday so this month, we are seeing the impacts of the earlier Easter period," Mr Woodruff Said.

Mr Woodruff added that it was pleasing to have experienced increased growth from emerging markets such as China, Taiwan and Sri Lanka as well as from the U.S. and New Zealand

“China remains the market that is driving growth, and the opportunities presented through the development of new aviation services to Australia from major inland regions and cities will continue to support this future growth.”

With Melbourne Airports recent agreement to build a sister airport with Chengdu International Airport in Sichuan province accomplished, there will be even greater aviation links to China.

“Our significant investment in airside and landside infrastructure is providing the capacity for future growth in both the domestic and international markets while delivering better service for our airline customers and passengers,” Mr Woodruff said.

Mr Woodruff said the upcoming construction of a seventh baggage reclaim unit for international arrivals will further improve the passenger experience at Melbourne Airport.

“We are also about to commence a refurbishment of our T3 domestic terminal and are continuing our planning for our new Southern Precinct domestic terminal,” he added.

“Combined with our 24 hour operation, lower aeronautical charges and single terminal precinct, these projects will ensure that Melbourne Airport continues to grow successfully as Victoria’s aviation gateway.”

(Source: etravelblackboard.com)

Melbourne Ranked Number One Business City

Melbourne has been ranked the number one city in Australia for International conventions and number nine in Asia Pacific, Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher announced.

The Country and City Ranking Report 2011, created by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) revealed Melbourne was also ranked at number 31 in the world, up nine places from the year before.

Ms Asher said the results were an outstanding success for Melbourne and a true indication of the city’s business events offering.

“To be recognised officially by the top congress and convention association in the world is a major coup for the city and one that we are incredibly proud of,” Ms Asher said.

“Furthermore, to be ranked ahead of Sydney and Brisbane, our biggest competition in Australia, is perhaps the most important indicator that our city’s facilities and overall international appeal are outstanding.”

Melbourne Convention and Visitor Bureau (MCVB) chief executive officer Karen Bolinger said Melbourne’s status as Australia’s leading business events destination was getting stronger and stronger.

“Melbourne is the top choice for many of the world’s major international associations holding regular congresses and conventions," Ms Bolinger said.

“These groups are attracted to Melbourne for a number of reasons, primarily the large pool of intellectual capital the city can offer, as well as the city’s world-class infrastructure.”

The city hosted 62 major international meetings during the qualifying period and in the next two years, will continue to strengthen its reputation as a leading business city with the hosting of seven of the world’s largest medical and scientific conferences.

(Source: etravelblackboard.com)