China's Biggest Stars Help Bring Aussie Hotspots to Asian Screens

TWO of China's biggest heart-throbs have wandered around Federation Square, explored graffiti-filled city lanes and filmed in St Kilda over the past few days, barely raising an eyebrow.
But when their Taiwanese online drama series - a modern love story with a little bit of suspense - screens in China in April it will be seen by about 10 million people hanging on their every word and kiss.
Tourism authorities have funded the Australian visit of the celebrities Show Lo and Rainie Yang with more than $1 million and hope that many of their Chinese fans will want to copy them and visit here.

Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy said the two Taiwanese stars have a combined following of more than 25 million fans on online channels and microblogging sites that have exploded in popularity in China.

''Through the ages, tourism has generally been about word of mouth and in a digital age people like Show Lo and Rainie Yang are word of mouth personified,'' he said.

''The power of celebrity and the power of new channels to reach more people more often is huge. It creates a great platform for us to promote Australia.''

China is Australia's fastest growing market for international visitors. Last year 540,000 Chinese visited, generating $3.6 billion in spending, a 20 per cent increase from 2010. Tourism Australia says the potential for growth is $9 billion by 2020.

Lo and Yang are filming five 10-minute episodes of the drama series in Victoria, Tasmania and NSW. Each episode will also include a five-minute vignette about the tourist attractions featured.
Additionally, Lo will shoot footage for a series of music videos with Australian backdrops to promote his new album. The music videos will screen on Asia's major TV channels.

''Creating relationships with international opinion leaders and celebrities like Show Lo who advocate Australia as a holiday destination has become a major part of our marketing and public relations strategy,'' Mr McEvoy said.

Previously, Tourism Australia has used Indian Bollywood stars as part of its advocacy program, opinion leaders such as Richard Branson and Oprah Winfrey, who visited in December 2010 to film four episodes of her show.

''Oprah Winfrey is a great example of advocacy,'' Mr McEvoy said. ''The shows have been seen in 145 countries by 70 million people.''

Tourism Australia recently surveyed 500 Americans holidaying in Australia and 63 per cent said they had been directly influenced to come here by Oprah Winfrey, Mr McEvoy said.

Another recent survey of 500 Americans who will holiday in Australia in the next 12 months revealed that 50 per cent were directly influenced by Winfrey. 

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Herb & Chilli Festival Melbourne 2012

The Herb and Chilli Festival celebrates herbs and chillies in our day-to-day lives: flavours, benefits and uses in Australian food and wine.

Located in the Yarra Valley, visitors will have the chance to see a huge range of chilli plants and fruit, over 300 different herbs and be able to sample a range of food using different fresh herbs and chillies.
In 2012 the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is celebrating its 20th year and is running for 20 days.

The last weekend (17th and 18th March) has a regional focus and we are privileged to be accepted as one of their participating events. The event will run from 10 am to 4 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

Festival highlights and attractions will include:

-:- FREE Herb and Chilli Festival Showbag on arrival to the value of $20. Includes magazine, free plant, fertiliser sample and much more.
-:- stalls selling and sampling a broad range of chilli products; sauces, dips, dried, fresh, pickled and cooked
-:- a range of food plants including berries, fruit, herbs, tomatoes, vegetables, nuts, truffles and others
-:- talks and presentations by experts in growing, producing and using herbs for culinary, medicinal and other household purposes
-:- cooking demonstrations on how to use fresh herbs and chillies in day-to-day dishes
-:- an amazing array of tasty and unusual food and drinks including; chilli beers, local wineries, ciders, ales fresh fruit and produce, tacos and Mexican food and fresh made venison and herb sausages, calamari, fresh made halloumi, dukkhas and harissas, beef and chilli pies, locally made ice cream, frsh made fruit smoothies and much more
an essential oil still, distilling lavender oil
-:- a coffee cart with a selection of standard and herb/chilli coffees.
-:- horticultural societies talking about their special interest, including The Australian -:- -:- -:- Lavender Growers, Victorian Herb Society
-:- music and dance
-:- free activities for the kids, including face painting, pony rides and jumping castle.
-:- Red Horse doing his Apache smoke dance
and much more.

Book tickets on line – free for under 14.

From: Saturday 17th of March 2012  To  Sunday 18th of March 2012
Time: 10am to 4pm

Where: 125 Quayle Road  Wandin Victoria  Australia | Map
Telephone: 0414 242 710

Melbourne Fashion Festival Swap Meet

It is L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival time and the whole city is in a fashion frenzy!

As part of the Festival Cultural Program, we are gathering some of Melbourne’s most fashionable ladies to do some wardrobe swapping.

This event is always one of the best for the year so get along with your six items or less and find something new for the coming Autumn/Winter Season.

If this is your first swap, we encourage you to have a read of the Swapping FAQs on the website.

BMW Edge, Federation Square,
Corner Flinders St and Swanston St, Melbourne
Admission $25, book online/ tickets at the door according to availability

Be there for 6.30pm check in!

Bring 6 items you value but no longer wear to swap for those you will – quality screening at the door.

Date: Monday 12th of March 2012
Time: 6.30pm

Venue Federation Square 2 Swanston St Walk Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia | Map

Web Links Book Online Here Fashion Festival Swap www.clothingexchange.com.au Telephone: + 61 3 9655 1900

Aylesbury Vale F1 Star Webber Laughs Off Retirement Rumours

ASTON Clinton F1 star Mark Webber has laughed off rumours he plans to hang up his helmet at the end of this year.

Webber will hit the accelerator on his 11th season at the pinnacle of the sport next month, when F1 2012 gets underway in front of his home fans in Australia.

And while he is under pressure after being comprehensively outperformed by team-mate, Sebastian Vettel in 2011, the 35-year-old told the Australian press that he is ‘not contemplating’ retirement anytime soon.

“Not at all, (although) you know, I’ve been through enough on and off the track to know that nothing is forever,” he said.

“(According to the media) I was supposed to be replaced by Kimi (Raikkonen) four years ago!”

Despite talk of Webber planning to put the brakes on a life in the fast lane, The Stag at Mentmore co-owner is honest enough to admit 2011 was disappointing.

“I clearly got outperformed last year, there were areas where I could have done a better job,” he added.

“It was a tough start to the year I think, that makes it difficult to roll out of that mid-season and come to the end ... but, again, it’s those old lessons of operating at this level, you know you just have no choice, you’ve just got to get back on the horse, and get on with it.”

Finishing with victory in Brazil at the end of the last campaign sent Webber into the winter on a high and he says he is feeling the benefits.

“I think it’s one of the best breaks I’ve had. It was just a really good break and you know sometimes they don’t always go like that.

“Obviously, on the back of 2010 when I didn’t win the championship that was a different sort of winter getting your head around that, and then the previous winters before that I was having surgery on the leg.

“So this was a real first nice winter, saying, like, let’s pull it all together and come back refreshed, you just feel refreshed, that’s the most important thing,” he concluded.

Although feeling rejuvenated and fresh-faced ahead of the curtain raiser in Melbourne on March 18, Webber admits he slightly is less enthused by the look of his new RB8 car.

With new rules introduced this season, the F1 cars have taken on a distinctly different look with stepped noses proving all the rage.

But Webber thinks the noses are plain ugly.

“F1 cars should look beautiful.

“The stepped nose is not very desirable in my opinion but that’s how it is and that’s okay.

“Aerodynamically the concept is a bit different for sure.

“But I feel comfortable in the car and it goes, so we’ll see,” he added,

You can keep up to date with Mark Webber on Twitter. Go to www.twitter.com and follow

Aylesbury Vale F1 Star Webber Laughs Off Retirement Rumours

AIME’s 20th Anniversary Bigger Than Ever - Melbourne Conferences

The 20th anniversary Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) will take place next week and is expected to be bigger than ever, with a huge turnout by exhibitors and strong support from existing and new sponsors, allowing for exciting initiatives both on and off the show floor.

Joined again by big name, major sponsors such as the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), Crown, Qantas, Australian Hotels Association (AHA) and Saxton Speakers Bureau, as well as new sponsors including Corporate Traveller, Air New Zealand, ShowGizmo and three new industry associations, AIME has been able to draw on their support to introduce new additions such as the Association Lounge, a new look Education Program and an additional dining area on the show floor.

Sally de Swart, Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) Director for AIME, said she is looking forward to seeing the response to the show’s range of new initiatives.

“The show floor is going to be really buzzing and I am particularly looking forward to our new networking opportunities such as the Exhibitor Networking Drinks on the Tuesday afternoon. This gives exhibitors the chance to run promotions and competitions as well as host casual drinks on their stands and mix with buyers and visitors in a more relaxed atmosphere,” Ms de Swart said.

“We’ve also enhanced the culinary offering at the show this year as the Globe Restaurant and Bar sponsored by South African Tourism, is offering table service and bookings for the first time, which is ideal for lunch meetings."

“We want to offer something for everyone and the formal dining option at Globe will be complemented with the Singapore Tourism Board’s SingaporeXpress, a dining area, which is offering a quick and tasty, hawker-style menu for attendees short on time.”

New sponsor ShowGizmo is offering a free mobile phone app to AIME visitors and exhibitors which provides up-to-date information on everything taking place at the show, by allowing them to plan their time, access AIME’s program, exchange information and collect brochures, make connections, receive real time alerts and news, before, during and after the event, all in the palm of their hand. Attendees will also now be able to charge their mobile phones at the show’s new Chargebar, located in the Relaxation Zone and close to the Globe Restaurant.

New partnerships established with associations have led to the introduction of the Association Lounge, where attendees can meet with members of AIME’s new association partners: The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE); the Professional Conference Organisers Association Inc (PCO); and International Special Events Society (ISES). The new look Education Program has also been developed in conjunction with these partners, as well as International Convention and Congress Association (ICCA) and Meetings and Events Australia (MEA), ensuring the content addresses real issues faced by the industry.

This year AIME has also introduced the new, online travel booking tool that allows AIME attendees to compare preferable flight and accommodation prices for their trip to AIME and book all through the one site thanks to new sponsor Ozzacom Plus.

A “Keeping it Green” campaign has also been introduced in an effort to make AIME a sustainable, low carbon event by encouraging exhibitors to donate their surplus merchandise and gifts, such as bags and pens, to charities. AIME will provide Green Deposit Depots at the show for these donations and then will distribute these on behalf of exhibitors.

AIME, which is owned by the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau and run by RTE, will take place on the 21 and 22 February 2012 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).

For more information about visiting AIME 2012, visit www.aime.com.au

To attend as a visitor, pre-register for free online by Monday 20 February by 5pm or pay $22 at the door.
Follow AIME on Twitter @AIMEMelbourne #AIME2012

AIME’s 20th Anniversary Bigger Than Ever - Melbourne Conferences

Victoria Prepared to Ban Outdoor Smoking

Victoria's health department is said to be pushing for a total smoking ban in outdoor areas throughout the state.

The calls have reportedly been made in a report to Health Minister David Davies.

Several metropolitan councils have already introduced bans at playgrounds and sports centres.

The plan has drawn opposition from business owners and smokers alike, who say it is still legal to light up and every person should have a choice.

The move follows Queensland's state-wide smoking ban in outdoor areas, in July 2006.

Victoria Prepared to Ban Outdoor Smoking

Melbourne, We Love It, But it's Too Dear and Too Packed

MELBURNIANS love their city, but are sick of pretentious restaurants and bars, soaring parking fees and crowded streets, secret council research has revealed.

Internal council reports obtained by the Herald Sun under Freedom of Information give for the first time a frank assessment of the city by its residents.

While locals are proud of the city’s bustling laneways and busy events calendar, many will avoid the city because it’s too expensive, too busy and too pretentious.

More than 90 per cent of people questioned in the City of Melbourne’s 2010 City Perceptions Study said they didn’t care if they socialised around “beautiful people”, and 95 per cent said they weren’t fans of upmarket venues.

Almost two-thirds said it made them proud to be a Melburnian when the city picked up awards.

But the city’s dire parking was enough reason not to visit for 43 per cent.

Others said the city was too crowded or too much hassle, they didn’t feel safe, activities were too expensive, and the city was dirty, noisy and polluted.

There were four core weaknesses that stopped people visiting the city. They included:

TIME taken up by transport, poor public transport and feeling they must get dressed up to go into the city.

HIGH prices of parking, food, drink and entry prices.

TRAFFIC for drivers and pedestrians, causing stress and frustration.

SUBURBS offering better parking and facilities around shopping centres.

The report noted Melbourne had four personalities during the week, of which just two were appealing.

On Saturdays and Sundays, Melbourne was relaxed and family friendly. In the evenings, it was sophisticated and atmospheric.

But on weekdays from 9am to 5pm, it became rushed and serious, and on Saturday night, Melbourne was “immature, drunken, and tacky”, the report said.

Former premier Jeff Kennett said Melburnians were right to feel proud of their city, but they faced an increasing number of barriers trying to visit it.

“The city is … an absolute magnet in terms of the diversity of its offerings,” he said.

“It’s very special, but as the population grows and our demand upon our infrastructure grows at a similar rate, it’s becoming an increasingly expensive option.”