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  • Sydney becomes more appealing destination for business events

    New South Wales has had one in every of its most successful business events years ever, hosting 91 events worth almost $220 million to the State’s economy, Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, announced today.

    “I am particularly buoyed to work out that regional areas of NSW also are major beneficiaries of industrial events last year and i’m encouraged by Business Events Sydney (BESydney) reporting that NSW’s regions were enjoying increased opportunities for hosting national and international business delegates.

    Business Events Sydney is a not-for-profit, independent proprietary company.

    “The NSW Government is committed to expanding some great benefits of business events to the regions by enacting a recommendation of the Visitor Economy Taskforce so one can see the advance this year of an integrated Regional Conferencing Strategy led by Destination NSW and Business Events Sydney.

    “Destinations equivalent to the Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains and Wollongong have traditionally been key markets for incentive and reward trips, however the growing sophistication of regional facilities and the cultivation of specalised knowledge hubs are making these destinations increasingly more appealing to the conference and association market.

    “Whether it’s rural health in Newcastle, organic horticulture at Bathurst or fisheries at Port Stephens, association clients embrace the chance to take visiting delegates to the coal face to have interaction and collaborate at regional research centres and data hubs and undertake technical tours of those specialty areas,” Mr Souris said.

    Mr Souris mentioned that last year saw 60,237 delegates come to Sydney for a complete of 244,453 delegate days, many visiting regional areas and spending time there…and this year is asking much more promising.

    “2013 has only just begun, but already BESydney has secured a robust line-up of events for the town, drawing thousands of tourists which are keen to experience one of many world’s most unforgettable destinations first hand.

    “So far, 64 events will attract greater than 50,000 business visitors to NSW with an estimated economic impact of $167.1 million to the State.   

    “Among the secured events for 2013 is the LG Group’s annual incentive program, for you to be held in Sydney for the third time. 930 selected LG staff from Korea will travel to Sydney in waves of fifty – 70 delegates at a time to enjoy a fun-filled itinerary, including visits to the Blue Mountains, sand boarding in Port Stephens and, obviously, tours of Sydney’s famous landmarks.

    “Wollongong and the Illawarra have also reaped the advantages of the Government’s efforts, along with BE Sydney and Destination NSW. Wollongong played host to the 15th International Conference on Advances in Materials and Processing Technologies (AMPT) for 300 delegates in September 2012 and may host 400 delegates for the IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics in July 2013.

    “The intellectual capital of the award-winning University of Wollongong has helped to draw a various array of leading business events and that momentum is determined to continue.

    “The Hunter Valley is another destination to learn with the ideal China Leadership Seminar bringing greater than 3,000 delegates to the region in July adding millions of bucks to the local economy.

    “Many of the regions of NSW have their very own unique products, expert suppliers and natural assets to provide the business events market. BESydney and Destination NSW will develop strategies to counterpoint and enhance the opportunities for regional business, institutes and universities to tap into the business event market. The long run for business events in Sydney and NSW is bright,” Mr Souris said.

    Mr Souris congratulated BE Sydney for its success in helping to continue to draw a record number business events to NSW.

    Lyn Lewis-Smith, CEO of BESydney, said last year’s success can be attributed to BESydney’s expert team and long-term client relationships.

    “Critical to this success is the dynamic business environment and innovative researchers based in our State,” she said.

  • News: oneworld members elected to hitch Global Explorer

    oneworld members elect Qatar Airways and SriLankan Airlines are to take part within the Global Explorer round-the-world fare offered by all of the alliance’s members and selected other carriers.

    The move represents a primary step by both airlines towards their implementation into oneworld, that’s on target for the year ahead – once they will start participating within the full range of the alliance’s fares and offering all its other services and benefits. 

    Their oneworld joining dates may be announced in the end, the organisation said in an announcement.

    Meantime, Qatar Airways’ entire global network, covering 125 destinations in 71 countries worldwide from its Doha hub, and SriLankan’s entire global schedule serving 32 airports in 22 countries will both now feature as portion of Global Explorer, that is probably the most popular round-the-world fares available.

    The Gulf carrier adds four countries to the map served by Global Explorer – Iran, Mozambique, Rwanda and the Seychelles – and 17 more destinations around the Indian sub-continent, the center East and Africa, including India’s Amritsar, Goa and Kochi and Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro. 

    It also significantly expands the routing alternatives available through Global Explorer, by adding direct connections between hundreds of city pairs, chiefly between Asia and Africa or southern Europe.

    SriLankan connects one destination to the worldwide Explorer map, India’s Tiruchchirappalli, while also adding more routing options, mainly in South Asia, where it’s not only the flag carrier of Sri Lanka but additionally the leading international airline serving the Maldives and likewise has an important presence in Southern India.

    As Qatar Airways and SriLankan Airlines start participating in Global Explorer, Gulf Air withdraws its participation.

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  • Vivanta by Taj to open in Gurgaon

    Vivanta by Taj will see its rapidly-growing portfolio increase further with the outlet of the Vivanta by Taj – Gurgaon, March 7th 2013.

    The hotel is strategically located in a single of India’s largest business hubs, Gurgaon, the booming industrial and fiscal centre of the Haryana state, just 30 kilometres south of recent Delhi.

    Vivanta by Taj – Gurgaon, that’s just a 15-minute drive from the brand new Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, will offer luxury services customised for business travellers, high-end meeting and incentive groups in addition to leisure travellers in search of luxe-accommodation near the airport.

    The new Vivanta by Taj – Gurgaon, NCR have been designed to showcase Singapore-based architecture firm Warner Wong Design | WOW Architects, which has brought staggeringly innovative and design-led accommodation to at least one of India’s fastest growing districts.

    The hotel could have 189 rooms with city and pool views, 18 Suites, one Presidential Suite and an Executive Lounge.

    With 10,000 sq ft of slick conferencing facilities and entirely-equipped banquet halls, Vivanta by Taj – Gurgaon, NCR can play host to high-end business meetings and conferences.

    Food and beverage outlets include Tease, a buzzing cocktail bar, Latitude, a 24/7 international restaurant, and a deli that will tantalise guests’ taste buds with a mixture of local and international cuisine.

    The famous Thai Pavilion, serving sumptuous South Asian cuisine, will make its debut in India at Vivanta by Taj – Gurgaon, NCR.

    The hotel is conveniently situated near the DLF world class golf course and shopping malls aplenty.

    Guests can spend time on the hotel’s Jiva Spa, home to signature treatments combining ancient Indian techniques with contemporary therapies.

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  • News: IHIF 2013: Hotel Partners Africa set for launch

    Four pre-eminent consultants to the hotel industry in Africa have joined forces to launch Hotel Partners Africa, a brand new consultancy offering a comprehensive range of services to hotel owners, operators and investors, from initial feasibility to sale and exit.

    The consultants are: W Hospitality Group, an award-winning hospitality consultancy based in West Africa, which has advised on over 3,000 projects, Leisure Property Services, a pace-setter in hospitality valuations and transactions, whose founder have been instumental in over €30 billion of hotel transactions and has written an acclaimed book on hotel valuation, Hotel Spec, a South Africa-based hospitality development manager and procurement agent with over 20 years’ experience bringing new developments to completion and Vernon Page, a world expert with a fifteen year track record in asset management and the procurement of finance for hospitality projects.

    Hotel Partners Africa offers unparalleled advice and a continuing service through the lifecycle of a hotel venture in Africa, covering feasibility & market studies, sourcing funding & finance, development management, procurement, asset management and sales.

    The combined client list includes a number of the biggest names inside the hospitality industry in Africa: Auspex Properties, Barclays, Beneficial Life, Crowne Plaza, DEG, Kingdom Hotel Investments, Hilton, HSBC, IDC, IFC, InterContinental, Marriott, NAMA, Park Plaza, Premier Inn, Opulent, Radisson, Royal Bank of Scotland, Sonarwa IG, Starwood and traditional Life amongst others

    This collaboration was a natural evolution of the founding partners, Trevor Ward, Mark Martinovic, David Harper and Vernon Page, who’ve often worked together on different aspects of a client’s business and feature observed an increasing appetite for a whole turn-key solution.

    HPA, Director, Vernon Page said: “Africa has conspicuously lacked an integrated complete-solutions provider with the credentials to offer a unbroken and professional advisory service inside the lifecycle of a hotel project. 

    “By creating this ‘one-stop shop’, Hotel Partners Africa is filling that gap available in the market. 

    “Our aim is to construct long-standing relationships with major players, particularly the hotel chains, developers, fund managers, contractors and homeowners and to produce them with a comprehensive and highly proactive service.”

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  • 100 top Australian travel agents to get taste of Abu Dhabi

    One hundred of Australia’s top travel agents are due in Abu Dhabi next month on a mega familiarisation trip hosted by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) together with carriers Virgin Australia and Etihad Airways.

    The 100 hail from retail travel agencies Australia-wide who’re all top sellers of The Travel Corporation’s iconic travel brands, including Trafalgar Tours, Contiki Holidays, Insight Vacations and artistic Holidays, in addition to Etihad Airways and Virgin Australia.

    Due inside the emirate for a 3-day destination fact-finding trip from March 7, the gang will stay at a variety of Abu Dhabi’s finest hotels, including the five-star, beachfront Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort,Le MéridienHotel Abu Dhabi, Hilton Abu Dhabi Hotel and Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi. While within the emirate they’ll have a city tour, visit the UAE capital’s stunning Corniche, its magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – just named among the many world’s most mentioned attractions by TripAdvisor – the Mina Zayed date and fish markets, Heritage Village, Falcon Hospital and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest indoor theme park with the world’s fastest roller-coaster. They’ll also head out into Abu Dhabi’s vast desert for a Sundowner Safari and dinner and be treated to a farewell dinner on the iconic Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, the sole hotel on this planet straddling an F1 race track.

    “Our aim is to more closely hook up with these important influencers, convince them of our product in order to assist us in converting more Australian travellers into actual bookings for Abu Dhabi,” said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director Promotions & Overseas Offices, TCA Abu Dhabi.
    “We see strong potential within Australiawith our destination now benefitting from 31 flights every week from the rustic linking Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Abu Dhabi International. The possible is both as a stopover for those travelling to Europe and beyond and increasingly as a stand-alone destination. Currently Australian guests in Abu Dhabi hotels average a stay of just over three nights – we need them to understand there’s now so much more to work out and do within the emirate so as to expand this length of stay.”

    Last year some 36,659 Australians stayed in Abu Dhabi’s hotels and hotel apartments – a five percent rise on 2011. They accounted for 118,289 room nights.
    Etihad Airways currently operates 28 flights per week from Australia, with departures from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane with Virgin Australia operating three flights every week from Sydney.