QUEENSLAND’s peak tourism industry body believes the G20 Leaders Summit and surrounding activities will deliver worldwide exposure for Queensland to a level virtually impossible to achieve through traditional advertising campaigns.

The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) believes potential social media coverage about Queensland and other Australian states, broadcast to a global audience through the internet, will bring invaluable publicity and a positive state-wide exposure. 

QTIC chief executive Daniel Gschwind said almost 155 million people from around the world were directly following the social media pages of the G20 leaders and leaders from six attending guest countries.

“This week’s G20 Leaders Summit hosted by Brisbane (November 14-16) presented a critical opportunity for Queensland to show itself off to the world and capture the attention of a global audience,” Mr Gschwind said.

“The ears and eyes of the world will be focused on Queensland. Collectively, our G20 visitors will act as a giant megaphone to broadcast their opinions about Brisbane and Queensland in general.

“We’re encouraging social media users to include #WelcomeToQueensland to demonstrate our warm hospitality and share our Queensland pride with the world.

“In addition to these 155 million followers, there will be 4,000 delegates and 3,000 media sharing their comments, photos and video about Queensland with the rest of the world through social media.”

Mr Gschwind said Queensland was well-equipped to make the most of the brightly shining G20 spotlight, having previously hosted large-scale global events such as Expo ’88 and the 1982 Commonwealth Games. 

“Many of the visiting leaders will be visiting Queensland for the first time and some will travel to other Australian states during their visit to the country,” he said.

“We all know first impressions can make or break a person’s travel experience and it’s critical that Queensland leaves a positive lasting impression on our international guests.”

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games, Jann Stuckey said hosting the G20 in Queensland would generate global exposure for Brisbane as well as Queensland’s regional tourism destinations.

“Increased media interest will produce long-term economic benefits for Queensland as people across the world learn of its appeal as a business, study and leisure destination,” Ms Stuckey said.

“Hosting the G20 bolsters recognition of Queensland’s international expertise in attracting, planning and staging world events.”

Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Leanne Coddington said the Brisbane Marketing Global Café, a G20 world-first supported by Tourism and Events Queensland, will explore important issues including the emerging frontiers of tourism.

“The Brisbane Global Café presents a significant opportunity for Brisbane to lead the global discussion on a number of topics including the way ahead for tourism,” Ms Coddington said.

Tourism in Queensland contributes $23 billion in expenditure to the economy and employs 241,000 people.

Mr Gschwind said QTIC acts as ‘the voice of tourism’ while operating as a private sector, membership-based organisation representing the interests of the tourism and hospitality industry across Queensland.

www.g20.org

www.qtic.com.au

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VIRGIN Australian and Singapore Airlines are now allowing members of Velocity Frequent Flyer and KrisFlyer to convert their ‘miles’ and ‘points’ between both programs for the first time and receive innovative new benefits.

Singapore Airlines holds a stake of about 22 percent in Virgin Australia and this is a step up in the operating alliance, which began in 2011. 

The new conversion link-up, which is exclusive to the two airline loyalty programs, will give members greater access to upgrades and reward seats across the combined domestic and international network of Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines. By converting their miles, KrisFlyer members will also be able to benefit from Velocity’s range of non-flight redemption rewards.

The new conversion capability will be available to members of both programs from November as well as an improved online booking capability for Velocity Frequent Flyers to redeem flights on Singapore Airlines and subsidiary SilkAir.

A range of program enhancements have also been introduced to both KrisFlyer and Velocity members over the last 12 months.

These include redemption across all classes of travel on Virgin Australia with the inclusion of premium economy and the ability to earn ‘status credits’ on domestic, trans-Tasman and Pacific Islands codeshare flights operated by Virgin Australia for KrisFlyer member.

There is also a reduction in the Velocity Points required for ‘reward seats’ on Singapore Airlines and the ability to earn points on all fare classes with Singapore Airlines and SilkAir for Velocity Frequent Flyer members.

Singapore Airlines executive vice president commercial, Mak Swee Wah said,  “We are always looking for new ways to serve our customers better and the alliance with Virgin Australia enables us to offer a first-rate integrated travel experience across Australia.

“This latest enhancement will increase the benefits to KrisFlyer members, providing more value to miles accrued when travelling on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir with a wider range of redemption options.”
Velocity Frequent Flyer chief executive officer, Neil Thompson said, “As we build and strengthen our alliance partnership with Singapore Airlines, we will continue to look for opportunities to leverage their strong international network to the benefit of our most valued customers.

“We have built a transformational loyalty business with a membership base of more than 4.5 million and this unique innovation is part of our strategic plan to fast track the program’s growth in becoming a world-leading loyalty program.

“Enhancing reciprocal reward and recognition for our most frequent flyers will enable us to deliver them even greater benefits when flying domestically and internationally across our combined networks,” Mr Thompson said.
He said the Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia alliance provided more choice for domestic and international air travel to and from Australia, with attractive and seamless travel options connecting 45 destinations in Virgin Australia’s network to over 80 destinations across Singapore Airlines and SilkAir’s global network.

www.singaporeair.com

www.virginaustralia.com

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BRISBANE has attracted Academy Award winning film producer and education, digital business and trade leader David Puttnam to speak next month at the Brisbane Global Café.

Lord Puttnam is best known for producing the acclaimed Oscar-winning film Chariots Of Fire, but in recent years has worked on various UK Government initiatives to promote better education outcomes and boost digital technology adoption in business and industry. 

Brisbane City Council Finance and Economic Development Chairman Councillor Julian Simmonds said the Brisbane Global Café is a first for a G20 host city and aimed to capitalise on the city’s status as the "capital of the world" when Brisbane hosts the 2014 G20 Leaders Summit.

“The Brisbane Global Café is a two-day event at Brisbane City Hall on November 12-13 leading into the G20 Leaders Summit on November 15-16, featuring speakers, workshops, and media conferences, as well as a series of events those involving the visit by Lord Puttnam,” Cr Simmonds said.

“Lord Puttnam is a legend of the film industry. His visit will be a coup for the city and the Brisbane Global Café.

“Lord Puttnam will speak a public seminar at Griffith University on Monday, October 6, as part of its ‘Cinema of Hope: Producing for Screen and Society in the 21^st Century’, and the following day, he will present at ‘A Conversation with Lord David Puttnam’ luncheon at Room Three Sixty, QUT Gardens Point Campus.”

Cr Simmonds said Lord Puttnam had produced films including Chariots of Fire,The Killing Fields, Midnight Express, The Mission and Local Hero. In 2010 he was President of the International Jury for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.

“Lord Puttnam is a legend of the industry. His films have won 10 Oscars, including Best Picture for Chariots of Fire, as well as 25 BAFTAs and the Palme D’Or at Cannes,” Cr Simmonds said.

“He retired from film production in 1998 to focus on his work in public policy but retains a strong and active interest in national and global policy for film and the wider creative and communications industries. He is now the chair of Atticus Education, an online education company based in Ireland.

“The former Chancellor of the Open University UK and Sunderland University, he is the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Burma, as well as the Irish Government’s ‘Digital Champion’.”

To book tickets to lunch with Lord Puttnam on Tuesday 7 October, go to http://wired.ivvy.com/event/FMC010 or to book tickets to Lord Puttnam’s Griffith University lecture on Monday 6 October, go towww.griffith.edu.au/puttnam-series

For more information on the Brisbane Global Cafe visit globalcafe.com.au

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EXTRA >>

INTERNATIONAL Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney’s redeveloped Darling Harbour precinct is to be capped off with a luxury hotel tower.

NSW Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner made the announcement on August 26. Mr Stoner said the premium harbour-side hotel would have around 600 rooms and be a standout feature of the NSW Government’s $2.5 billion transformation of Darling Harbour.

“This will be the first large luxury hotel built in Sydney’s CBD since the 2000 Olympics, and shows that Sydney well and truly has its mojo back,” Mr Stoner said. 

“The hotel will be operated by Accor under its French luxury hotel brand Sofitel, which

aligns with the conference, special event and tourism functions of Darling Harbour. The NSW Government is delighted that its development partner for this part of the

project, Lend Lease, has secured an agreement with Australia’s largest private hotel

investor, Dr Jerry Schwartz, to deliver the hotel.

ICC chief executive officer and AEG Ogden Group director of convention centres, Geoff Donaghy has welcomed the announcement “of the new luxury five-star Sofitel hotel for Sydney’s new premier business events precinct on Darling Harbour”.

“Our international and national attendees will now have a deluxe five-star hotel just 30m from the entrance to the harbour side foyer entry to the conventional centre, further adding to the great array of accommodation choices within easy walking distance of the venue,” Mr Donaghy said.

 “Today’s technology enables us to inform and involve delegates better than ever before and we look forward to providing exceptional experiences at what is set to become ICC Sydney’s headquarters hotel.”

Designed by renowned architect Richard Francis-Jones, the hotel “will be an impressive addition to the precinct, complementing the showcase major events venue and reinvigorated public spaces” according to Mr Stoner.

Mr Stoner said the hotel would boost the city’s visitor economy by expanding the supply and range of hotel accommodation for corporate travellers and tourists. 

“Sydney had nearly 2.9 million international overnight visitors in the year to March 2014, and this luxury hotel will be yet another drawcard for our city,” Mr Stoner said.

“Construction of the new 35-storey hotel is expected to start in late 2014, and it is due for completion in the first half of 2017.

“ICC Sydney will be capable of collectively hosting more than 12,000 delegates and holding multiple large conferences and exhibitions concurrently, and will ensure NSW remains a leading destination for business events in the Asia Pacific.

“Construction of the $1.1 billion centre is well underway, and it is attracting increasing global interest, highlighted by the recent announcement that Sydney has secured Sibos, the largest and most influential financial event in the world, for 2018.

“This is an infrastructure investment that will deliver on the national, state and local scale, hosting international exchange, generating about $200 million in annual economic benefit for NSW, and providing great new public places for everyone to enjoy.

“Across the 20-hectare redevelopment, the project will create about 3,700 jobs during construction, with a further 4,000 jobs on completion including a range of hospitality and tourism employment opportunities.

“This an exciting time for Sydney, and the new convention, exhibition and entertainment centre is just one of a raft of major infrastructure projects gaining momentum across the city,” Mr Stoner said.

www.aegogden.com

www.iccsydney.com

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