Australian Hotels Prepare for Boom in Bookings in Lead Up To Ashes - Metro Hotels

With an estimated 37,000 international visitors heading to Australia for the Ashes test series this time next year, tickets to the matches aren't the only things in high demand.

Australia is set to battle England on home soil for the Ashes, with the first Test starting at The Gabba in Brisbane on November 21, 2013 and the 5^th Test finishing in Sydney on January 7, 2014. The five Test series is expected to be a boom for local tourism operators. 

According to Metro Hotels' Chief Operating Officer, George Bedwani, the Group has already experienced a huge demand for hotel accommodation in all cities where the tests are being held.

"Metro Hotels' in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney started receiving bookings from both agents and individuals as early as the day after England regained the Ashes in the 2010/2011 series," he said.
"Bookings are already extremely strong, especially group bookings, despite the series not commencing for another 12 months."

The Ashes is one of the most famous sporting rivalries in the history of the sport, and certainly cricket's oldest and most fiercely fought competition.

After England's 3-1 win in the 2010-11 Ashes Series, the 2013-14 Tour is already setting itself up to be another historic showdown, with England looking to continue their winning streak and the Aussies fired up to win back the urn.

In addition to the test matches, there will also be five one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches between Australia and England.

With 13 properties across Australia, Metro Hospitality Group is the country's oldest Australian owned hotel chain. The Group offers a range of 4-star hotels and apartments in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Gladstone, with the same affordable, quality, centrally located accommodation and friendly service common to all Metro properties Australia-wide.

*2013-14 Ashes series

• 1^st Test - Thursday 21 to 25 November 2013, The Gabba - Brisbane
• 2^nd Test - Thursday 5 to 9 December 2013, Adelaide Oval - Adelaide
• 3^rd Test - Friday 13 to 17 December 2013, WACA Ground - Perth
• 4^th Test - Thursday 26 to 30 December 2013, MCG - Melbourne
• 5^th Test - Friday 3 to 7 January 2014, SCG - Sydney

Guests are able to book at all Metro Hotels properties by calling the toll free Central Reservations line on 1800 004 321. Alternatively bookings can be made online at www.metrohotels.com.au.

Voice of Ireland” Tommy Fleming May 2013

Artist Network presents the “Voice of Ireland” Tommy Fleming, returning to Australia in May, 2013.

Tommy brings his own beautiful interpretation of classic and contemporary songs such as Bridge Over Troubled Water, The Isle of Innisfree, Something Inside So Strong, “the best version of Danny Boy - bar none” (Eric Clapton), and many others you know and love.

His recording and performing credentials speak for themselves; with over 32 platinum albums under his belt and has already brought his mesmerising voice to audiences around the world, performing in prestigious venues such as New York’s Carnegie Hall.  Returning to Australia for his third tour will delight his legion of Aussie fans with a reputation of drawing capacity crowds during his previous Australian tours.

A Tommy Fleming concert is a musical experience not to be missed. He has a universal appeal to all ages and backgrounds with a fan base that is growing stronger worldwide year by year.  Give your loved one a very special Christmas present they will never forget.

Tickets to Tommy’s concert will make a fabulous 2013 Mother’s Day gift for every Ipswich mum!

Tickets on sale now!

Incoming Passenger Changes into Australia

A quicker and more convenient quarantine, biosecurity clearance is assured when you arrive in Australia now that low-risk products such as commercially prepared and packaged lollies, chips and chocolates need not be declared.

The changes, which have been made on the Incoming Passenger Card, are a result of the latest scientific advice that shows such food poses a lower risk.

Biosecurity officers will now focus on goods such as raw meats, live plants, seeds and fresh fruit and vegetables, which have a “much greater potential to bring diseases and pests to Australia,” Chapman said.

JLO - Dance Again World Tour (Jennifer Lopez)

Tue 18 Dec - Brisbane Entertainment Centre

The wait is over! The Frontier Touring Company is thrilled to announce that global superstar Jennifer Lopez (a.k.a. JLO) will be touring Australia for the first time ever in her impressive 13 year long career!

JLO will be touring down under as part of her 'Dance Again World Tour' which has already visited countless cities across North America, South America, Europe and Asia in recent months.

On the 'Dance Again World Tour', JLO will be performing hits from across her expansive and impressive career, which features seven studio albums that have sold more than 70 million records worldwide.

Those lucky enough to attend one of JLO's Australian performances will be treated to songs that brought JLO to the world's attention including 'If You Had My Love' and 'Waiting For Tonight' as well as those that have introduced her music to a new legion of adoring fans like 'I'm Into You' and 'Dance Again'.

JLO's impressive catalogue is also celebrated on her recently released greatest hits collection Dance Again...the Hits (out now through Sony Music Australia).

JLO is a woman who knows how to get the party started with her signature blend of killer vocal hooks, pulsing beats and storming synthesizers.

Her arena shows in December are destined to be amongst the dance parties of the year, don't miss the opportunity to join the fun on JLO's first ever Australian tour!

"Jennifer Lopez was glitz and glam through her set. At 43, Lopez is in perfect shape, and it showed through her stepped up choreography." - Edge, Boston

Andy Murray Set for Brisbane Return

Olympic gold medallist Andy Murray will return to Queensland this summer to defend his Brisbane International title.

The World No. 4 is the first player to be announced for the 2013 tournament, hot off his historic Olympic Games gold medal win over current World No. 1 Roger Federer.

“I really enjoyed playing the Brisbane International for the first time this January, and claiming the title was great preparation leading into the Australian Open,” Murray said.

“Brisbane attracts a tough draw with a lot of top players ... obviously I want to play as many matches as possible, and if I can, win. Winning always gives you extra confidence and is the perfect start leading into the first Grand Slam of the year.

“The Brisbane International is a fantastic event with great facilities, and I look forward to returning to Queensland to defend my title,” Murray continued.

Brisbane International Tournament Director, Cameron Pearson, said 25-year-old Murray will be a strong drawcard for the event.

“Andy is our defending champion, so we are thrilled he has again decided to start his year with us.

“It speaks volumes for Queensland that he values the Brisbane International so highly for his Australian Open preparation.

“His Brisbane win was the start of a stellar year for him, going on to reach the final of Wimbledon and then on to win a memorable Olympic gold medal in front of his home crowd,“ Pearson added.

Throughout his career Murray has captured 22 ATP titles and is currently coached by tennis legend Ivan Lendl.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Jann Stuckey, welcomed the news the Scottish champion was returning.

“It is a great coup to have Andy Murray back to defend his Brisbane title. It is another win for Queensland as it strives to cement itself as a major sporting state,” said Ms Stuckey.

“The Brisbane International is a fantastic start to the year for events. Last year’s matches attracted a record 92,802 attendees.

“The Newman Government is proud to support tournaments like this through Events Queensland, as part of our determined strategy to showcase Queensland as Australia’s number one tourism destination.”

In 2012 the ATP recognised the Brisbane International for the best fan experience of any tournament in the ATP International Group, which includes the Middle East, Asia and Pacific regions.

Brisbane International 2013 is presented in association with Events Queensland and will take place at the Queensland Tennis Centre, Brisbane, from December 30, 2012 to January 6, 2013.

Brisbane International 2013 series packages will go on sale at 9:00am (AEST) on Wednesday October 3.

Portrait Of Spain: Masterpieces From The Prado

Masterpieces from the Prado’ has been specially curated for the Queensland Art Gallery by the Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid (the Prado). It is the largest and most significant international loan the Prado has ever undertaken, and is also the first exhibition from their collection ever to be shown in the Southern Hemisphere. This exhibition features over 100 masterpieces from one of the most revered collections of European painting in the world and tells the story of the evolution of painting in Spain over three and a half centuries. This ‘portrait of Spain’ shows the internal and external factors that contributed to the development of modern Spanish identity, through developments in painting on the Iberian Peninsula. On display are masterpieces by leading painters of the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, including El Greco, Velázquez, Ribera and Murillo. Foreign artists who worked for the royal court and directly influenced the development of painting in Spain are also well represented, with superb paintings by Titian, Peter Paul Rubens, Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo and Anton Raphael Mengs all featured. Courtly life under the Habsburg (1516–1700) and Bourbon (1700–1808) monarchs will be glimpsed through outstanding paintings from the Royal Collections, which formed the basis of the Prado when it was established in 1819. These include portraits, mythological scenes, devotional paintings and exquisite still lifes that reveal the splendour of Spain’s ‘Golden Age’. The life and times of various levels of Spanish civil society are portrayed in works by noted artists from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Pre-eminent among these was Francisco de Goya, whose work is represented by major paintings and an important selection of prints from his three extraordinary and confronting series, 'Los Caprichos', 'Los Disparates' and 'Los Desastres de la Guerra' (‘The Disasters of War’). The emergence of a fledgling Spanish national identity in the mid nineteenth century is witnessed in a series of landscapes, portraits, religious scenes and nudes by major figures in nineteenth-century Spanish painting such as Federico de Madrazo, Eduardo Rosales, Mariano Fortuny, Aureliano de Beruete and Joaquín Sorolla. These paintings both reflect the emergence of a modern Spain and demonstrate the ways in which the visual arts assisted in its formation. This is an unprecedented opportunity to see extraordinary works of art, created by some of history’s most renowned and revered painters, from one of the most prestigious and unique museum collections in the world. The Museo Nacional del Prado The Museo Nacional del Prado (the Prado), Madrid, is one of the leading museums of the world, recognised for its unparalleled collection of European painting and sculpture, and, in particular, its holdings of Flemish, Italian and Spanish painting. The Prado’s strengths in these areas are due to the tastes of the Spanish monarchs who, from the fifteenth century onwards, avidly collected art and patronised contemporary artists such as Titian, Rubens, Velázquez, Murillo and Tiepolo. Today, the Prado is one of the most visited museums in the world and, through its dynamic exhibition, publishing, conservation and research programs, continues to influence art historical research and contemporary museology. EVENT TIMES Sunday 9am - 5pm Monday 10am - 5pm Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm

Star Chef To Tantalise At The Ekka

BRILLIANT Ipswich chef David Manz will share his refreshing brand of cooking with Ekka-goers today.

Manz, head chef at Platform 9 Restaurant and Lounge Bar in the Metro Hotel Ipswich International, will demonstrate how to cook a mouth-watering burger at midday.

Aspiring cooks can learn the secrets to making the perfect burger.

Manz said he was looking forward to putting a fresh twist on an Ekka-season favourite.
"I decided to cook a dish in keeping with the Ekka theme, and also to bring a professional edge to a dish that can be cooked at home," he said.

"This burger's a bit different because it's Asian-inspired."

Manz said spices such as cardamom and cumin, combined with gourmet beef, made the dish a treat for tastebuds.

"The mince is made from eye fillet, and there's lettuce, tomato and bacon on the bun," he said.
Manz said today's demonstration would be his first.

"It's exciting, I've worked hard since I start my apprenticeship at 21 so it's great to be invited to do this nine years on," Manz said.

His experience includes working at Brisbane's Ecco Bistro, and a year at Platform 9.

Manz completed his apprenticeship in Ipswich and was happy to have returned.

"My future goal is to own and run my own restaurant, and I'd like to do it locally," he added.

Celebrity chef Dominique Rizzo will host Manz's demo, as well as others at the show.

GOURMET STYLE

• Manz will prepare a beef burger on a sourdough bun with sweet lychee chilli sauce, hand-cut chips and lime and ginger aioli.
• He said fresh ingredients, including meat minced at home and mixed with duck fat, made for a great burger.

Pisasale is Realistic on G-20 Meet (Ipswich to Host Pre-G20 Meeting)

MAYORS around Queensland are vying for the chance to host a major pre-G-20 Summit meeting in their city, but Ipswich's Paul Pisasale is playing it cool.

"We're talking about a very important meeting of leaders, and the cheapest and safest option would be Ipswich," Cr Pisasale said.

Cr Pisasale said he hoped the city would be considered alongside regional centres such as Townsville and Cairns as a possible site for the G-20 Finance Meeting in 2014.

"Our Safe City cameras would keep the finance ministers safe, and we've got the RAAF Base here, too."

"I believe we have the infrastructure; the ministers could use the plane and helicopter facilities at Amberley," he said.

"It's not a tourism thing, the city would have to be placed on red alert and we would keep the ministers completely safe.

"It's not our decision to make, but I'm happy to put up my hand."

Metro Hotel Ipswich International manager Ted Matthews said hosting the meeting in Ipswich would only add to the benefit of the summit.

"We're already very excited, and we certainly would see Ipswich benefiting from the summit," Mr Matthews said.

"I don't know that we have the infrastructure to host the pre-meeting, but I would like to see this hotel used as a base for a delegation or even a media group.

"The NBN should be up and running by then, so we could act as a great hub.

"We already have a close relationship with Brisbane Marketing, and we've already started looking to talk to people."

G-20 SUMMITS

• The G-20 a group of 19 countries and the European Union.
• It is aimed at "promoting international economic co-operation", the Australian Government states.
• Leaders, finance ministers and reserve banks from countries including China, Russia, the US, UK and India will attend.
• Australia will host the ninth annual G-20 Summit in 2014.
• Russia will host the 2013 Summit.

Plan to Bring Red Bull Air Race to Gold Coast

THE Queensland Government and Red Bull Air Race supremos are in talks to lure the lucrative event to the Gold Coast, The Gold Coast Bulletin reports. 
 
The event, which features displays of high-speed aeronautical acrobatics, has long been coveted by the city's events and tourism officials because it attracts an international television audience of millions of people.

The Broadwater has been discussed as the site for a potential race due to its picturesque nature and the Surfers Paradise skyline in the background.

Government officials travelled to Sydney in March for talks with air race organisers, The Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

A senior council source confirmed the Gold Coast had been involved in bidding for the event.


But he said  Premier Campbell Newman's tight rein on the budget had put the process on hold.

"It would be a good event to snare. It's been watched by millions of people around the world," he said.

There is tough competition to host the Australian leg of the event, with Perth, Sydney and Melbourne all believed to have rival bids in place.

It had previously been held in Perth from 2006 to 2010, but there was no event in 2011 or this year as the series is being revamped.

According to figures from the WA Government, more than 300,000 people attended the inaugural Perth air race in 2006, which pumped $14 million into the local economy.

A spokeswoman for Queensland's Tourism and Major Events Minister Jann Stuckey said Events Queensland was not involved in a bid for the 2014 air race, but could not rule out other years.

"The Newman Government is committed to major events on the Gold Coast as part of our plan to make Queensland Tourism number one again," she said.

"The budget outlining our funding commitment to events will be handed down next month."

Pilots in the event fly through a track of inflatable air gates and reach speeds of up to 370km/h.

It is watched by millions of people in more than 100 countries.

In 2010, former Events Queensland boss John O'Sullivan confirmed luring the famed race to the Sunshine State was on the agenda.

"We are looking at a number of events, not just for the Gold Coast but also for Queensland and certainly the Red Bull Air Race is one of those we are looking at," he said.

Relax Visa Rules For Tourists From Developing Countries, Says UN

AUSTRALIA needs to relax its strict visa requirements for visitors from developing countries if it wants to boost tourism and effectively target the emerging giants of China and India. 

UN World Tourism Organisation secretary-general Taleb Rifai yesterday said there was no evidence that tough entry conditions on tourists were necessary to protect security, and Australia and other developed countries needed to ease their regimes.

"Visas are becoming a real nightmare," Mr Rifai told a tourism conference in Melbourne.

"It is not reasonable to still see long lines, very cumbersome, uneasy, complicated, lengthy, overpriced entry formalities all over the world, particularly facing nationals from countries that are rising and countries that are providing the base for future incoming tourists.

"There is no evidence to establish that there are close and very strong links between visas and security issues."

Chinese and Indian visitors have provided the greatest annual growth to tourism numbers over the past decade but face a number of bureaucratic hurdles to come here.

Those travelling to Australia for the first time must provide bank statements or other financial information, as well as a letter from their employer showing their position and salary, length of employment and approval for leave, or evidence of enrolment for students.

If visiting relatives or friends, a letter of invitation from the relative or friend in Australia may also be required.

While the tourism industry has bemoaned the high Australian dollar for making Australia less competitive as a destination, Mr Rifai told The Australian visa requirements and easier international travel should be seen as a greater priorities.

"The cost is not the major factor here, it's the ease of reaching here, cost of travel and cost and complications of entry," said the former Jordanian government minister.

"Cost is a very important element in competitiveness but it should not be too much of an obsession.
"Some of the most attractive destinations in the world are some of the most expensive destinations in the world as well."

UNESCO has threatened to declare the Great Barrier Reef "in danger" if conservation efforts are not improved, but Mr Rifai said Australia should be congratulated for setting itself high environmental targets.

"The fact that Australia has these very valuable reefs places more responsibility on Australia, but I think all in all you should be satisfied with what you're doing so far," he said. "On environmental counts, Australia is doing very, very well."

Brisbane Tourism News: G20 'Terrific' for Brisbane Tourism

HOSTING the G20 forum will be the perfect opportunity to show Brisbane off to the world, the head of Queensland's Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) says. 

Brisbane will host the 2014 meeting of the world's 20 largest economies, bringing about 4000 delegates and 3000 media to the city, federal Treasurer Wayne Swan announced on Wednesday.
QTIC chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the event was terrific news for the state's ever-important tourism sector.

"It's very exciting for the city to be put in the spotlight, and hopefully it'll be not as controversial as some G20 events in the past," he told AAP.

"I'm sure it'll deliver a boost for businesses in the lead-up and afterwards as well."

Mr Gschwind said Brisbane now had the infrastructure to host a major international summit.
"There are some fantastic facilities here with the Convention Centre, which was significantly expanded this year," he said.

 "We have an entertainment precinct on South Bank with excellent cultural establishments, so the events and business side of Brisbane travel has done exceptionally well in recent years and will continue to do so."

Brisbane's Airport Link reveals patronage figures for first week

Operating company Brisconnections has released a daily average for the first seven days since last Wednesday.

In that time, an average 77,320 vehicles a day went through the tunnel - a long way from the 135,000 vehicles a day BrisConnections hopes to achieve by the end of the three month toll free period.

The tunnel has experienced some teething problems including issues with traffic light sequences at exits and entrances and complaints about signage.

CEO Dr Ray Wilson said the first week had seen "solid traffic numbers and positive feedback from motorists about the road and time savings achieved".

"Motorists are quickly realising the value of this important new asset, with BrisConnections having received reports of time savings of up to 20 minutes to the airport as projected and considerably less traffic on suburban streets," Dr Wilson said.

"We have now witnessed the way AirportlinkM7 has revolutionised traffic movement around the city with its vital connections to the CBD, Airport, northern suburbs, Inner City Bypass, and Clem7 straight through to the Pacific Motorway."

He said the daily average was expected to grow as people adjust their travel patterns.

"Feedback has been positive with many motorists being surprised and delighted at the time savings they have achieved on their daily commutes," Dr Wilson said.

He said BrisConnections was working with the road authorities to refine some minor signage issues and traffic light sequencing on the surrounding road network.

QantasLink Opens State of the Art Gate Lounge at Brisbane's Domestic Terminal

QantasLink have officially opened its new state of the art gate lounge facility at Brisbane's Domestic Terminal.

QantasLink Executive Manager John Gissing said QantasLink's new gate lounge will support the significant growth the airline has experienced over recent years.

"QantasLink is committed to Brisbane as it is the gateway to 13 QantasLink destinations in Queensland which support the state's booming resource sector and world class tourism destinations," Mr Gissing said.

"Over $4 million has been spent to deliver this state of the art facility which will provide customers with a premium QantasLink experience from the ground up."

The new gate lounge facility provides QantasLink customers with access to two additional boarding gates (5 and 6), a centrally located customer services desk, seating for 150 customers, and technology designed to assist customers travelling with specific needs. Featuring Qantas' contemporary interior styling with an abundance of natural light and relaxed ambience, the new lounge will also be supported by a new QantasLink ground team committed to delivering the highest standard of customer service.

"QantasLink's new gate lounge is conveniently located in close proximity to Qantas' premium Business and Qantas Club lounges as well as the terminals cafes and retailers.

The Minister for Transport and Main Roads Scott Emerson said since the commencement of construction in December 2011, the new QantasLink gate lounge had employed 250 Queenslanders.

"It is great to see one of Australia's most iconic brands investing in our state's future through providing employment opportunities as well as a premium product at our major transport and tourism gateway Brisbane Domestic Airport," Mr Emerson said.

"Tourism is a major focus for the Newman Government in growing Queensland into a four-pillar economy and QantasLink has been a key contributor in promoting and supporting regional Queensland."

Today QantasLink also officially celebrated being named Regional Airline of the Year 2012 by launching a new element to its aircraft livery.

"QantasLink is proud to be Air Transport World's Regional Airline of the Year 2012. This award recognised our team of services professionals who are dedicated to connecting regional Australians to our nation's capital cities and beyond," Mr Gissing said.

The new award livery will be introduced across QantasLink's fleet and will remain for the next six months.

City Council Launches Free CBD Ferry Service On Brisbane River From Sunday

BRISBANE residents and tourists will have access to a free ferry service on the Brisbane River from Sunday. 
 
The City Hopper ferry loop was a $6 million election commitment made by Lord Mayor Cr Graham Quirk in April in a bid to provide a free service and keep the historic monohull ferries in use.

Three historic CityFerries rebranded as the red and white CityHopper.

Cr Quirk said he hoped the service would provide a boost for the local tourism industry.

"By providing a free ferry service in Brisbane's inner city, we hope to encourage more residents and visitors to enjoy the river and local destinations like South Bank, Kangaroo Point, the CBD and New Farm," Cr Quirk said in a statement.

The service will run every half hour, seven days a week from 6am to midnight.

It will follow the current Inner City Ferry route stopping at New Farm (Sydney Street), South Bank (Terminal 3), North Quay, South Brisbane (Maritime Museum), Kangaroo Point (Dockside, Holman Street and Thornton Street) and the Brisbane CBD, with the total journey from Sydney Street to North Quay taking about 45 minutes.

"Rather than compete with CityCats, which are our fast and frequent public transport service around the river, CityHoppers will allow people to take in the city by day or the city's lights by night at a slower pace," Cr Quirk said.

"I want to bring them back to the fore and using them to spearhead a free ferry tourism loop will go a long way to achieving that."

He said about 50 per cent of passengers using the city's ferries were already doing so for tourism or leisure.

Brisbane City Landmarks Turning Maroon In Lead-Up to 2012 State of Origin Decider

Last night, Brisbane took on a new shade of parochial pride with the Story Bridge, Kuripla Bridge, Wheel of Brisbane and City Hall among the city landmarks to turn maroon in the lead-up to this year's Origin series decider tomorrow week.

The new colour scheme is part of the "Show Your Colours" campaign, which was launched in the Queen Street Mall yesterday.

The campaign is designed to get the state behind the Maroons as they go for a record seventh consecutive series wins over New South Wales, and to promote Brisbane as a major events destination.


The city's residents are being asked to play their part and decorate their houses, cars, workplaces and everything else in maroon to celebrate being a Queenslander and display their pride in their state.

FANS: Darren lockyer with Breeanna Dwyer, 7, Hudson Spencer, 9, Chloe, 9, and Kane Martin, 6.

Former Queensland captain Darren Lockyer said the campaign would lift the Queensland players for their must-win game.

"As a rugby league player, it doesn't get any more exciting than Origin at Suncorp (Stadium)," Lockyer said.

"It's about supporting your team, the more maroon we see the better we'll play."

Pictures: Annette Dew

Source: The Courier-Mail

Newman Doubles Tourism Funding To Regions

State funding for tourism organisations in regional Queensland will be doubled to help prop up the ailing industry.

Premier Campbell Newman told the DestinationQ conference in Cairns today the funding would increase from $3.11 million to $7 million through a redirection of resources as the industry struggles to attract tourists.

But he says the government can't afford to just "throw buckets of money" at the industry to help it compete with the high Australian dollar and neighbouring countries.

"Simply preserving what we have will not meet the challenges of the future," he told the 300-plus crowd.

"We can't afford to sit with the status quo and it won't get us to where we want to go."
Mr Newman had campaigned about tourism being one of the major pillars of Queensland's economy during the lead up to the state election.

He told tourism operators the conference was about coming up with a new way forward for the state's tourism as he promised to do in his first 100 days in government.

Some of the conference's major focuses will include reducing red tape, attracting and retaining skilled workers in the industry, marketing strategies and how national parks were operated.
The forum, which several ministers including deputy premier Jeff Seeney are attending, was welcomed by tourism bodies.

Accommodation Association of Australia CEO Richard Munro said it was important for frontline operators to be able to air their grievances directly to government.

"It's important for governments at all levels to put in place policies which promote investment in both existing and new tourism accommodation products which do not adversely impact on operators", Mr Munro said in a statement.

ICC U19 CRICKET WORLD CUP

The world's best young cricketers will gather in Queensland from 11-26 August to test their skills during the 2012 ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup.

Free to attend and held over three locations - Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Townsville - the tournament will see sixteen teams from around the world compete including Australia; Afghanistan; Bangladesh; England; India; Ireland; Namibia;  Nepal; New Zealand; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Scotland; South Africa; Sri Lanka; West Indies; and Zimbabwe.

For a full tournament schedule visit 

www.icc-cricket.yahoo.net

ICC U19 CRICKET WORLD CUP

Green Tape Chokes Our Tourism

A luxury hotel! Right inside a Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.

Of course, you might say. Who wants to stand in a hot forest the whole day, looking at trees?

Who wouldn't want to zip back after a couple of hours to grab that cocktail, jump in that pool, lounge on that sun deck or take that massage next to that passing wombat?

But note this. This ad campaign is the first in which Tourism Australia has featured not just our best bits of nature, but the luxury resorts right next to them, including spectacular ones at Kangaroo Island and Tasmania's Great Oyster Bay.

Not only that, the Blue Mountains resort is the one at Wolgan Valley that green groups fought and green tape almost strangled. A hotel in a national park? Sacrilege!

Which makes Tourism Australia's latest ad campaign, launched in Shanghai, not just a celebration of Australia, but one more sign of the decline of the anti-human green movement.

The Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa, which Test captain Michael Clarke booked out last month for his wedding, is the perfect example.

Emirates announced in 2005 it wanted to build this $125 million extravaganza, yet had to work for two more years just to get its plans through all the green tape, including approvals from the then Howard government, the local shire, the NSW Land and Environment Court and the NSW Labor government.

It's a familiar story for any big developer. For years now, it's seemed a sin to green preachers to have man's footprint anywhere near nature.

This absurd fear of human contamination has closed a uranium mine in Kakadu, banned oil exploration around the Barrier Reef, halted coal mines in Queensland, delayed housing developments in even the most barren scrub and now threatens a planned $30 billion gas hub project on James Price Point an empty scrap of the vast Kimberley.

Even a humble $50 million expansion of the Yaringa Boat Harbour on the Mornington Peninsula was held up for a year by green bureaucrats fretting over an orange-bellied parrot no one had actually seen there for a quarter of a century.

This anti-human paranoia has also led to attacks on tourism itself. Tourists are told not to climb Ayers Rock; recreational fishing has been severely restricted; horse riding in many national parks is limited or even banned; and where is the five-star resort on the Barrier Reef itself that tourists would cross the world to see?

It's like banning laughter in church. Victoria's magnificent Wilsons Prom is under such prudish management that you can't stay anywhere inside bar a camping site or some spartan eco-cabin.
The Wolgan Valley resort could have gone the same puritanical way. What an effort and expense Emirates had to go to just to get an official "yes" to a project that Tourism Australia now touts as one of our biggest tourism magnets.

It had to swap 114 hectares of bushland it had bought next to the park for 39ha of the park itself, with green groups screaming every inch of the way. It had to plant thousands of trees, modify its designs and agree to all kinds of restrictions. Even now, just four helicopter trips a week are allowed to ferry in guests.

Now come the Tourism Australia ads to explode the fallacy and extremism that tends to drive such anti-development campaigns.

No, man is not necessarily a pollution on the landscape. No, there's not much point in having great scenery if you make it too tough for people to see or enjoy.

These ads no longer trade on our beauty spots being remote and unsullied by human hands. After all, there's not a single national park that isn't improved by a good road to go see it.
So we see the beauty of the Great Oyster Bay through the windows of the Saffire Freycinet luxury lodge.

We look out over Kangaroo Island's beach from the great windows of the Southern Ocean Lodge. Uluru is seen from well laid dining tables at dusk, and a chopper is parked on top of a waterfall in the El Questro Wilderness Park, because who wants to hike in the heat?

In fact, the sole Victorian entry in the 12 destinations showcased is nothing designed by nature not the Great Ocean Road or the penguins of Phillip Island but Crown casino.

And Sydney closes the ads with our greatest calling card the man-made Sydney Opera House, on the edge of the God-made harbour.

It's the perfect balance.

Here's Cheers to the First Queensland Beer Week

If the flashing red neon XXXX sign atop Castlemaine Brewery isn’t proof enough that Queenslanders love their beer, the state is now bracing for its own beer bash with the inaugural Queensland Beer Week from July 16- 22.

The collective ‘clink’ of beer bottles will be heard across Queensland as breweries, bottle shops and iconic pubs team up to showcase the very best of beer culture, while beer-lovers also attempt a world record for the most people brewing at one time.

And the timing couldn’t be more perfect with Queensland’s favourite brew, XXXX Gold recently taking the crown for the nation's most popular beer and flattening the bubbles out of long-time title holder, Victoria Bitter.

Raise your glass and celebrate with the 10 best beer experiences in Queensland.

1. Take a tour with a tipple

Get inside the head, the heart and the history of Queensland’s amber elixir with a tour through the XXXX Ale House in Brisbane’s inner-west. Tours of the 130-year-old icon run daily and visitors can see how the beer is made and taste the final product. www.xxxxbrewerytour.com.au

2. Bavarian beer in the bush

If the clink of a beer stein and the image of an honest Aussie farmer in a good pair of lederhosen appeals, then head west for the world’s most remoteOutback Oktoberfest in Jundah. You won’t go hungry or thirsty with Beer Wenches catering to your every whim, whether it be a big juicy bratwurst or stein of authentic Erdinger beer specially imported from Germany. www.outbackoktoberfest.com.au

3. Get crafty on the coast

You can’t rush a good thing, according to the Gold Coast’s only craft brewery, Burleigh Brewing Company. It takes around a month to perfect a Burleigh brew; the onsite team does absolutely everything by hand, from carefully selecting the malted barley, yeast and hops to bottling the finished product, boxing it up and lovingly placing it in the cold room. Clearly they’re doing something right - their HEF beer was recently judged the Best German Wheat Beer at the World Beer Cup 2012. Wunderbar! www.burleighbrewing.com.au

4. A match made in heaven

It’s an unlikely pairing, but beer and cheese go together like Queen Elizabeth and her corgies. Explore the hinterland town of Mount Tamborine and match the cheese at Witches Chase Cheese with award-winning beer samples from Mount Tamborine Brewery next door. www.mtbeer.com

5. Beers and bull riding

Crack a coldie at the iconic Great Western Hotel in Rockhampton, the home of great steak, beer and rodeos. This 116-year-old pub plays host to major national rodeos and features a huge undercover rodeo arena for 1,000 people that attracts champion riders from near and far.www.greatwesternhotel.com.au

6. BYO (Brew Your Own) beer

Be your own brew master for a day at Brew 4 U in Brisbane - Queensland’s first brew-on-premises microbrewery. Visit the brewery and choose a beer from their list of over 200 different styles. Measure out the ingredients, mix them together and transfer it to the fermenter where your brew will bubble for 2-4 weeks. At the end of the process, take home 50 litres of your very own freshly brewed and bottled beer. www.bru4u.com

7. Archive of ales

Beer-aficionados won’t go thirsty at Archive Beer Boutique in Brisbane’s West End, with more than 400 different bottled beers and 14 draught beers to choose from. Currently on tap is Burleigh HEF, White Rabbit White Ale and Two Birds Sunset Red Ale. But if the reserve selection is more to your taste, for $175 you can try a bottle of Brewdog’s Tactical Nuclear Penguin. With 32 per cent alcohol it’s the world’s strongest beer and should be enjoyed like a fine whisky. www.archivebeerboutique.com.au

8. Sky’s the limit

The tropical climate of North Queensland has always been associated with cold, thirst-quenching beer. Enter Blue Sky Brewery. Situated in the heart of Cairns, the brewery produces 10 preservative-free, full-flavoured beers including lagers, ales and ciders. Enjoy guided tours from Monday to Thursday where you can sample their stable of beers including FNQ Lager, FNQ Gold, Cairns Gold and Blue Sky Pilsner. Blue Sky is also serious about being green with 95 per cent of its spent grain and yeast used for cattle feed. www.blueskybrewery.com.au

9. Something’s a-brewing

One of Australia’s premier boutique breweries, the Townsville Brewing Company has been brewing six regular beers plus various seasonal releases since opening in 2001. Steeped in history, the brewery is housed within the town’s original post office building, flanked by an impressive clock tower. Brewery tours aren’t available but they do offer tutored tastings. www.townsvillebrewery.com.au

10. No bitter aftertaste

Cleverly named beer bistro Bitter Suite is one of New Farm’s trendy new kids on the block and becoming a fast favourite for weekend afternoon drinks. The friendly owners living out their dream offer patrons hearty fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But it’s their grazing menu begging to be washed down with a choice of seven local craft beers on tap, plus 55 (mostly) Australian bottles that’s winning over locals. www.bittersuite.com.au

Here's Cheers to the First Queensland Beer Week

Top 10 Queensland Experiences to Celebrate Queensland Week

With the Maroons and Blues locked in State of Origin fever, Queensland is preparing for Queensland Week, a celebration of the state’s separation from New South Wales.

On 6 June 1859, Queen Victoria signed the Letters Patent authorising Queensland’s independence. This day is now known as Queensland Day. And the day we said goodbye to the Blues.

So while the Queen celebrates her 75^th jubilee, Queensland will turn the ripe old age of 153 (she’s looking pretty fine for an old girl) and will celebrate with a week of activities from 2-11 June.

Here at Tourism Queensland we’ve compiled the ultimate Top 10 Queensland experiences that every Aussie should experience before they kick the bucket.

1. Discover the largest natural wonder of the world

The World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef should be experienced by everyone at least once. Dive with turtles and manta rays off Lady Elliot Island, snorkel the spectacular Low Isles coral cay off Port Douglas, take a romantic scenic flight over the iconic Heart Reef, or try a helmet dive at Green Island.

2. Have an ‘Outback Eventure’

Queensland’s outback explodes into a dirt-busting riot of colour, cowboys, horse races and oddly enough, operas, every year in celebration of spring with a calendar full of quirky events. Meet the friendliest of folk from the quaintest towns in the country at the Australian Dunny Derby in Winton, the famous Birdsville Races, or Mt Isa Rodeo - the largest in the southern hemisphere.

3. Go back to surfing’s roots

Pull on your boardies, grab your board and get out with the pros at some of the most famous surf breaks on the planet. Home to the Quiksilver Pro and a few of the world’s best surfers including Joel ‘Parko’ Parkinson and Michael ‘MP’ Peterson, the beaches from Dicky Beach on the Sunshine Coast to the famous break at Snapper Rocks are where Australian surf history all began.

4. Dive with minke whales

For six weeks of the year Queensland offers one of the most life-changing experiences in the country.  During June and July, minke whales come to play in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef and live-aboard vessels head out for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dive and snorkel with these curious and amazing sea creatures.

5. Take the plunge 

A family trip to visit the Gold Coast theme parks is a rite of passage for every teenager in this country. A mad few days swapping between the sickening rides at Dreamworld, getting to your saturation limit at Wet’n’Wild, or hanging with the polar bears at Sea World combined with too much fairy floss and too many Dagwood Dogs makes for a perfect weekend! Or if you really want to get the heart started, head to Cairns to the only bungy site in Australia and trial their world-first jump menu.

6. Immerse yourself in Australian history

Discover the historical gems of Outback Queensland – learn about bushrangers, shearers, stockmen and drovers at the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame; or the history of QANTAS at the Qantas Founders Museum. Retrace the steps of Cobb & Co. by travelling on the original mail route between Longreach and Windorah on a fully-ladenstagecoach with Kinnon & Co; or visit the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs.

7. Taste-test true blue Queensland drops

The Bundy bear and the flashing XXXX sign winking out over Brisbane are two of Queensland’s proudest icons. The two labels personify Queensland’s laid-back attitude and larrikin nature and a visit inside the hallowed walls of the distillery and brewery should be included on every imbiber’s list.

8. Go camping on Fraser Island

Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world, boasting ancient forests, one of the world’s most beautifully blue freshwater lakes, Lake Mackenzie, and of course, kilometres of undulating sand dunes. Whether you fly down them on a sand board, careen up them in a 4WD, or camp at the base of them, this World Heritage-listed island is a must-visit for all Australians.

9. Climb to record-breaking heights

Brisbane’s Story Bridge not only features in hundreds of images of the beautiful city but it also boasts the achievement of being the only bridge in the world to offer both a climb and an abseil experience. And just down the road you can get even higher with Australia’s tallest external building climb at SkyPoint on the Gold Coast.

10. Sail the 74 islands of the Whitsundays

The destination of choice for weddings, luxury holidays or sailing adventures for people all over the world, the 74 islands that make up the crystal blue Whitsundays are a mecca for sailors. Whether you want to be spoilt on a luxury yacht, hire a bareboat with your mates or sail off into the sunset with your lover there could be no better way to spend a holiday.

And one more for good luck…

11. Be a part of the seventh-straight win* with the third State of Origin match at Suncorp Stadium on July 4.

*Queenslander’s are nothing if not optimistic.

(Source: Travmedia.com)

Billion Dollar Ipswich Motorway Opens

Hundreds turned out on 15 May to witness the official opening of the $2.8 billion Ipswich Motorway project.

Federal Transport and Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese and his state counterpart Scott Emerson joined many other dignitaries to formally open the Motorway, following completion of the final $1.76 billion stretch linking Goodna to Dinmore.

Ipswich Mayor Cr Paul Pisasale said the Federally-funded motorway, which created 5,000 jobs during the four months and two years it took to build, was a boon to Ipswich.

“This is about the entrance to one of the fastest-growing parts of Australia – now the infrastructure is in place, this is going to take a lot of pressure off Brisbane,” he said.

Cr Pisasale congratulated work crews who finished the project under budget and six months ahead of schedule.

“I congratulate the construction people because they have built one of the most magnificent highways under enormously complex conditions with the very high traffic flows.

“Every time they built a section of road, they had to build another road to divert the traffic.”

Three projects over eight years have widened the Ipswich Motorway to a minimum of six lanes from Oxley to Dinmore.

They include the Wacol to Darra stretch, including the new interchange of the Ipswich Motorway and the Centenary Highway ($824 million); the Ipswich Motorway/Logan Motorway interchange ($255 million); plus the Dinmore to Goodna stretch ($1.76 billion).

Billion Dollar Ipswich Motorway Opens

Queensland Secures Influential Cruise Event for 2013

Tourism Queensland will have exclusive access to sell Queensland to influential cruise industry VIPs at the world’s largest cruise shipping trade show in Miami next year. After years of bidding to host the Cruise Planners Luncheon at the Cruise Shipping Miami Exhibition, Tourism Queensland will have the honour in 2013. 

Cruise Shipping Miami is the world’s leading cruise industry exhibition, for the past few decades it has been the meeting place for cruise industry leaders looking for new products, services and destinations to visit. 

A highlight of the exhibition is the invitation-only Cruise Planners Luncheon, annually attended by 45 VIP cruise itinerary planners and cruise line owners. Queensland welcomed 328, 863 cruise passengers and crew to its ports during last year’s season.

(Source: Tourism on Q)

June Events in Queensland

 

There's something about "Maryborough" and listings for other events across Queensland such as Jumpers and Jazz Festival, the Cairns Airport Adventure Festival and many more for June.

Please note, this listing is based on events supported by Events Queensland and is not an exhaustive list of events for this period.)

For more events during this period please refer to www.queenslandholidays.com.au/events 

MAJOR EVENT: Cairns Airport Adventure Festival
27 May - 4 June 2012
Where: Cairns
Phone: 07 3868 2444
Web: www.cairnsadventurefestival.com.au

Set in one of the world's most iconic tropical locations, the 2012 Cairns Airport Adventure Festival features 10 jam-packed days of events for people of all ages and abilities including: Urban Hotel Group Ironman 70.3; Coral Coast Triathlon, RRR Mountain Bike Challenge, Great Barrier Reef Ocean Challenge, Quicksilver Reef Swim - Green Island, The Cairns Post Run for Cairns and Challenge Junior - a triathlon designed especially for kids! Plus there's plenty of entertainment with a free community concert.

The pinnacle event of the festival is 'Cairns Airport Ironman Cains' a gruelling iron-distance triathlon that features a 3.8km swim, a 180km bike leg that travels one of the most scenic coastal roads in Australia towards Port Douglas and a 42.2km run that includes the Cairns Esplanade before finishing in the heart of Cairns.

Classic Country Music Stampede
8 - 10 June 2012
Where: Maryborough
Web: www.classiccountrymusicstampede.com.au

The Classic Country Music Stampede is a great weekend of classic country music with some of Australia's finest artists performing live. Artists who have confirmed their attendance for the 2012 festival include: Craig Giles, Kinta, Ian B Macleod, Reg Poole, Laura Downing, Peter Pratt and Lindsay Waddington, Sandy Atkinson Pedal Steel Guitar, Phil and Chris Coad, The Band Just Jack. Camping is available at the showgrounds.

SEASON OF SAILING: Etchells Australian Winter Championship
7 - 10 June 2012
Where: Mooloolaba
Web: www.mooetchells.yachting.org.au

Enjoy world-class sailing held close to the shores of Mooloolaba Beach with Olympic, World Champion and America's Cup sailors competing in the three-day international competition.

Jandowae Timbertown Festival
8-11 June 2012
Where: Jandowae
Web: www.jandowaetimbertown.org.au/

The Jandowae Timbertown Festival is a biannual community festival which has been held since 2001 and celebrates the contribution that the timber industry and workers have made to the heritage and economy of Jandowae. The festival is also a celebration of the thriving local agricultural and manufacturing industries that sustain Jandowae, and of the many talented and proactive community groups that make it such a great place to live, work and play.

Boyne Tannum Hookup
8 - 10 June 2012
Where: Tannum Sands
Web: www.boynetannumhookup.com.au/

Separated by the Boyne River the towns of Boyne and Tannum have united to host one of Australia's best fishing competitions. It features not only a great contest, with boats and camping trailers up for grabs, but entertainment from Dave Hodge (the barefoot fisherman) and top musicians as well as the tag fish tank and excellent fishing and boating displays. The Hookup is also a charity event with all proceeds from the competition and merchandise going to the Bushfire Brigade.

Cooktown Discovery Festival
8 - 11 June 2012
Where: Cooktown
Web: www.cooktowndiscoveryfestival.com.au

The Cooktown Discovery Festival is an annual event held in Cooktown, Far North Queensland, to celebrate the landing of Lt. James Cook at the Endeavour River in 1770 and his meeting with the local Guugu Yimithirr and Kuku Yalanji people. For 50 years, the people of Cooktown have come together every June to celebrate this historic event by staging a fully costumed re-enactment of Cooks landing and his time spent in this tropical paradise with the local Bama (aboriginal people).

Tour of Toowoomba 201214-17 June 2012
Where: Toowoomba
Web: www.touroftoowoomba.com/

If you're into cycling, then Toowoomba is the place to be for the FKG Tour of Toowoomba. You'll have the opportunity to be part of an action packed weekend of cycling. The choice is yours - either enter the Endeavour Challenge, a sport open to all recreational cyclists, or be there to see the top teams in Australia compete in the grueling three day FK Gardner and Sons Construction Tour of Toowoomba. Other highlights include a Sports Dinner. This National Road Series three day event is an initiative of the Toowoomba Cycling Club and supported by both Cycling Queensland and Cycling Australia.

Porcupine Gorge National Park Challenge
16 June 2012
Where: Hughenden
Web: www.porcupinegorgechallenge.com.au

Some call it Queensland's Grand Canyon but it's better known as Porcupine Gorge. This event is not only to challenge serious competitors but to give the opportunity for locals and adjoining communities to enjoy the wonderful natural attraction of the gorge whilst walking with friends. Competitors travel from vast distances to compete in the 8 kilometer event; some who camp at the Gorge for the weekend enjoy more than just the challenge. Categories include Open Men's, Ladies and Under 16 and Under 12 section for boys and girls, with the overall winner taking pride of place on the perpetual trophy. A special perpetual trophy is also awarded to the first local Flinders Shire resident past the post.

Surfers Paradise Festival
20 June - 14 July 2012
Where: Surfers Paradise
Web: http://www.surfersparadisefestival.com

Surfers Paradise Festival is an annual community celebration of music, food, fashion, film and art and a key driver of the Gold Coast's long-term cultural development. Across the four weekends of the festival, the Surfers Paradise precinct becomes a dynamic, inclusive and interactive event space and a hub of Gold Coast creativity. The free event platforms local and international talent within the streets and venues of Surfers Paradise, across an accessible mix of family events, exhibitions, live music, street markets and short film screenings.

Mackay Tinnie & Tackle Show
23 -24 June 2012
Where: Mackay
Web: http://www.mackaymarinefestival.com.au/

Fishing, big and small boats, engines, jet ski's, ski boats and getting on the water... what more could a family want? At Mackay's ultimate marine event - The Mackay Marine Festival - you will find all this and more. The Mackay Tinnie and Tackle Show is a fantastic showcase of everything the region's marine industry has to offer. There are also plenty of activities for the kids from Marine and Fishing Workshops through to face painting and rock climbing walls. Part of the Mackay Marine Festival, it's all happening at the Mackay Marina.

Sail Mooloolaba
23 -30 June 2012
Where: Mooloolaba
Web: www.sailmooloolaba.yachting.org.au

Sail Mooloolaba is an annual sailing event that brings together junior, youth and senior sailors from the east coast of Australia, Hong Kong and New Zealand, across large and small dinghies, and monohull and multihull keel boats, to race in a two-day regatta on the beautiful waters off Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast.

Cairns to Karumba Bike Ride
24 - 30 June 2012
Where: Cairns
Web: www.ridefnq.com

Get outback! The Coast to Coast Bike Ride began through the Cairns School of Distance Education P&C Association in 1996/97 to initially address the need to build a multi-purpose activity centre for the school site in Cairns. The event is now a seven day Cairns to Karumba bike ride that will see bicyle riders travel through the outback towns of the iconic Savannah way. Riders can join the back along the way or travel the entire 780km ride.

Mary Poppins Festival
27 June - 1 July 2012
Where: Maryborough
Web: www.marypoppinsfestival.com.au

Mary Poppins mania hits Maryborough, the birthplace of author P.L. Travers, this June and July. Closet nannies emerge, vintage prams hit the streets, there is chalk art, music, a parade and fireworks. Here are a few little-known connections between Maryborough and the Mary Poppins novels (of which there were eight). Did you know that...

Travers' father was the bank manager in Maryborough just like her character Mr Banks The building where Travers lived is just a short stroll from Maryborough's majestic Queens Park, which bears strong resemblance to the park of the novels near the Banks' home, frequented by Mary Poppins and her young wards Travers' first Mary Poppins novel included a party at the zoo among the animals. 

Queens Park once housed a zoo and an aviary In the novel and film Admiral Boom is a former naval officer who lived next door to the Banks family and fired his cannon to mark the hours. In Maryborough, during Travers' parents' time a cannon was fired every day at 1pm to let the workers in the cane fields know to come in for lunch

History aside - this is fabulous fun! Head to Maryborough in June and July and enjoy this wonderful family festival.