Executive Room at Metro Hotel Tower Mill

Relax on your own private balcony. Comfortable and convenient, with modern conveniences including Wi-Fi and  Foxtel.  Ideal for the corporate or leisure traveller. Close to Roma Street Parklands, Queen Street Shopping Mall, Brisbane Town Hall, the Treasury Casino, Southbank and the CBD.

One queen bed or two single beds. Suitable for up to 2 guests.

Amenities:

• Air Conditioning
• Alarm Clock/ Radio
• Balcony
• Private Bathroom
• Flat screen TV with Foxtel & in-house movies.
• Coffee/tea making facilities
• Hair Dryer
• Iron/Ironing Board in room
• Closet/ wardrobe
• Refrigerator
• Work desk with lamp

Book now at: http://www.metrohotels.com.au/hotels/queensland/metro-hotel-tower-mill/accommodation/executive-room/

Peace Train: The Cat Stevens Story

Peace Train – The Cat Stevens Story “Intimate & Acoustic”, starring Darren Coggan, is a night of music and story-telling which will strike a chord deep inside the heart of anyone who longs for something more.

A journey back in time to the well of inspiration, recreating Cat’s timeless songs as they were originally written – on an acoustic guitar and piano, seeking out the man in the music and telling the story behind the songs.

Hear twenty-four hits sung with remarkable authenticity by one of Australia’s most exciting artists.

From Moonshadow, to Morning Has Broken, Wild World, Father & Son, First Cut Is The Deepest, Hard Headed Woman and Peace Train, Darren Coggan traces the path of a man who never stopped wondering about how to make the world a better place.

When: Sun, 29 Jun 2014
Location: Stars Cafe
Time: Open 4:30 pm | Show Starts 6:00 pm
Price: from $50.00



Tickets to show available from Ipswich Civic centre website: https://www.patronbase.com/_Ipswich/Sections/Choose?prod_id=0481&perf_id=1

For more info: http://www.ipswichciviccentre.com.au/peace-train-the-cat-stevens-story/


Coming to Ipswich for the show? Need accommodation at Ipswich?

Look no further than Metro Hotel Ipswich International:

This city centre hotel overlooks city parklands and walking distance to the Ipswich Civic Centre which is next door to the Hotel and this is the premier entertainment venue in Ipswich.

The hotel has a reputation for personalised service whether this is for a hotel function or conference, weddings, business or leisure accommodation or dining at Platform 9 restaurant.

Nearby tourist attractions include the Ipswich Art Gallery, the Queensland Workshop Railway Museum and for the adventure seekers and family fun there’s balloon rides to high adrenaline packages by helicopter, airboat and paintball.

Ipswich is 35 km from Brisbane and 66 km from Brisbane’s airport. Complimentary on site car parking and lift access to all floors from the car park and reception.

Visit Metro Hotel Ipswich International website: http://www.metrohotels.com.au/hotels/queensland/metro-hotel-ipswich-international/welcome/

Numbers Up at Australia's Big Airports

Large conferences and events helped to drive international traffic growth at all three of Australia's largest airports in May.

Melbourne Airport grew international traffic at a faster rate than Sydney Airport and Brisbane Airport in May, with the southern city citing benefits from new direct Jetstar flights to Japan and two large medical conferences during the period.

Melbourne Airport's international traffic rose by 11 per cent in May versus the same month last year, ahead of Brisbane Airport with 7 per cent growth and Sydney Airport with 5.6 per cent growth from a larger base than its rivals.

"The strong growth of the Japanese market in May shows that people are taking advantage of Jetstar's Melbourne-Japan service which commenced in late April," Melbourne Airport chief executive Chris Woodruff said. "International passenger growth in May was also boosted by two global conferences, the World Congress of Cardiology and the International Congress of World Federation of Haemophilia, both held at the Melbourne Convention Bureau."

The airport is also likely to benefit from increased traffic in July from the 20th International AIDS Conference being held in Melbourne, which will have 14,000 participants.

Sydney Airport chief executive Kerrie Mather said international traffic in May at her airport had been assisted by strong Chinese passenger growth of 11.4 per cent. The 2014 International Rotary Convention also helped boost traffic from the US, Japan and Canada during the month.

In Brisbane, the Australian Tourism Exchange in Cairns helped boost international traffic as did the World Congress of Audiology.

New Tourism Australia managing director John O'Sullivan has made events and conferences a key focus for his organisation in helping to increase the number of international visitors to Australia.

Industry body Tourism & Transport Forum on Thursday warned urgent action was needed to ensure Australia met its Tourism 2020 growth target of boosting overnight spending to up to $140 million. A new Tourism Research Australia forecast showed total spending growing at 1.7 per cent a year over the next decade which would see spending in 2020 reach just $115 billion - the low point of a $115 billion to $140 billion target range.

For Australia's largest airports, the domestic market remained more subdued than the international market at a time when Qantas Airways and Flight Centre have warned consumers are tightening their belts in reaction to the federal budget handed down in May.

At Brisbane Airport, domestic traffic fell by 1.7 per cent from the prior May, which was a greater rate than the 0.9 per cent decline in domestic capacity at the airport. Despite that, the airport said domestic city pairs showing growth in May included the three busiest routes of Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns as well as Roma, Hobart and Gladstone.

"It's been a busy year on all fronts and with the end of the financial year only a couple of weeks away we expect to see another strong result for Brisbane Airport," the airport's chief executive, Julieanne Alroe said.

Sydney Airport reported 2.1 per cent growth in domestic passengers, which was lower than Melbourne Airport's 3.1 per cent growth

Opera in the Reservoir | Spring Hill, Brisbane | August 1st to 30th, 2014

Opera in the Reservoir. The Spring Hill Reservoir, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane. Friday 1 August 2014, 7:30pm – Saturday 30 August 2014, 10:30pm

Brisbane’s Heritage-listed Spring Hill Reservoirs are set to become the new home for a leading Australian private opera company after being locked up and unused for decades.

Devoted to creating performance events in unusual, breathtaking spaces the Underground Opera Company (UOC) has provided a platform for professional singers and the audiences that love them for seven years.

Following negotiations over two years with the Brisbane City Council, UOC has the approval (and the keys!) to enter, clean and establish a purpose-built, high-quality performance space inside the Reservoirs. The interior is a stately, Victorian-esque space with pseudo-gothic arches and partitioned quarters conducive to comfortable, intimate seating.

A season of thirty (30) performances will be held throughout August 2014 to launch the new venue, with a maximum of 120 audience numbers per show.

“The Reservoirs are the ultimate space for our company – they are underground, rustic, earthy, conducive to good acoustics and have a special place in the historical heart of Brisbane people”, said company Director Bruce Edwards.

Built in 1871, the Reservoirs were once the main store house for drinking water extracted from hollows within Spring Hills, drawn up by the recently restored Spring Hill Windmill (Brisbane’s oldest surviving building, also Heritage-listed).

A quite achiever until recently, UOC has hosted events throughout Australia in natural, breathtaking spaces including the Jenolan Caves (Jenolan), Capricorn Caves (Rockhampton), Bli Bli Castle (Bli Bli), the Workshops Railway Museum (Ipswich), the Central Deborah Gold Mine (Bendigo) and in just a few weeks, the Hard Times Mine (Mt Isa).

“We are incredibly proud and grateful to be provided this significant opportunity by Brisbane City Council and are ecstatic to bring world-class concerts and events to the backyard of all Brisbane people”, said Mr Edwards.

Tickets for the launch season will be available for purchase from TODAY 6 May 2014 via Ticketmaster. www.ticketmaster.com.au

Our audience have said-

"I laughed, cried and cheered. Do not miss these incredible concerts!"  D. Morgan

"I never thought I would enjoy Opera so much.  Underground Opera has just converted me!"  M. Boyd

"I have seen Opera concerts all around the world and Australia and this one certainly ranks as one of the best." R. Williamson

Get a group together for a great night out or make a perfectly romantic evening for just you and your partner.  

Get Tickets HERE

See you at the show!

Victoria trials GST refund reforms for tourists departing Australia

Refunding GST to tourists when they leave the country will make Australia more attractive to big spenders, travel agents say.

Victoria has been chosen to trial reforms to the present refund model, which travel agents say is too complicated.

Victorian Treasurer Michael O'Brien said tourists were entitled to a refund on retail purchases over certain thresholds.

"It is frankly a bit embarrassing when you see how difficult it is for tourists to get GST refunds," Mr O'Brien told a leadership forum in Melbourne on Tuesday.

"This is something which I think is not currently working nearly as well as it might."

Australian Federation of Travel Agents chief executive Jayson Westbury said many Australians would be familiar with how the system worked in Britain and other countries.

"From a tourism point of view, it is a no brainer because it puts us in the league of being competitive," Mr Westbury said.

Mr Westbury said private operators ran the system overseas, taking a small fee from the GST refund.
He said tourists shopping in Australia would be more likely to stay around if they knew they were getting money back when they left.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-essentials/travel-news/victoria-trials-gst-refund-reforms-for-tourists-departing-australia-20140604-39hu2.html

One Direction is coming to Brisbane in February 2015

SUNCORP Stadium is heading for another sell out event next year with One Direction announcing a concert in Brisbane on February 11, 2015.

Minister for Recreation and Sport Steve Dickson said the world's biggest pop boy band will hit Brisbane on February 11, as part of the "On the Road Again Tour 2015".

Mr Dickson said the concert was expected to inject at least $5 million into the Queensland economy.

"With all 190,000 tickets sold for the 18 shows held in Australia and New Zealand during their 'Take Me Home Tour' last year, I'm sure this will be a sell-out," Mr Dickson said.

"Major sporting and entertainment events have a vital role in contributing to the Queensland Government's tourism target of $30 billion a year in overnight visitor expenditure by 2020.

"Our ongoing investment in maintaining and developing Suncorp Stadium infrastructure ensures it is an ideal outdoor concert venue, and the entire community benefits from the economic flow-on.

"One Direction will be the 14th international act in eight years to perform at the Stadium, and with more than 485,000 patrons having attended concerts there so far, it seems appropriate for One Direction to smash through the half million barrier."

Liam Payne from One Direction said, "We can't wait to come back to Australia and play for all our fans again on the On the Road Again 2015 Tour. Our Australian fans have been there for us since day one, and we always have such a great time there. We'll see you all in February next year!"

Mr Dickson announced residents living in the Stadium precinct would be offered the opportunity to pre-purchase tickets to the concert before they went on sale to the general public on May 31.

"Details of this special pre-sale will be shared with the local community via a letterbox drop next week," he said.

Mr Dickson said a 10.30pm curfew and noise control measures applied.

"The Stadium will engage specialist acoustic consultants to assist in the management of noise control," he said.

"As part of that process, sound engineers will be at the control panel during the concerts and will be in communication with technicians monitoring noise levels at various locations outside the Stadium to ensure they remain compliant with guidelines."

Public transport to and from the venue is provided free for all ticketholders.

Source: http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/one-direction-coming-brisbane-february-2015/2262147/

Ipswich Cup Attracts Interstate and International Starters

IT is Ipswich's turn in the spotlight of the Queensland Racing Winter Carnival as the time-honoured Ipswich Cup is contested on Saturday.

The meeting, which has long held a reputation as much more than a race meeting, will again attract thousands of patrons, including 12,000 'pre-sold' revellers joining in the celebration.

The last-minute scramble for in-field marquee tickets is underway as the grandstand side marquees and individual in-field marquees have been sold out for some time.

But it is expected that in-field Corona marquee tickets will be sold until Saturday.

A healthy 160 nominations were received for the program and these include a good number of interstate and international gallopers.

Nominations received for the Ipswich Cup alone feature runners from Victoria in Peter Moody's Full of Spirit, Pat Carey's Angola, David Brideoak and David Feek's High Aims, and Michael Moroney's Garud.

Sydneysider Gerald Ryan has nominated Ironstein, there is a South Australian in John Hyam's Stella Lante, and there are two New Zealanders in Toowoomba Cup winner Military Move, and last year's unlucky Ipswich Cup second placegetter High Kin who is trained by Stewart McKinnon.

Bryan Guy won the Ipswich Cup last year with Anagold and this year he has Dienekes and Noisy Ocean nominated for the big race.

Top Queensland trainer Robert Heathcote has nominated Sam's Town and Volkhere and Group 1-winning Tony Gollan is targeting the Cup with Brave Ali.

Top Sydney trainers Chris Waller with Masthead and Joseph Pride with Sir Berus spearhead the nominations for the Eyeliner Stakes with a strong field looking to collect Ipswich's famous sprint race.

Saturday spoils shared

AT Eagle Farm last Saturday, there were three Group 1 races and the spoils were shared across the east coast of Australia.

Queensland's biggest race, the Stradbroke Handicap, carried $1 million for the winner.

This prizemoney was kept in the Sunshine State as the Natalie McCall-trained River Lad from the Sunshine Coast prevailed over fellow Queenslander Temple of Boom and exciting Sydney three- year-old filly Srikandi.

In the JJ Atkins for two-year- olds, the Gai Waterhouse-trained Almalad just got home over a fellow Sydneysider in the Chris Waller-trained Brazen Beau.

Brazen Beau headed the winner at the 200 metre mark, with Tony Gollan's Queensland-trained Looks Like the Cat in third.

The quinella of the Queensland Derby went to Victoria as the Henry Dwyer-trained Sonntag defeated Troy Corsten's Pinstripe Lad. Sydneysider Vilanova gave Chris Waller another Group 1 placegetter by running third.

Outcry over protest result

RACING Queensland and the Ipswich Turf Club received an unusual number of complaints from the public in relation to a protest result last Wednesday at Ipswich.

The race was the seventh of the day and across the line, Bryan Guy-trained and Janette Johnson-ridden Grapevine had a winning margin of a nose over the Gillian Heinrich-trained and Tim Bell-ridden Set Afire.

There was clear interference in the home straight.

While it may have appeared initially on television replays that this was caused by the winner laying out, RQ stewards found that the second horse had caused the winner to lay out after bumping its hind quarter, causing the winner to twist outwards.

Guy was happy with the result as it gave him a double for the day after Magic Cassius' win earlier in the day.

Gillian Heinrich had to be content with an earlier win by Walkin' Tall. That helped to push both she, on the trainer's premiership, and Tim Bell, on the jockey's premiership, each three wins clear with a month and a half of the season remaining.

Farewell Wayne Wilson

THE condolences of all committee, staff and members at the Ipswich Turf Club go out to the family of the great man, and great race caller Wayne Wilson.

Wayne was a terrific supporter of the ITC and of all industry stakeholders.

He will be sorely missed.

Swich On revive Calcutta

AS part of the festivities in the week leading up to Ipswich Cup Day, local charitable association Swich On is conducting a calcutta night.

This is on Thursday night at the North Ipswich Reserve.

It has been a decade or two since a calcutta night was held on the Ipswich Cup and all credit to the local association for reigniting this entertaining and potentially profitable evening.

The pool is promising to be around $10,000, giving the lucky buyer of the Ipswich Cup winner a handsome dividend.

The guest speakers include Group 1-winning trainer Tony Gollan and scallywag from the south Allan "Robbo" Robinson, who is famed for Footy Show appearances as well as an impressive set of statistics from his riding career.

Tickets may be booked at SwichOn.com.au.