Daily News & Opinion

Marriott International this week hosted its third annual Destination Pacific Islands events, which saw travel industry professionals gather with regional representatives at Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park and Four Points by Sheraton Melbourne Docklands to learn about the latest offerings at the company’s hotels and resorts in Fiji, Samoa and New Caledonia. The events were attended by more than 140 buyers, travel agents and travel trade media, with Sydney guests enjoying a traditional Fijian dance and Melbourne guests enjoying a Samoan one.

Ongoing demand for Bruce Munro’s immersive installation, Field of Light Uluru, has led to the exhibition being extended indefinitely from its previous close date of December 31, 2020. The award-winning exhibition, located at Ayers Rock Resort in the spiritual heart of Australia, opened in April 2016 to critical acclaim and has proven to be a stand-out drawcard to the destination, attracting more than 450,000 visitors to date.

For the third year in a row, Sydney-based creators AGB Events have staged a projection mapping show – “Migratory Patterns” – onto the iconic Cairns City Library for the Cairns Festival. The company worked with local artist Hayley Gillespie to bring her work to life. The Cairns Festival was founded by the Cairns Regional Council in 1961. Since then, the overriding vision has been to deliver a bright, bold and challenging program spanning visual and performing arts, culture and entertainment.

The annual Business Events Greater China Showcase wrapped up in Wuzhen near Shanghai today. Hosted by Tourism Australia, the event saw 80 business events corporate decision makers, incentive planners and trade media from Greater China connect with 39 Australian businesses representing destinations, products and experiences. Last year the Greater China Showcase took place in Australia for the first time. The Melbourne event generated 89 leads and three wins to the value of AUD $89.9 million.

The Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) has announced Professor Leo Jago OAM and Professor Margaret Deery as the 2019 AACB Hall of Fame inductees. The announcement was made at the Destination Business Events Gala Dinner held at Crown Aviary on September 20. Professors Jago and Deery have had a significant impact on the AACB and its members for some 21 years, advising many convention bureaux around the country how to best value the economic benefit of business events to their respective destinations.

Construction of the $330 million SkyCity Adelaide Casino expansion has reached a major milestone with the development topping out. South Australian Premier Steven Marshall was among guests to gather on the top floor of the 12 storey building for a topping out ceremony to celebrate the installation of the highest point of the development. Construction of the expansion, which includes a 120-suite luxury hotel and conference and function facilities, commenced in June last year.

Marriott International’s first hotel in Canberra, Midnight Hotel, Autograph Collection, welcomed its first guests today. The hotel has introduced 199 rooms, a restaurant and a bar into the Canberra accommodation market, and is situated in the emerging suburb of Braddon. Midnight Hotel, Autograph Collection has been designed by acclaimed Australian architects Fender Katsalidis, with a contemporary and sculptural theme. The hotel features sharp and textural materials such as concrete, glass and metal finishings.

The Sebel Sydney Manly Beach has completed a full upgrade incorporating a new ‘Coastal Series’ design theme. The design is in keeping with the hotel’s location on the southern end of Manly Beach, and spans its guest rooms, public spaces and pool area. Rooms now have fresh paint, improved lighting, carpet and tile floor coverings, bedding and furniture.