With a stunning setting and course layout over 587 acres of unspoilt natural bushland, Riverside Oaks is rated amongst the top resort courses in Australia hosting the Australian PGA Championship from 1988 to 1990.

Riverside Oaks has a reputation for quality that attracts golfers and visitors from across Australia and around the world. Available for functions the resort won the 2011 Greater Sydney People’s Choice Tourism Award in the Restaurant and Catering category.

For more information please visit the Riverside Oaks website www.riversideoaks.com.au/

Sydney Airport is the gateway to Australia and the entry and exit point for well over 40% of our nation’s international arrivals and departures. At the Domestic end, twelve major interstate routes out of Sydney account for 40% of the total domestic passenger traffic market.

In order to service our state’s major hub, regional carriers such as Qantaslink and Regional Express need to efficiently service the nation’s major air traffic hub with frequent and direct air services linking the major towns and growth centres of regional New South Wales. It therefore goes without saying that the bulk of regional airline traffic is either business related or connecting to interstate or overseas flights and “any suggestion to shift these operations away from Sydney Airport is short sighted and detrimental to economic growth”, Mr Jefferies said.

Whilst the Council is supportive of freeing up operations at Sydney Airport with the relaxation of the onerous and legislated curfew restrictions and movement caps, “we fully support calls from regional airlines, politicians and Local Government Area’s to ensure that regional airlines continue to have access to the nation’s major gateway”, he said.

“Even if a second airport in the Sydney Basin is constructed or developed as part of the solution for aviation access in New South Wales, regional airlines must continue to have guaranteed access to Sydney Airport. The potential loss of business for airlines and communities in regional centres across our state would simply reinforce the perception that Sydney is too difficult to travel to. Any negative perceptions would be detrimental to the economic fortunes of Sydney and the New South Wales economy as a whole.”

The Chairman of the South Coast Regional Tourism Organisation, Tourism Industry Council NSW Director and Eurobodalla Shire Councillor Rob Pollock stressed “the importance of same day travel opportunities for regional communities, particularly those employed in the medical, legal and government fraternities”. Clr Pollock said that “the fabric of regional communities across New South Wales would be damaged if same day access to Sydney was removed”.

Designed for professionally employed Tourism Managers and their staff, the Exchange focuses on providing information on the issues affecting our Industry in a number of educational sessions whilst also allowing for broad and open discussion.

Supported by Destination NSW, this free event will host a range of speakers and presentations including:

Barbara de Rome – Destination New South Wales – discussing the current industry trends and resources available within New South Wales.

Stephen Wells – V3 – providing an overview of Tourism Exchange Australia and the opportunities for LGAs, LTOs, RTOs and VICs.

John Dean – The Hills Shire Council – discussing the future of Local Government tourism funding models.

David Douglas – Tourist Attraction Signposting Assessment Committee – an outline of the functions of this committee and how your organisation can benefit.

Karina Groth & Jenna Veness – NSW Tourism Awards – 2012 Awards presentation outlining this year’s program, procedures, benefits and opportunities for business improvement and exposure.

For bookings and enquiries, please contact Industry & Membership Services Officer, Jenna Veness at jenna@ticnsw.com.au or 02 9267 6865.

Please click here to view the Tourism Managers Exchange Invitation

The Tourism Industry Council NSW looks forward to seeing you in Gunnedah!

The free prospectus Co-operative Marketing Opportunities with Destination NSW is designed to provide access to business resources, website listings, product showcases and industry research.

It also provides details about how to participate in a range of opportunities such as publicity, cooperative marketing campaigns, visitor publications, international trade missions, event marketing and familiarisation tours.

Information provided within the prospectus can be particularly helpful in enabling your business to reach more consumers and increase interest in your product, service or event.

To complete an Expression of Interest on the Co-operative Marketing Opportunities 2012-13 please click here

For our first event of 2012, we have been fortunate to secure the New South Wales Minister for Transport, The Honourable Gladys Berejiklian MP as our guest speaker.  Gladys has served as the Member for Willoughby in the NSW Parliament since 2003, having previously been employed as a National General Manager with the Commonwealth Bank.  She took on the Shadow Transport Minister duties in November 2006 and has now inherited what is arguably the O’Farrell Government’s most important and strategic portfolio.

The future of transport and infrastructure delivery in Sydney and across New South Wales is vitally important to the tourism industry and members of the Tourism Industry Council NSW. From small and medium enterprises through to the state’s largest corporate entities, our industry is touched by transport in one form or another.  We are grateful to have Gladys join us at this event and we look forward to hearing her discuss some of the O’Farrell Government’s initiatives that will help deliver upon the targets outlayed by the Visitor Economy Taskforce.

Our host for this event is Mr Ray Williams MP, the Parliamentary Secretary for Western Sydney and Member for Hawkesbury. Ray has been a long term resident of North Western Sydney and served as a Member of Parliament since 2007. He has been a great supporter of tourism operators in the Hills and Hawkesbury regions for many years and was instrumental in campaigning for and securing the much needed upgrade of Windsor Road.

In addition, a wide range of Ministers and Members of Parliament will be in attendance.  Meet the Minister at Macquarie Street promises to be a great opportunity to meet and network with your elected Parliamentary representatives and industry colleagues in a relaxed and informal manner

 Please click here to download the invitation

 Please click here to download the registration form

For further information, please contact:
Tourism Industry Council NSW
Level 3, 309 Pitt St
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: 02 9267 6865
Fax: 02 9264 1085
Email: admin@ticnsw.com.au

 With thanks to JC Travel Professionals for their generous support of this event

This morning’s meeting held to elect nine new directors has delivered six new board members. They are Brian McHenry (Lilianfels, Blue Mountains), Dean Gorddard (Hunter Valley Wine Country Tourism), Lori Modde (Lorick Management), David Ovendale (NRMA), Robert Smith (Twin Towns Clubs & Resorts, Tweed Heads/Clubs NSW) and Kathy Balodis (Macquarie Waters Apartment Hotel, Port Macquarie/FORTO).

The newly elected Board members join Carol Giuseppi (AHA NSW), Geoff Buckley (New Earth Tourism), John McKernan (AFTA), Gary O’Riordan (ATEC), Simon Spellicy (Sydney Opera House), Rob Pollock (South Coast Tourism), Deputy Chair Barry Baillie (Caravan and Camping Industry Association NSW)and the incumbent Chairman Ken Corbett (Australian Attractions).

“Our new board reflects the true diversity of our membership which is roughly split between regional New South Wales and Sydney based members,” Mr Jefferies said. “Having board directors from a wide professional cross section of the industry located at destinations such as the Blue Mountains, Port Macquarie, Tweed Heads, South Coast, Pokolbin and Sydney is a great sign of our maturity and position across the industry in this state”. he said.

Mr Jefferies “welcomed the new board and looks forward to working with the new team in the year ahead”.

The Tasmanian Devil breeding season has begun at the Australian Reptile Park. Tasmanian Devils are an endangered species, and last year saw 26 baby devils born which was the highest number of joeys born in captivity.

The female chooses the male and mating occurs over a 7 day period. She could have many partners if not guarded by the male, so he sprawls himself across the entrance of the den to prevent other unwelcome male visits, hence the term “mate guarding”. If she doesn’t get pregnant at first, she’ll have two more cycles before the end of June. If the attempt is successful, then after 21 days, around 30 tiny devils are born. The mother has only four teats, so only the first to arrive and fuse themselves to her survive. They will feed from their mother for six months, and then venture outside of the den in Spring, before becoming fully independent by December.

Last year’s babies are now in the crèche at Devil Ark and will be moved into free range enclosure when they reach breeding age next year. The female can rear up to four joeys a year for an average of three years.

Devil Ark is the largest breeding facility for the Tasmanian devil and is now home to almost 100 devils in large free range enclosures that mimic the natural landscape of their native Tasmania. With the insidious DFTD (Devil Facial Tumour Disease) now in the Tasmania’s North West, extinction in the wild seems inevitable. This information highlights the importance of mainland breeding facilities such as Devil Ark and zoos around Australian that share the goal of preserving this fascinating animal.

For information on the Australian Reptile Park please visit http://www.reptilepark.com.au/

“We have received sixteen nominations for our Board of Directors – the highest level of interest that we have received for many, many years and we have had to expand the Board numbers within our Articles to accommodate this new interest”, Mr Jefferies said.

The Council’s Annual General Meeting to be held on Thursday February 16 at 10.30am in the offices of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents will elect nine new directors from a wide range of industry backgrounds and regions across the state.

The Council has received nominations from Brian McHenry (Lilianfels Resort & Spa, Blue Mountains), Dean Gorddard (Hunter Valley Wine Country), David Ovendale (NRMA) , Lori Modde (Lorick Management), Rick Matkowski (Griffith City Council VIC) and Christopher Warren (International Centre for Responsible Tourism). They are all joined by current directors seeking re-election including Rob Pollock (South Coast Tourism), Gary O’Riordan (ATEC), Simon Spellicy (Sydney Opera House) , Council Chairman Ken Corbett (Australian Attractions) and the Council’s former General Manager Geoff Buckley (New Earth Tourism).

In addition, the Tourism Industry Council NSW’s Gold Industry Associations have already nominated the following representatives for automatic election to the Board – Barry Baillie (Caravan and Camping Industry Association NSW), Carol Giuseppi (AHA NSW), Robert Smith (Clubs NSW), John McKernan (AFTA) and Kathy Balodis (FORTO).

“We are delighted to have such a wide cross section of the state’s tourism industry seek to become actively involved on our Board. Our membership is roughly split 50/50 between Sydney and regional New South Wales and it is great to have received nominations,  not only from Sydney based members, but also from some of our State’s most iconic destinations such as the Blue Mountains, the Hunter, South Coast, Tweed Heads and Port Macquarie”, Mr Jefferies said.

All financial members of the Tourism Industry Council NSW are entitled to vote, either in person at the Annual General Meeting or by completing and submitting a proxyform.  Members are encouraged to contact the Tourism Industry Council NSW on 02 9267 6865 or admin@ticnsw.com.au. 

The Council has welcomed more than ten new members in the last six months and is always seeking to expand its member base.  Please contact Jenna Veness, the Council’s Membership Services Officer at jenna@ticnsw.com.au for further information.

News that Emirates Airlines face the potential of a $1 Million fine for weather delayed departures out of Sydney Airport “highlights the need for changes to curfew regulations”, the Tourism Industry Council NSW General Manager Andrew Jefferies said.

 “It is simply absurd that carriers are not given dispensation to depart after the curfew in the event of weather related delays, particularly when thunderstorms drastically reduce or stop aircraft movements altogether”, Mr. Jefferies said.

 “The “hard” curfew hours of 11pm and 6am restrict the operations of Sydney Airport and limit the competitiveness of Australia’s global gateway, particularly when compared to Melbourne, Brisbane and its regional neighbours in the Asia-Pacific. That flights are not given dispensation to depart after 11pm after many hours of weather related delays sends a message to the world that Sydney and New South Wales are not serious about attracting international tourists”, he said.

 “It is time that the Federal Government reviewed the curfew legislation and gave serious consideration to relaxing some of these constraints in order to provide Sydney Airport with greater operational flexibility so that inbound tourists continue to have a positive experience of Sydney, New South Wales and Australia.” “As Australia’s main international gateway, Sydney needs the flexibility and capacity to grow its operations and not be held back by a handful of inner city politicians pandering to local NIMBYS.” 

“Additionally, if the New South Wales Government is serious about doubling the overnight visitor economy by the year 2020, a change to the existing, outdated, curfew legislation is a priority”.

News of the potential Emirates fine comes as the joint Federal and New South Wales Government study into New South Wales aviation capacity is soon to be released.  Mr. Jefferies said that “the Tourism Industry Council NSW eagerly awaits the outcome of this report and reiterates its position that Sydney will require additional aviation capacity over the next decade and beyond, particularly if Government continues to stand by the restrictions placed on Sydney Airport’s potential growth”.

For a complete list of 2012 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards Finalists and to book tickets click here

Book by 15th January and you will be in the draw to win two nights accommodation at the Mirvac Sebel Cairns and one night accommodation in a Studio Spa Room at Sea Temple Resort & Spa, Port Douglas including breakfast for two in Aqua Restaurant.

For any enquiries regarding tickets, please contact the National Tourism Alliance on 02 9264 2185 or info@australiantourismawards.com.au