NSW Welcomes ‘Outstanding’ Growth

Withstanding the strong Aussie dollar, domestic tourism into NSW experienced strong growth for the month of June compared the corresponding month last year, the first time in eight years.

The state welcomed an 11 percent increase in domestic visitors while the number of nights stayed also rose by up to 12 percent and doubled the national average, according to figures released by Tourism Research Australia.

Boosting the state’s domestic arrival growth for the year ending June 2011 to 24.1 domestic overnight visitors, Minister for Tourism George Souris described the growth as “outstanding” and a relief to achieving planned goals.

“This bodes well for the NSW Government’s target of doubling overnight tourism expenditure by 2020,” Mr Souris explained.

“NSW has increased its share of total domestic visitors to 35 per cent with Victoria and Queensland recording a 24 per cent share.

“This strong performance has meant an additional 4.2 million nights to NSW in the year ending June 2011, injecting an additional $782 million into our State’s economy.

According to the Minister, Sydney saw the strongest growth for the period with a rise of up to 21 percent in visitors and 19 percent in visitor nights.

Regional NSW also welcomed a rise with a three percent increase in visitors and an additional $273 million in spending.

(Source: etravelblackboard.com)

Now that's a download: 101 musos enter real world - To play

After uploading winning performances, an entire cyber-orchestra will meet in the very real surrounds of the Concert Hall.

More than a few nerves will be jangling when YouTube brings 101 musicians from all over the world to the Sydney Opera House in March.

After auditioning and being judged online, then rehearsing and communicating online, for some of the musicians, just leaving cyberspace for the Concert Hall in Sydney will mark the first time they’ve travelled outside their home countries.

For four of the selected musicians, the pressure will be even higher – they’re the ones who scored a coveted soloist spot at the March 20 multimedia extravaganza, which audiences can catch in person at the Concert Hall or online. The gala performance includes not only performances of Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Stravinsky’s Firebird and Mothership, a special commission from American composer Mason Bates, but vast images projected onto the interior and sails of the Opera House.

Advertisement: Story continues below Canberran John Burgess is one of the lucky soloists. He auditioned on a custom-made electric double bass then sent his video to the judging panel. The Sydney Symphony was one of nine orchestras from around the world, including London Symphony Orchestra and the Berliner Philharmoniker, which helped judge the musicians.

His fellow soloists, a Brazilian electric guitarist, an American violinist and a Chinese player of the guzheng - a traditional plucked instrument invented about 91BC.

The international music experts liked more than 300 finalists from 46 countries; the YouTube user community then had their say during a week of online voting in December. San Francisco Symphony music director and London Symphony Orchestra principal guest conductor, Michael Tilson Thomas, took the online votes into consideration when selecting the orchestra he will conduct in Sydney.

Three other Aussies made the final cut: cellist Mathisha Panagoda from St Ives in Sydney, violinist Rollin Zhao from Brisbane and timpani player Brent Miller from Toowoomba.

Panagoda told The Sydney Morning Herald: “It felt a little bit weird filming myself playing and then uploading it to the internet for everyone to see, for all the other cellists out there to see. It was a bit daunting and a bit embarrassing.”

Miller, meanwhile, is delighted to have the chance to show off his instrument in such grand surrounds. “There are limited opportunities for me to play the timpani and this experience will realise my lifelong dream to perform in one of the world’s most iconic concert halls,” he says.

The orchestra’s 101 members and soloists range from 14 to 49 years old and include amateur and professional musicians, students and teachers. They will take part in a week-long classical music summit with Tilson Thomas and other performers, culminating in the concert. YouTube is donating all box-office proceeds to the Opera House’s digital education initiatives.

Looking for Sydney Accommodation?

WESTFIELD SYDNEY STAGE ONE TO OPEN IN OCTOBER

The Westfield Group will open the first stage of the $1.2 billion Westfield Sydney development in late October, 2010.

More than 100 fashion and food specialty stores will open for trade by Christmas, at what will be a world class retail and commercial precinct. A second stage opening is scheduled for the second quarter of 2011, with the centre due for completion in 2012 with the construction of a 27-storey office tower that will be home to J.P. Morgan’s Australian headquarters.

Westfield Sydney will represent the next generation in Australian retail, delivering an unrivalled shopping experience in the heart of Sydney’s CBD. The development is in Sydney’s best retail site at Pitt St Mall, Castlereagh and Market streets, and connects to the highest grossing department stores in Australia - David Jones and Myer. On completion in 2012 the new development will comprise more than 250 fashion, food and lifestyle stores across 40,000 squ are metres (sqm) and seven levels. This will be complemented by Sydney Central Plaza’s 80 stores over 53,000sqm.

Westfield Group Managing Director Australia & New Zealand Robert Jordan said, “Westfield Sydney will become the benchmark for downtown shopping malls in Australia. We’re developing a global centre that will offer the very best in retail, design, and services and we believe the centre will position Sydney as an international shopping destination.”

Stores to open in Stage One in October include Gucci, Hugo Boss, Stuart Weitzman, new-to-market brands GAP, Mulberry, and DKNY Jeans, together with a host of Australian retailers including Cue, Sportsgirl, Wanted Shoes and designers including Zimmerman and Carla Zampatti. Westfield Sydney will also launch 100 Squared, a fashion incubator concept allowing clusters of young designers to have a pop-up retail space on level one.

Openings in 2011 will see the unveiling of furthe r high street and designer stores including Prada, Miu Miu and the recently announced Zara, opening its first store in Australia. The full food offering includes fine dining restaurants on level six, a high-end restaurant-style food precinct, and due for completion in 2012, an outdoor bar.