Destination Download – September 2024

In this edition:

• News & Announcements

• Business & Skills Development, Resources, Events

• Industry Insights

• Local Updates & New Product

• Grant & Funding Opportunities

Singapore Airlines Becomes the First International Airline at Western Sydney Airport

Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) has achieved a significant milestone by securing its first international airline, with Singapore Airlines set to operate flights from the new airport.

WSI CEO Simon Hickey celebrated the development, noting that the airport’s ability to operate around the clock has attracted positive interest from airlines.

Industry figures, including David Borger from Business Western Sydney and Margy Osmond from the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) Australia, have expressed strong support for the announcement. Borger highlighted the importance of Singapore Airlines’ extensive global network in enhancing the airport’s reputation and economic prospects. Osmond emphasized the boost this development provides to the visitor economy, noting that it will increase international flight options and improve travel experiences for visitors arriving from Asia.

Bangalay Dining Wins at 2024 Restaurant & Catering Australia Awards

Bangalay Dining, the onsite restaurant at Bangalay Luxury Villas has won the 2024 Restaurant & Catering Australia award for Best Restaurant in a Hotel or Resort in Regional NSW for the third year running. A huge congratulations to the Bangalay team!

DSSS Digital Ecosystem Workshops

Ready to take your digital marketing skills to the next level? Join us for the Digital Ecosystem workshop series, where you’ll learn from a local digital marketing expert, Lachlan Stevens, owner of His Boy Elroy, to enhance your online presence!

What’s in Store?
We’re hosting five FREE interactive workshops across the DSSS region to help local visitor economy businesses like yours thrive online. Here’s what you can look forward to:

Locations:

• Wollongong
• Shellharbour
• Kiama
• Shoalhaven
• Wingecarribee

Each workshop will run for approx. 2 hours, which includes a deep dive into digital marketing accompanied by some fundamentals from the NSW First Program.

Why Attend?
You’ll get hands-on guidance on:

• Social Media Marketing
• Email Marketing
• Influencer Marketing
• Search Engine Optimisation
• Marketing Automation

Plus, with interactive elements and Q&A sessions, you’ll leave with practical tips you can apply immediately to your business.

Ready to Level Up?
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to upskill and grow your business. Register now and secure your spot!

Wollongong Workshop
Date: Tuesday 15 October
Location: Headlands Hotel Austinmer
Time: 9:30am – 11:30am
RSVP HERE

Shellharbour Workshop
Date: Tuesday 15 October
Location: Shellharbour Civic Centre
Time: 1:30pm – 3:30pm
RSVP HERE

Gerringong Workshop
Date: Wednesday 16 October
Location: The Co-Op Gerringong
Time: 9:00am – 11:00am
RSVP HERE

Ulladulla Workshop
Date: Wednesday 16 October
Location: Dunn Lewis Centre
Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm
RSVP HERE

Bowral Workshop
Date: Thursday 17 October
Location: Berida Hotel
Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm
RSVP HERE

Free Workshops to Improve Your Workplace and Employee Wellbeing

DSSS is excited to partner with Raising the Bar Foundation on the roll out of the Healthier Hospitality program.
 
Healthier Hospitality provides the knowledge, tools, and resources to help staff recognise signs of mental illness, manage stress, and communicate better about mental health issues. By addressing these challenges head-on, we not only improve the wellbeing of employees but also improve overall workplace productivity and culture.
 
The program will also help businesses become compliant with the Code of Practice regarding Psychosocial hazards set by SafeWork NSW.
 
If you or your staff work in hospitality, this workshop is for you! Register via the links below. 
 
What your staff will take away

• The knowledge to identify signs and symptoms of mental illness early
• Practical tools for discussing mental health issues
• Strategies to create safer, healthier work conditions, reducing psychosocial risks and preventing workplace injuries
• Effective stress management techniques
• Practices that enhance personal wellbeing
• Effective control strategies to identify and address psychosocial risks in the workplace 

If you have a business with over 30 employees, please reach out to Raising the Bar Foundation, they can arrange a workshop for your employees.

RSVP and find out more about the workshops here. 

Wollongong Workshop
Date: Monday 25th November
Location: Wollongong (Venue TBC)
Time: 9am – 10:30am

Shellharbour Workshop
Date: Monday 25th November
Location: Shellharbour (Venue TBC)
Time: 11:30am – 1pm

Kiama Workshop
Date: Monday 25th November
Location: Kiama (Venue TBC)
Time: 2:30pm – 4pm

Nowra Workshop
Date: Tuesday 26th November
Location: Kiama (Venue TBC)
Time: 9am – 10:30am

Huskisson Workshop
Date: Tuesday 26th November
Location: Huskisson (Venue TBC)
Time: 11:30am – 1pm

Sussex Inlet Workshop
Date: Tuesday 26th November
Location: Sussex Inlet (Venue TBC)
Time: 3pm – 4:30pm

Ulladulla Workshop
Date: Wednesday 27th November
Location: Ulladulla (Venue TBC)
Time: 9am – 10:30am

Moss Vale Workshop
Date: Wednesday 27th November
Location: Moss Vale (Venue TBC)
Time: 1pm – 2:30pm

Bowral Workshop
Date: Wednesday 27th November
Location: Bowral (Venue TBC)
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm

Registrations are Now Open for the NSW Small Business Month Expos

Get the best for your business this October at the Small Business Month Expos! 

This is your opportunity to get tips, tools and trends for success, plan and strategise for your future and network with government agencies and other businesses.

Join any of the eight Small Business Month Expos taking place in New South Wales.

WOLLONGONG EXPO  
Tuesday 22 October 2024, University of Wollongong Innovation Campus

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to transform your events and drive your business forward. 

2024 NSW Visitor Economy Forum

The NSW Visitor Economy Forum is returning for 2024, with the event to take place on Thursday 3 October at the ICC Sydney.

Registrations are now open for the full-day event, which will provide visitor economy stakeholders with an opportunity to come together, share insights and hear from industry experts to further understand what will shape the year ahead and drive growth in the NSW visitor economy.

In 2023, NSW Visitor Economy Forum participants heard from representatives from Google, McCrindle, Tourism Australia and the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner alongside industry leaders in events, wellness travel, culinary experiences and more.

The forum is free to attend and open to all visitor economy stakeholders including operators, trade partners, industry representatives and government colleagues.

New Monthly Mobility Data by Tourism Research Australia

Tourism Research Australia (TRA) has introduced a new, free data resource offering timely, high-quality insights into regional travel patterns. The resource utilizes de-identified, aggregated data from millions of mobile phones to deliver insights about domestic travelers that traditional surveys may miss.

Published monthly, typically within two weeks of the end of each month, this mobility data complements TRA’s existing National Visitor Survey, which remains a quarterly publication. TRA Head Grant Ferres highlighted that the monthly data provides the tourism industry with a swift and dependable source of information on domestic visitors.

Night-Time Economy Toolkit for Councils

After the release of the Local Government Night-Time Economy Toolkit in late 2023, the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner conducted a series of in-person workshops with councils across the Six-Cities region—from Shoalhaven to Port Stephens—between May and June 2024.

JOC Consulting facilitated these workshops, helping council officers navigate the Toolkit and Diagnostic Tool to assess their council’s maturity in developing and managing their night-time economies.

In response to feedback from council officers, the Diagnostic Tool has now been digitised for greater ease of use. Council officers can complete a series of online questions to evaluate their local night-time economy’s maturity and their council’s readiness to support its growth.

Opening in 2025: The Crown Plaza Hotel Shell Cove

The Crowne Plaza Hotel is set to open at The Waterfront in 2025, playing a key role in the area’s development and attracting visitors from near and far.

This luxurious harbourside hotel will feature modern accommodations, including hotel rooms and serviced apartments, as well as facilities for functions and conferences. Guests can look forward to a variety of dining options, including a café, restaurant, and bar, along with a resort-style outdoor pool.

Owned and operated by Oscars Hospitality, which has over 30 years of experience in the industry and manages 30 successful properties in NSW, including Novotel Wollongong and Novotel Brighton, the hotel is expected to create numerous job opportunities in the region once it opens.

Visitors will have convenient access to South Coast’s natural attractions, such as diving and snorkeling at Bass Point, surfing and swimming at local beaches, or golfing at the nearby Links Shell Cove course.

The Berry View Hotel Gets a Facelift 

Recently beautifully renovated, the Berry View Hotel combines the nostalgic charm of the 1950s and 60s with modern comforts and luxury.

The standout feature of this renovation is the stunning infinity pool, which offers a serene escape from daily life. Guests can enjoy a refreshing swim or relax by the water’s edge, where the integration of the pool with the surrounding landscape enhances the tranquil atmosphere, making it an ideal spot to unwind and soak up the sun.

Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund

This program aims to strengthen the live music ecosystem in NSW by providing financial support to established contemporary music festivals facing short-term challenges due to the cost-of-living crisis. Funding is available for government-related and operational costs for festivals with a capacity of at least 15,000 attendees. Applications will be accepted on an as-needed basis until the budget is exhausted or 30 April 2025.

This initiative, administered by Create NSW, aims to enhance festival viability, support the music landscape, reduce organizer risks, and build confidence in the industry.

Closes 30 April 2025

Growing Regions Program – Round 2

The Australian Government has committed $600 million over four years, commencing in 2023-24 for the Growing Regions Program to deliver investment in infrastructure across Australia’s regional, rural and remote areas.

The program provides funding of between $500,000 and $15 million to local government entities and incorporated not-for-profit organisations for capital works projects that will enhance liveability, bolster social cohesion and support local amenity throughout Australia’s regions.

Closes 10 October 2024