Jetsettersblog

Businesses in the UK have been invited to enter a global competition to win a AUD$1 million (£621,000) trip to Queensland, which is eager to show the world it is back in business following the devastating floods.
The winning company will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the state for as many employees as the firm will allow to travel.
“Every year companies invest billions of dollars in corporate reward holidays for their staff,” said Queensland premier Anna Bligh.

“The Million Dollar Memo challenge to businesses is simple, go to our website, www.milliondollarmemo.com, to tell us why your workplace deserves to win $1 million worth of unique travel experiences right here in beautiful Queensland.”

Entrants need to create an entertaining 60-second video that shows what makes their company great – and why they think Queensland is the ultimate reward for their staff.

Minister for tourism Jan Jarratt said the global campaign, valued at $6.9 million, follows the Best Job in the World promotion and aims to position Queensland as one of the world’s leading destinations for the travel incentive market.

“It doesn’t matter if you have 3000 employees or just three – the Million Dollar Memo applies to companies and workplaces throughout Australia and around the world,” she said.

More than 55,000 Million Dollar Memo coffee cups will be distributed to coffee outlets in major cities throughout Australia.

The Million Dollar Memo is open to anyone from any organisation, company, business or workplace in any country and will run from 18 March until 1 May.

The competition will consist of three phases; a top 50 short-list, a final 20 list and an Incentive Challenge which will see a representative of each of the final 20 companies travel to Queensland to complete a set of challenges in locations throughout the state from August 23.

The family event is designed to entertain and inspire discussion.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA,– The Little Big Shots Film Festival is coming to Cairns Civic Theatre next month and promises to offer plenty to keep children entertained.

Described by the organisers as “inspiring, meaningful and fun-filled”, the event showcases some of the best kids’ short movies, animations and documentaries.

The films on the line-up have been chosen for their ability to inspire discussion about a range of subjects, including world culture, emotional intelligence and human values.

Four sessions will be held over April 20th and 21st 2011, with each designed to appeal to a different age group.

A workshop will also be held at 09:00 local time on both days. The first is suitable for five to seven-year-olds and the second is aimed at youngsters aged between eight and 13.

Tickets are not available online, so anyone keen to attend should contact ticketLINK or head to the venue. It is located on the corner of Florence and Sheridan streets, just north of the central business district.

Admission to an individual film session costs AU$9, while entrance to a movie and a workshop is priced at AU$14.

Families looking for hotel deals in the city can visit LateRooms.com.au, which recommends a wide array of Cairns accommodation.

For more information, visit http://www.cairnscivictheatre.com.au/civic-theatre-info or contact ticketLINK on 1300 855 835.

Editors Notes:

www.LateRooms.com is part of the B2C sector of TUI Travel PLC’s Accommodation and Destination Division. Also within this sector are AsiaRooms.com and Hotels-London.co.uk.

LateRooms.com is the UK’s leading online accommodation site offering late availability deals in over 37,000 properties worldwide, ranging from bed and breakfasts to five-star luxury hotels.

LateRooms.com offers customers a saving of up to 70 per cent off the normal room rate for a variety of independent and branded hotels. Customers can book online or by phone 24/7, whether booking 12 months or 12 minutes in advance – whatever time, whatever day. No other accommodation site offers this flexibility.

LateRooms.com arms customers with information to help them choose the right hotel. Users can read from over 540,000 true hotel reviews, written by customers who have booked through LateRooms.com and actually stayed at the hotel.

LateRooms.com is the first online site to use VisitBritain’s official national classification system to rate its hotels, bed and breakfasts and guest houses. This ensures customers know the standards of quality they can expect when making a reservation.

The likes of the Andrea Keller Quartet with Strings and 12 Tone Diamonds will play at the event.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — Some of Australia’s most talented and creative musicians will play at the 2011 Melbourne Jazz Fringe Festival (MJFF) next month.

The line-up consists of 80 performers who will take the stage at venues across the city over ten days and nights.

Melbourne’s Recital Centre Salon hosts the event’s opening night concert on April 29th, featuring a recital of Place by the Andrea Keller Quartet with Strings. The 60-minute piece was commissioned by the Four Winds Festival and is inspired by the area surrounding Bermagui in New South Wales.

Tickets are priced at AU$30 and are available in advance or on the door. The concert is scheduled to start at 19:30 local time.

Among the other highlights on the bill is the April 30th MJFF Warehouse Party, which includes an iPhone jam session enabling people to use their favourite sound apps to create a “sonic world”.

The event will be held at 22 Ovens Street in Brunswick and is due to start at 20:30 local time. Admission costs AU$10 on the door.

A celebration featuring the likes of VU Band and 12 Tone Diamonds has been organised to mark the closing night on May 8th. It kicks off at Club 303 at 14:00 local time.

Passes are available for AU$25.

Music fans thinking of booking Melbourne hotels and checking out the festival can find a vast range of last minute hotel deals in the city at LateRooms.com.au

For more information, visit http://melbournejazzfringe.com

Wayne Eagleton and Jean Goodbrand have just launched Waiheke Island Wine Tours. To the visitor a day filled with jaw-dropping scenery, the opportunity to sample fine Waiheke wines with taste matches and enjoy lunch at a vineyard or restaurant of choice is a wonderful way to experience this island paradise. Tours include full commentary on the island’s Maori and European history, at least three tastings at three top vineyards, chilled bottled water, postcards and flexible return times.

Mr Eagleton is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the island, having previously guided over 500 people on vineyard excursions. He says ‘we saw an exceptional opportunity to provide exclusive tours to the upper end of the market.’ Waiheke Island has come of age over the past 10 years as a top wine-producing destination. ‘With over 26 vineyards and 18 cellar doors within 35 minutes of Downtown Auckland, it is an attractive day trip option for both domestic and international visitors.’

The company offers private and small intimate group tours in air-conditioned comfort. Top vineyards on their itineraries include Obsidian, Jurassic Ridge, Kennedy Point and Mudbrick all of whom have won awards for their vintages. Also included are Cable Bay, Goldies and Peacock Sky. Other vineyards can be requested and tailor-made itineraries can be designed to include olive groves, artists’ studios gardens or galleries. ‘We will happily fit in with our clients’ personal interests or tastes; it’s all about providing the very best experience,’ said Mr. Eagleton.

There is no shortage of experience between these two go-getters. Eagleton comes from a corporate background with solid experience in the wine and spirits and motor vehicle industries. In his previous role with the Giltrap Group, based at Schofields he was the driving force behind the ‘Holden Difference’ – the brand’s best practice model.

Ms Goodbrand comes from a travel and tourism background having worked for Air New Zealand and the United Travel Group. She also held the role of GM for luxury inbound travel company Abercrombie and Kent and was the first New Zealand franchise manager for Harvey World Travel.

‘We intend to make our mark by targeting new business opportunities and growing the overall number of visitors to the island,’ said Ms Goodbrand who will handle the marketing and administration whilst continuing in her current role as marketing manager for the SeaLink Travel Group, ‘there is plenty of business to be had and we both have great contacts in the right areas.’

Put this company on the list of ‘ones to watch’ – it is certainly going places!

Visit: www.waihekeislandwinetours.co.nz



Constellation Hotels is offering great short break and holiday deals in some of Australia’s most sought-after and unique holiday destinations, making this Autumn the perfect time to escape and discover one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Explore Australia’s most delightful destinations including Brisbane, Adelaide, Wollongong, Cairns, Newcastle, Gold Coast, Diamond Beach, Noosaville, Hervey Bay, Wisemans Ferry, Terrigal and more – the ideal choice for a holiday with the family, friends or a romantic getaway.
Follow the sun and stay at Australis Noosa Lakes Resort on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Lose yourself in the seven landscaped acres on the shores of Lake Doonella and the Noosa River, from only $99* per night in a studio room including a bottle of wine and chocolates on arrival.

Enjoy a coastal break with Country Comfort Terrigal, nestled on the scenic and popular Central Coast of NSW, directly across from Terrigal and Wamberal Beaches, from only $125* per night in a poolside room including breakfast for two and drinks on arrival.

Autumn is jam-packed with events, from food and wine festivals to fashion weeks in major city and regional hubs. Why not make a quick visit to the cultural city of Adelaide and stay at Grand Chifley Adelaide from only $120* per night in a Deluxe room, including a $20 restaurant voucher.

Soak up some of the autumn air and take a family mini-break to Wollongong. Stay at the brand new ultra chic Chifley Wollongong on the picturesque South Coast of NSW from only $289*per night, including accommodation in a Junior Suite, free meals for the kids and free parking.

Relax and rejuvenate at Australis Sovereign Hotel, the perfect base for your Gold Coast adventure. An exciting holiday destination offering theme parks, premier golf courses, shopping, vibrant nightlife – not to mention long stretches of golden beaches that everyone will love! Stay from only $99* per night in a spacious One Bedroom Apartment, with a private balcony and separate lounge area, including breakfast for two.

Escape Club Member Exclusive -
As an Escape Club member you will receive a further 10% discount on all rates and packages available this Autumn. Not an Escape Club Member? Join for free and access great savings.

To browse all the great Autumn deals available visit www.constellationhotels.com.au/autumn  or call 1300 650 464.

*Subject to availability. Conditions may apply.

Queensland has been experiencing one of its cruellest summers on record. And while the devastation of floods and cyclones has ravaged hearts, the golden spirit of Queensland remains strong.

A Queenslander offering respite, relaxation and rejuvenation is The Golden Door Health Retreat in the stunning Gold Coast hinterland. Fortunate to escape Mother Nature’s fury, the retreat has positioned itself as a haven of tranquillity for those that need to re-focus, re-balance and re-align.

Until the 31st of March, The Golden Door Health Retreat Queensland is offering 30% discount on the famous 7 day program and 20% off the famous 5 day program for the remainder of what can still be a Golden summer in Queensland.

Re-ignite your spirits, improve your overall health and wellness and be nurtured in a peaceful serene environment where accommodation, gourmet spa cuisine and the full use of Golden Door facilities are included.

For more information about the Golden Summer offer including full terms and conditions, go to www.goldendoor.com.au
Or phone 1800 816906 to make your booking.

Mercure Potts Point opens in time for Mardi Gras with rates from $199

Landmark Potts Point hotel The Crest, considered by some to have Sydney’s best views, will re-open as the Mercure Sydney Potts Point and will return 227 much-needed rooms to Sydney’s tight room supply. The owner of the property, Australand, has appointed Accor to manage the Hotel.

Set high on Victoria Street above Kings Cross Station, the Mercure Sydney Potts Point offers spectacular views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Sydney’s east and boasts a huge outdoor terrace.

The hotel’s re-launch comes at a time when Potts Point and the surrounding Kings Cross and Darlinghurst areas are undergoing a real gentrification that has brought a touch of class to their urban edginess. A high level of development in the commercial, retail and residential sectors has seen Potts Point become one of Sydney’s most vibrant communities, with more than 250 restaurants, cafes and bars within walking distance of the hotel.

The Mercure is also close to a host of attractions including great boutique shopping on Macleay St, several theatres, Tusculum, Elizabeth Bay House and more. Embarkation Park, Fitzroy Gardens and the Royal Botanic Gardens provide are all easily accessible on foot.

For corporate travellers, the Mercure is just one train stop from Martin Place in the city’s central business district. Bondi Beach is about 10 minutes drive away.

The former Crest has legendary status in Sydney’s hotel scene and has a funky, modern interior design by Marques Interiors.

The hotel also has four meeting rooms and a huge outdoor terrace, making it an ideal base for both business and leisure travellers.

Sydney has suffered a massive rooms shortage since 2000, with Accor’s Sydney hotels consistently running between 80% and 90% occupancy throughout 2010, so the addition of these quality rooms will have an enormous impact on the city’s infrastructure.

The Mercure name will bring truly global branding to the hotel and will see the introduction of the brand’s famous Grands Vins wine list as well as the Pure
Pleasures elements which make any stay at Mercure special.

Mercure is the largest mid-market hotel brand in Australia, with 28 hotels in key locations across the country and more than 670 hotels in 50 countries globally.

The festival provides people with the chance to hear some of the best cellists in the world.

The Adelaide International Cello Festival (AICF) will offer visitors and residents of the city the chance to listen to some of the finest local musicians.

It takes place from April 1st to 10th, aiming to showcase the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and some of the best young international artists around at the moment, such as Janis Laurs, David Geringas and Li Wei Qin.

Gary Carpenter and David Kidane are two of the composers also taking part in the event, with Martin Butler and Keith Crellin on conducting duty.

The AICF Pegdagogy and Cello Making package, which includes access to all lectures, presentations, the cello-making challenge, junior cello concerts and master classes, will cost AU$100.

For those determined to see as many recitals as possible, AU$250 buys the AICF Concert package.

This guarantees access to everything apart from the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Elder Hall lunchtime concerts.

The Elder Conservatorium of Music will be the location for the majority of the shows, while recitals and master classes will take place at Elder Hall.

Classical music fans looking to book Adelaide hotels and enjoy the bill at the AICF can find a large selection of local accommodation at LateRooms.com.

For more information, call +61 8 8263 7688 or go to http://www.adelaidecellofestival.com.au/index.html

Queenstown’s world-class cycle tracks, roads and spectacular lake and alpine scenery are set to take centre stage this Easter with an exciting new 10-day bike festival for all ages and abilities.

The inaugural Queenstown Bike Festival, from 16-25 April, will be the perfect catalyst for visitors and locals to explore some of New Zealand’s most beautiful countryside through a series of events ranging from social coffee rides and wine trails to hard core cross-country and downhill races.

Cyclists and spectators will be treated to Central Otago’s world-renowned autumn landscape ablaze with colour as well as temperate days perfect for riding.

Festival organiser Geoff Hunt, a passionate advocate for cycling, recently announced a three-day Ben Lomond Dirtmasters 2011 Downhill Challenge but has now revealed plans for a 10-day all-inclusive celebration of biking in Queenstown.

“Queenstown is one of the best places in the world for biking and this festival aims to encourage people of all ages and abilities to come here and experience the incredible diversity of our tracks and scenery,” he says.

Mr Hunt already has strong local support for the event and believes the bike festival has the scope to grow into one of New Zealand’s premier sports festivals.

“The local biking community wants to create a high profile event with wide appeal to people from all over the world whether they are recreational cyclists or serious bikers and inaugural events this year, along with the Tour de Wakatipu, the Brakeburner and the Dirtmasters Downhill, include a kids’ ride, Jack’s Point coffee ride, wine trail ride and bike jam. The excellent thing about this programme is that it has something for people at all levels and particularly family groups.”

Destination Queenstown CEO Tony Everitt is right behind the new festival and says he’s very excited about its potential as an annual event.
“I believe this will be a big drawcard for bike enthusiasts across New Zealand and has every potential to quickly grow into an internationally recognised festival.

“It gives people another great reason to visit Queenstown during autumn and to extend their Easter holiday break to make the most of the action.
“With a huge range of activities, accommodation, award-winning food and wine, vibrant social scene, and day spa options Queenstown gives people endless possibilities to build their perfect holiday around their favourite bike festival events.”

For more information about the Queenstown Bike Festival visit www.queenstownbikefestival.co.nz or sign up to the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Queenstown-Bike-Festival/141541729238961?v=page_getting_started.

For more information about Queenstown visit www.queenstownnz.co.nz

Air New Zealand is adding two additional direct services each week between New Zealand and China in response to 20% growth in international visitor numbers from China.

Air New Zealand is adding an additional Auckland – Beijing return service from 6 December 2011 and an additional Auckland – Shanghai return service over the peak summer season from 11 December through to 18 March 2012

Air New Zealand currently operates two return Beijing services a week (Wednesday and Saturday) and three return Shanghai services a week (Monday, Thursday and Friday).

The new Sunday Shanghai service and Tuesday Beijing service mean the airline will be offering daily direct services, offering more than 4,250 seats per week between New Zealand and China.

Air New Zealand Deputy CEO Norm Thompson says, “The China market has enormous potential for us as an airline and for the New Zealand tourism industry as a whole. New figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) show China is the fastest growing market in the world for international passenger traffic and it’s important that we’re well positioned to respond. Offering a daily direct service is an important step.”

China is New Zealand’s fourth largest tourism market and one of the fastest growing. Tourism from China is forecast to continue growing by an average of 8.4% per annum between now and 2016. 122,000 Chinese visited New Zealand in 2010, up 20% on the previous year. Collectively Chinese visitors to New Zealand spent $382 million in the year to September 2010.

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler says the additional services will help deliver record numbers of visitors from China to New Zealand. “Attracting visitors from China is vital to New Zealand’s tourism growth over the coming years. Expectations are that the number of international departures from China will double over the next five years. Tourism New Zealand is committed to developing further opportunities in China and the wider Asian region. I’m confident that there is significant potential for us to attract longer staying and more valuable visitors from China.”

Air New Zealand and Auckland International Airport Limited have entered into a multi-year agreement designed to increase sales of New Zealand holidays in the China market.

Auckland Airport chief executive Simon Moutter says, “Auckland Airport welcomes this exciting boost to the high potential Chinese tourism market. Air New Zealand has long been a pioneer in the development of the China tourism market and this announcement to increase its Beijing and Shanghai services and invest in joint promotional activity alongside ourselves and Tourism New Zealand is great news for the industry. It is vitally important for New Zealand to build more direct air-services with China and in turn grow our tourism and trade connections. This expansion in services and joint marketing initiative offers a fantastic opportunity to work with Air New Zealand on the next phase of market development.”

These additional services will be subject to normal Government and landing slot approval.