Shows Australia: Marilyn Manson Australian Tour 2012 – Soundwave Sidewaves

Marilyn Manson has announced Australian tour dates on the back of their appearance on the Soundwave 2012 line-up next year. They’ll be doing 3 sideshows at Eaton Hill Hotel in Brisbane, Enmore Theatre in Sydney and Metro City in Perth, with Coal Chamber and Wednesday 13 and Motionless in White.

Very rarely does an artist come along that defies the boundaries of convention and remains relevant in a storied career spanning over two decades, selling in excess of 50 million albums. Marilyn Manson has successfully pioneered ‘Shock Rock’ whilst redefining alternative music, blazing a trail of controversy and originality.

Joining Manson will be the recently reformed Coal Chamber. Disbanding at the peak of their career in 2002, Coal Chamber will be joining the Soundwave tour as well as Manson on his Sidewaves.

Forming whilst on hiatus with Murderdolls, Wednesday 13 has firmly cemented himself as the leader in Horrorpunk. With an unruly live show of fun and debauchery.

With a blend of intense melodic metal and a penchant for the macabre, Motionless in White is taking the metal world by storm. Their spectacular debut album Creatures has fans and critics alike singing their praises.

Tickets on Sale Friday 16 December, 9am

Marilyn Manson (Coal Chamber, Wednesday 13, Motionless in White) Australian Tour 2012 – Soundwave Sidewaves

Metro City, Perth – 18+
Tuesday 6 March
*Coal Chamber and Motionless In White not appearing in Perth

Marilyn Manson Australian Tour 2012 – Soundwave Sidewaves

Australia’s best baseballers to take on the world - Perth tourism News

Perth has secured the rights to host the Australian Baseball League’s (ABL) first All-Star game on Wednesday, December 21 at Barbagallo Ballpark.

Tourism Minister Kim Hames said the ABL All-Star Game would feature Australia’s national baseball team taking on international players from the US, Japan, Korea, India, Italy and Taiwan currently playing in the ABL.

“The event, secured exclusively for Western Australia, will showcase our extraordinary State to millions of viewers across the world via Fox Sports and the Major League Baseball (MLB) Network,” Dr Hames said.

“The MLB Network alone broadcasts to about 53 million households across the US, and being seen on this is a great outcome for the State.”

The Minister said the unique event was the result of a collaboration between the ABL; Baseball WA; the Perth Heat; and the State Government, through Eventscorp.

“A number of major Australian and international league baseball players are expected to participate in the event, including Perth native and current Minnesota Twins major leaguer Luke Hughes,” he said.

Other big names expected to play on the Australian team include Los Angeles Dodger Shane Lindsay and other former and current major league players such as Justin Huber and Chris Oxspring.

“The international team will comprise Taiwanese legend Chin-Lung Hu, former Korean star Dae-Sung Koo, ‘Million Dollar Arm’ winner Rinku Singh and several players from other major US leagues,” Dr Hames said.

Fact File

• For more information on the event visit http://www.perthheat.com.au
• The game will be held on Wednesday, December 21 at Barbagallo Ballpark in Thornlie
• Gates open at 2pm

Portfolio: Tourism

• Perth secures unique international baseball game thanks to Eventscorp funding
• Australian team to take on squad of international players
• Event to be televised worldwide

Tourism WA Announces Record Events Calendar

Leading the 2012 Calendar is the Perth International - the newest addition to the global golf agenda. Tourism WA's Chief Executive Officer, Stephanie Buckland, said the Perth International will take place at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, one of Australia's finest golf courses, and is set to attract some of the world's best golfers all competing to win US$2 million.

"The Perth International, owned by the International Management Group, will be sanctioned by the European Tour that is currently experiencing unprecedented success and boasts the top four ranked golfers in the world," Ms Buckland said.

"We're excited to announce a three year agreement with the tournament and are planning to develop the Perth International into a key occasion in the Asia Pacific Region."

Ms Buckland said another new event scheduled for 2012 was the Action Sports Games Mandurah, a three-day International Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup.

"Events on the 2012 calendar will have a significant impact on Western Australia's tourism industry with more than 1.2 million people forecast to attend the events generating over $221 million worth of value to the State," Ms Buckland said.

"The events are crucial to the development and growth of Western Australia and since the State Government invested a record $36.7 million into the program, we are now starting to see the rewards."

As part of the funding boost revealed in the May State Budget, Eventscorp will receive $40 million over the next four years from Royalties for Regions for events in regional Western Australia. The State Government recognises the value of regional events and the support they provide to the local communities.

Tourism Western Australia has also developed an events marketing strategy to ensure the State maximises rewards from the investment in event sponsorship.

For more information, please visit www.tourism.wa.gov.au/Events/Calendar

Tourism WA Announces Record Events Calendar

Tourism WA Announces Record Events Calendar

Leading the 2012 Calendar is the Perth International - the newest addition to the global golf agenda. Tourism WA's Chief Executive Officer, Stephanie Buckland, said the Perth International will take place at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, one of Australia's finest golf courses, and is set to attract some of the world's best golfers all competing to win US$2 million.

"The Perth International, owned by the International Management Group, will be sanctioned by the European Tour that is currently experiencing unprecedented success and boasts the top four ranked golfers in the world," Ms Buckland said.

"We're excited to announce a three year agreement with the tournament and are planning to develop the Perth International into a key occasion in the Asia Pacific Region."

Ms Buckland said another new event scheduled for 2012 was the Action Sports Games Mandurah, a three-day International Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup.

"Events on the 2012 calendar will have a significant impact on Western Australia's tourism industry with more than 1.2 million people forecast to attend the events generating over $221 million worth of value to the State," Ms Buckland said.

"The events are crucial to the development and growth of Western Australia and since the State Government invested a record $36.7 million into the program, we are now starting to see the rewards."

As part of the funding boost revealed in the May State Budget, Eventscorp will receive $40 million over the next four years from Royalties for Regions for events in regional Western Australia. The State Government recognises the value of regional events and the support they provide to the local communities.

Tourism Western Australia has also developed an events marketing strategy to ensure the State maximises rewards from the investment in event sponsorship.

For more information, please visit www.tourism.wa.gov.au/Events/Calendar

Perth to Host Australia's Richest Golf Tournament

Eventscorp today launched its 2012 events calendar, featuring a record 84 events including Australia's richest golf tournament.

The US$2 million 'Perth International,' held in October next year at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, is expected to attract some of the world's best golfers.

The Perth International is a joint initiative of Eventscorp and International Management Group (IMG) to bring another major international golf event to Perth. IMG will be the owner and promoter of the tournament, which will be sanctioned by the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia. The European Tour is currently experiencing unprecedented success and boasts the top four ranked golf players in world.

The Perth International will be the only tournament in Australia to be sanctioned by the European Tour, and is expected to generate more than 1,000 hours of television coverage around the world, which is great exposure for Western Australia.

Australia Must Boost Tourism: Govt

Australia must do more to boost inbound tourism as the sector suffers from a strong local currency, increased competition from Asian destinations and less European visitors, the federal government says.

Speaking at an Australian Tourism Export Council conference Senator Nick Sherry said tourism operators needed to be more productive and innovative to halt the sector's decline.

"Australia's international market share has declined in recent years and domestic tourism expenditure has fallen since 2000," Mr Sherry told the conference on Wednesday.

"Not least of these challenges (is) increasing competition and the rise of the Australian dollar.

"We need to do something about this through investment in new products, boosting productivity, increasing uptake of digital technology and addressing labour and skills shortages."

He said there were no short term solutions to problems facing the industry, but said a surge in the number of tourists from Indonesia had been positive.

"Indonesian visitor growth alone was about 32 per cent in the last two years and by 2020 we expect the market value to more than double to $1.1 billion," he said.

Australia Must Boost Tourism: Govt

Shows Australia: DURAN DURAN TO TOUR AUSTRALIA IN MARCH 2012!

Dainty Group is thrilled to announce that after a long absence, one of the world’s most iconic bands, DURAN DURAN, will return to Australian shores in March 2012 for a series of concerts, in support of their latest album ‘All You Need Is Now’. This highly anticipated tour will see the band perform across the country, with shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and the Hunter Valley. Last in Australia in 2008, DURAN DURAN will showcase songs from their critically acclaimed new album on the March dates, alongside all of the unforgettable hits from across their thirty-year career.

TICKETS ON SALE THURSDAY 15TH DECEMBER

Go to www.duranduranmusic.com for exclusive pre-sale of tickets and VIP packages for Duran Duran VIP members DURAN DURAN’s stunning new album: ‘All You Need Is Now’, has already been proclaimed a triumph by fans and critics alike, and hit the #1 spot on download charts in the top 15 markets around the world when it was released earlier this year (on Shock Records in Australia). Produced by Grammy Award-winner Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse, Adele, Kaiser Chiefs, Lily Allen) and mixed by Spike Stent (Madonna, Björk, No Doubt), it features guest vocals/rap from long-time Duran Duran pal/collaborator Ana Matronic of
the Scissor Sisters, and R&B/neo-soul superstar Kelis; while Owen Pallett of Arcade Fire contributes the album’s string arrangements. ‘All You Need Is Now’ is a return-to-roots homage to DURAN DURAN’s most celebrated musical panache, and has already been dubbed the “imaginary follow up to Rio that never was.”

The announcement of the band’s 2012 Australian dates comes hot on the heels of their brilliantly reviewed North American tour, a sold out 11 show arena run in the UK, and a whirlwind year that has seen them, amongst other things, make a spectacular live film with director David Lynch, and most recently release a uniquely DURAN DURAN video for the song ‘Girl Panic !’. Directed by Grammy-award winner Jonas Åkerlund (who has shot videos for Madonna, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, including the notorious “Telephone”), this dazzling short film reunites top supermodels Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Helena Christensen, Eva Herzigova and Yasmin Le Bon, and was shot over the course of two days this past June at the Savoy Hotel in London. As the models take on rock star roles playing Simon, John, Nick, and Roger, the nine minute video unfolds into a stunning, fast-paced, high fashion affair, that has fast become the most talked about collaboration of its kind this year. Australian fans can view the video here.

The original Duran line-up of Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, and Nick Rhodes continues to reign supreme as one of the biggest British bands of all time - reimagining pop music, creating ground-breaking music videos and winning over millions of new fans worldwide with their unique fusion of music, art, technology and fashion. From the very beginning, when DURAN DURAN first took the visual imperatives of the New Romantic movement of the 1980s to a whole other level, defining the MTV generation, they have built a loyal army of fans who have stayed with them to this day.

As this new chapter begins, they have nothing left to prove, but everything to play for. So for them and their loyal army of fans… All You Need Is Now!

TOUR DATES

SAT 17 MARCH BRISBANE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE

MON 19 MARCH MELBOURNE ROD LAVER ARENA

TUE 20 MARCH ADELAIDE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE

SAT 24 MARCH PERTH SANDALFORD ESTATE, SWAN VALLEY

TUE 27 MARCH SYDNEY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE

SAT 31 MARCH HUNTER VALLEY TEMPUS TWO WINERY

View Source and Book Tickets

DURAN DURAN TO TOUR AUSTRALIA IN MARCH 2012!

Australia's Airline War Hots Up With Virgin Plans to Steal Market Share

TRAVELLERS will reap the rewards of an airline war with cheaper fares and more regional routes, Virgin Australia boss John Borghetti said.

The airline chief executive who used to work for rival Qantas has revealed ambitious plans to steal market share from his old employer and expan services to regional areas.

"A lot of these routes have not had competition. All you have to do is look at the airfares that are being charged,'' he said.

He also questioned why Qantas had dramatically dropped prices on certain flights after his airline launched business-class services on the same routes.

Mr Borghetti said Qantas reduced business-class fares between Sydney and Perth by nearly 25 per cent after Virgin introduced the same service.

After Virgin announced launch business class fares on the Sydney to Perth route for $1399, Qantas reduced their fares from $2,013 to $1,519.

"Why haven't they done that in the last ten years?''

As well as returning Australian aviation to the kind of competition not seen since the Ansett days, Mr Borghetti also wants to increase his frequent-flyer membership to three million.

Membership of Virgin's Velocity has increased 10 per cent to 2.75 million members in 3 1/2 months.

Pop star Dannii Minogue helped launch a frequent-flyer partnership with Westfield online last week.

Virgin was also given regulatory approval to form an alliance with Singapore Airlines, allowing passengers who book flights with the airline the chance to fly on Singapore Airlines flights, get lounge access and accumulate frequent flyer points.

In addition to previous alliances with Etihad, Delta and Air New Zealand, it will take the number of destinations it flies to to more than 400 worldwide.

Mr Borghetti said the move would open up emerging markets such as China and India and continue the airline's
expansion into regional Australia.

The airline also recently began flying between Brisbane and Port Macquarie and Brisbane and Gladstone and plans to announce new regional routes soon.

"We will now be able to promote regional Australia through those 400 odd destinations around the world, from Dallas to Port Macquarie,'' he said.

As well as reconfiguring the interiors of its domestic planes this year and will launch business class services across the network on January 18.

At the moment, Qantas boasts 41 per cent capacity share in the domestic market or 65 per cent including its low-cost subidiary Jetstar, while Virgin's is about 30 per cent.

But Mr Borghetti said he had no desire for Virgin to be the biggest airline in the country.

"Whatever market share gives the best return is the market share that I want,'' he said.

"What we do have the desire to do is be the airline of choice.''

Aussies Snub Airfare War and Stronger Dollar to Spend Christmas at Home

- Up to 100% occupancies for many east coast summer holiday destinations

- 20% increase in revenues for holiday home owners over the last six months

Despite the strength of the Australian dollar and the proliferation of cheap overseas airfares, many of Australia's favourite summer holiday hot spots are reporting up to 100% occupancy rates for the Christmas 2011 holidays, according to leading real estate group Raine & Horne.

"It's pleasing to see that more Australians are ignoring cheaper airfares and a strong Aussie dollar for the tradition and relative safety of a summer holiday in Australia," said Angus Raine, CEO, Raine & Horne.

"It's also good for the Australian economy to see more of our travel dollars staying at home to support the Australian economy."

In Yamba, on the NSW north coast, the height of the summer holiday rush is expected in the first week of 2012, says Denise Jillett, Principal of Raine & Horne Yamba.

"We have 100% occupancy on our holiday homes between New Year's Eve and the end of the first week in January," said Ms Jillett, who added that there were still some vacancies between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

"These vacancies came about as a result of cancellations, so holiday makers considering Yamba need to be quick.

"Modern two bedroom apartments close to the beach are available from $1,600 for the week plus booking fee," added Ms Jillett

The holiday market on NSW's Central Coast is also booming with increasingly more Sydney-siders choosing the region for weekend getaways and longer vacations, according to Brett Hunter, Principal of Raine & Horne Terrigal-Avoca Beach.

"We have secured a 20% increase in revenue for our owners over the last six months, and this proves the strength of the Central Coast holiday market," said Mr Hunter.

Indeed, Mr Hunter says Raine & Horne Terrigal-Avoca Beach has achieved this result by altering its approach to holiday lettings with a busy Christmas period looming.

"The Central Coast usually has a bumper crop of holidaymakers at Christmas time, with 100% occupancy of holiday properties during the two-week Christmas / New Year period.

"Knowing we can't improve on a 100% result, instead we have focused on helping people extend their vacations before and after the Christmas period, as well as assisting them with shorter stays of perhaps three or four days on multiple occasions," said Mr Hunter.

Mr Hunter says two bedroom holiday units in Terrigal, in walking distance to the beach, rent for $1,000 a week over the holiday period, while at the other end of the market, four and five bedroom homes with pools and landscaped gardens can rent for up to $15,000 a week.

In Sydney's Palm Beach, this summer is shaping up as the busiest holiday period in five years, according to Rebecca Lee, General Manager of Raine & Horne Palm Beach.

"At present, we have 80% occupancy for our holiday homes in Palm Beach, with 90% of these properties renting to ex-pat clients based in Hong Kong, Singapore, the U.S. and Europe," said Ms Lee.

Comfortable beach houses in Palm Beach start at $7,000 a week, while high-flyers seeking a luxury escape can pay up to $40,000 a week for premier properties across from the beach, some of which include personal staff.

In Queensland, the Gold Coast holiday market is picking up again after a tough year, says Clark Brackenridge, Principal of Raine & Horne Surfers Paradise.

"Our property markets are showing signs of turning the corner, and as it stands, our holiday bookings for the Christmas period are reasonably strong, and are certainly well up on this time last year," said Mr Brackenridge.

"In addition, buyers are beginning to recognise that property prices on the Gold Coast represent good buying, with good yields available to investors."

Aussies Snub Airfare War and Stronger Dollar to Spend Christmas at Home