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Christmas greetings from Tourism Wollongong!

Time to break out the tinsel and plug in the lights, the festive season is upon us. It’s been a fantastic year for the region, with the official launch of Grand Pacific Drive, two new hotels opening and the welcoming of the Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk. 

I would like to welcome two new Directors recently appointed to the Tourism Wollongong Board at the Tourism Wollongong AGM. A few more awards are under our belts and a new look Wollongong Pocket Guide is about to hit the stands. Summer ready to sizzle!

Looking forward to catching up with you at the Tourism Wollongong Christmas Party, but for those of you who can’t make it, let me take this opportunity to wish you and your families the very best for the festive season and success for 2009.

Until next year
Greg Binskin
General Manager

New Board announcement

Two new Directors were appointed at the Tourism Wollongong Annual General Meeting, held on Tuesday November 18 at the Wollongong Golf Club. We welcome Sean Haylan from Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk and Anthony Boucaut from Skydive the Beach, and look forward to working with them in 2009.

Michael Bolt of Five Islands Brewing Company has resigned from his position on the Board and we would like to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his work and support over the past several years.

IBC Awards

At the recent 2008 Integral Energy  Illawarra Business Awards held on 7 November, Tourism Wollongong won the Tourism and Hospitality category in front of 1,000 local business and community. It is always an honour to receive recognition for the work we do towards the city and region.

Congratulations goes to Andrew Harrison from Lagoon Seafood Restaurant who won the ‘Young Business Person of the Year’ and Dee Kramer Photography, winning two awards ‘Home Based Business’ and ‘Barry Smith’ for their promotion of the region.

On another note, we also congratulate Towragdi Beach Hotel for becoming a finalist in 2 categories of the AHA Awards for Excellence and winner of the 'Leisure Entertainment Hotel of the Year'.

New Pocket Guide

Tourism Wollongong have been working hard to bring you the new look Pocket Guide for 2009.

This year we have combined our usual three guides into one handy DL sized booklet, jam packed with information on Grand Pacific Drive, beaches and safety information, comprehensive listings of places to play, stay and eat in the region plus revamped and improved maps.

Over 100 businesses are advertising within its pages with a print run of 100,000. Delivery will be in time for Christmas, so look out for it soon!

A busy month for familiarisations!

Grand Pacific Drive has seen a wave of fresh faces from around the world of late. In conjunction with Tourism New South Wales, the staff at Tourism Wollongong have been escorting travel agents from India, France and New Zealand along Grand Pacific Drive, into the South Coast and Southern Highlands. Media representatives from Korea also visited the region last month documenting their experiences from Bald Hill to Shoalhaven and beyond. 

The region also supported an international workshop held by Tourism New South Wales International Managers in Ulladulla in November, inviting local operators to network with the team and get updated on the latest trends in market.

Illawarra Folk Festival

Wollongong is fast becoming recognised for it’s commitment to live and original music, and the Illawarra Folk Festival is a big part of this burgeoning reputation. There is only six weeks to go before the 24th Illawarra Folk Festival begins on the 15th January.

The Festival, held at Slacky Flat in Bulli, includes four wonderful days of folk, roots, acoustic and Celtic music as well as workshops for instruments and dance with over 500 performers making up 120 international, national and local acts. 

For more information head to www.illawarrafolkfestival.com.au

What's on...?

December

What: Annual Wollongong Italian Festival 2008
When: Sunday, 7 December 2008
Where: WIN Stadium, Cnr Crown and Harbour Street's, Wollongong
Info: 0418 353 009

What: Wollongong AHM Hawks vs. South Sydney
When: Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Where: WIN Entertainment Centre, Cnr Crown and Harbour Streets, Wollongong
Info: 02 4220 2828 or www.wec.org.au

What: Claxton Shield, 2009 Diamond Anniversary
When: Sunday, 14 December 2008
Where: Fred Finch Reserve, Off Hooka Creek Road, Berkeley
Info: www.baseball.org.au  

What: Carols in the City of Wollongong 2008
When: Saturday, 20 December 2008
Where: WIN Entertainment Centre, Cnr Crown and Harbour Streets, Wollongong
Info: 02 4220 2800 or www.wec.org.au

What: Nan Tien Temple Cultural Festival
When: Thursday, 25 December 2008 - Thursday, 1 January 2009
Where: Nan Tien Temple, Berkeley Road, Berkeley
Info: 02 4272 0500 or www.nantien.org.au

What: 50th South Pacific Bowls Tournament, Illawarra Zone 16
When: From Saturday, 27 December 2008 for 10 days
Where: Albion Park Bowling and Recreation Club, Taylor Road, Albion Park
Info: 02 4256 1145 or www.albionparkbowlo.com.au

What: New Year's Eve Celebrations in Wollongong
When: Wednesday, 31 December 2008
Where: Belmore Basin, Wollongong Harbour Cliff Road, Wollongong
Info: 02 4227 7104

January

What: Illawarra Aquathon
When: Monday, 26 January 2009
Where: Belmore Basin, Wollongong Harbour, Cliff Road, North Wollongong
Info: www.aquathon.com.au

What: Illawarra Folk Festival 2009
When: Thursday, 15 January 2009 - Sunday, 18 January 2009
Where: Slacky Flat, Bulli Showground, Princes Hwy, Bulli
Info: 1300 887 034 or www.illawarrafolkfestival.com.au