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While the traditionally busy times of Christmas, New Year and the school holidays are now behind us, there’ll be no rest for the Tourism Wollongong team, back from holidays (and in the case of Vera Cvetkoski – maternity leave) with renewed energies and ready to enter February at top speed.

While January was a great month for events, including fEVEr which kicked off the New Year and a fabulous Australia Day display at Wollongong’s stunning harbourside, the coming month has perhaps even more activities to plan for and look forward to, including Chinese New Year and Valentines Day.

While we’ll be giving these events a lot of energy, the team will be focussed on developing Grand Pacific Drive, the Southern Gateway Centre and the Business and Leisure tourism markets.

Until next month
Greg Binskin
General Manager

Funds boost for Southern Gateway Centre

Construction of the Southern Gateway Centre moved a step closer with the injection of $1.3 million funding by the Australian Federal Government through their Regional Assistance Program.

"The funds would be spent on materials and labour during the construction" said Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells.

The $7.7 million project is a partnership between Wollongong City Council, MidLink and the Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation.

"It will be a major boost for the development of tourism in region and become the 'shopfront' to the city'". said Greg Binskin who acknowledged the support that Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells had given to the region's tourism industry.

Tourism Wollongong continue in our plans to make the visitors centre one of the most innovative in the country and plan to be in the complex before the end of 2007 .

Grand Pacific Drive international workshop

Grand Pacific Drive, together with Tourism NSW and ATEC, will be holding an international workshop on Friday 16th February, between 10-4pm at Rydges Wollongong.

This workshop will look at ways that together as a region, we can drive increased international visitation. For all tourism operators who are in the international market, or interested in entering, this workshop should not be missed. Please RSVP to Melissa Davis. 

In other Grand Pacific Drive news, we are moving ahead with the marketing and signage projects, funded under the Australian Tourism Development Program.

Also, following the consultation workshop, the preliminary findings of the Grand Pacific Drive scoping study/master plan will be available for public display on Monday 26 February between 4-6pm at the Kiama Family History Centre and on Tuesday 27 February between 10-12pm at the Wollongong Visitor Information Centre. All welcome.

Operators visit region on famils

Wollongong will host a major ATEC famil this month, welcoming a group of key inbound tour operators. The famil will be a great opportunity to showcase our product to the agents who play an integral part in attracting international visitors to the region.

Meanwhile, Tourism Wollongong hosted a Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) famil on January 20-21 to showcase the conference facilities and pre/post touring options throughout Wollongong and the Illawarra region.

Thanks to all who participated in this successful event, which will hopefully pave the way for future conference business.

Wollongong AIMEs at events

Tourism Wollongong's conference team, Rachael Lihou and Vera Cvetkoski, will head to Melbourne this month to promote the region as a business tourism destination, at the Asia Pacific’s major trade event for the meetings and incentives industry, AIME.

The two-day event – to be held at Melbourne Exhibition Centre on February 13-14 – will showcase the best Australian, Asia Pacific and international destinations, products and services.

Specials for St Valentine’s Day

With its beachside position and plethora of romantic dinner and accommodation venues, Valentine’s Day has always been a popular time for tourism in Wollongong and this year looks set to be no exception.

Many accommodation operators are offering great deals for the day, including Rydges Wollongong which is offering Valentines meals from $50 per person. For more information, click here. 

Windjammers Restaurant at Novotel Northbeach which is offering a seafood deluxe dinner from $65 per person, for more information, click here.

Or, try the newly opened Hotel Ibis Wollongong where patrons can indulge in a B&B package for $139, for more information, click here.

 The Lagoon Seafood Restaurant is also putting on a dinner with entertainment. For more information, click here.

Happy as a pig for Chinese New Year

The Chinese Year of the Pig begins on February 18 and a festival will be held to mark the Chinese New Year, which traditionally lasts for 15 days. Oriental Expression Restaurant and King's Chinese will be holding Chinese New Year celebrations, as will the Nan Tien Temple.

Also, there’s no longer any need for Yum Cha fans to travel to Sydney for their fix, with an announcement from the Oriental Expression Restaurant on Keira Street, that they are now offering the popular eating style in Wollongong.

What’s on this month

Dance:
What: OzDance CAMP 2007
When: Thursday, February 1 – Tuesday February 6
Who: Ballroom dancers of all levels from all over the world and Australia
Where: Novotel Northbeach
For more information, click here.

Ballgames:
What: Basketball
Who: Wollongong IMB Hawks Vs Singapore Slingers
When: Friday February 2
Where: WIN Entertainment Centre 

Who: Wollongong IMB Hawks Vs Perth Wildcats
When: Wednesday February 7

For more information on the basketball, click here.

Expo:
What: Wollongong Travel EXPO 2007
When: Sunday February 11
Where: WIN Entertainment Centre.
Info: www.wec.org.au

What: Illawarra Caravan and Camping Show 
When: February 16-18
Where: Kembla Grange.
Info: Click here 

Valentine's Day: 
Restaurants across Wollongong will be helping you to celebrate in style, so click here to start your planning!