Wollongong’s largest accommodation providers are working together to attract more major events to the city.
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By combining their resources the initiative has raised more than $30,000 to date to bolster Destination Wollongong’s Major Events Program from July 1. That figure is expected to grow with more contributors likely to come on board.
While the peak tourism body has received significant funding from Wollongong City Council for its events program over the last five years the city competes with other major regional centres such as Bendigo, the Sunshine Coast and Geelong.
“We are spending between $250,000 and $300,000 but we are up against those who are spending over $1 million,” Destination Wollongong major events manager Jeremy Wilshire said.
Despite that the city has been punching above its weight to secure successful events such as the Elton John concert at WIN Stadium and the history making English Super League clash between Wigan and Hull.
Mr Wilshire said both were a resounding success and by pooling their resources accommodation providers are seizing the opportunity to voluntarily contribute to the major events program in an endeavour to attract more high calibre events.
Novotel Northbeach Wollongong, Sage Hotel Wollongong, Adina Apartments, Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort, Mantra Apartments and Quality Suites Pioneer Sands have already agreed to subsidise up to four major events each year. The aim is to bring more visitors and further boost the economic impact of a growing tourism sector.
Mr Wilshire said over the last five years the expanding portfolio of 27 events now annually inject $55 million into the local economy.
Wollongong would like to more regularly repeat what has been achieved with events such as Harley Days and the Australian Hockey Championships that each attract 10,000 to 15,000 people over two or three days.
Novotel general manager and Destination Wollongong board member Steve Savic said accommodation providers saw the initiative as an investment in Wollongong in its quest to be seen as an events city. “This is us saying we do benefit and we are employing people in tourism and events. The reality is whether you are a taxi driver, a retailer, tourist operator or a cafe/restaurant we all benefit from major events. And that translates to jobs,” he said.
“It also helps with the marketing aspect of repositioning this town into the tourist town it should be.”
Alan Gibson, of Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort, said it was important to work together because all the accommodation providers interests align in bringing more events, people and business to Wollongong.
“We want to demonstrate a can do attitude on behalf of Wollongong,” he said.
Lloyd Van Gogh, of Mantra Apartments, said it was something all the accommodation providers had talked about for a while and all they could see were positives in terms of profitability and occupancy levels.
Nathan Dean, of Sage Hotel, said attracting more major events was massively important.
“We have certainly seen a correlation between when events are on and when they are not on,” he said.
“We all share reports and share statistics that show when events hit Wollongong economic activity in the whole area increases by about 200 per cent. That is not just for hotels. When events hit Wollongong everybody benefits.”
Rebecca Bauer, of Quality Suites Pioneer Sands, said she recently moved from Darwin and saw how big events helped that community and economy.
“Wollongong is such a great place for people to see with great beaches. It is a great town. Just beautiful,” she said.
The Illawarra Mercury asked the accommodation providors to remove their work hats and reveal what events they would personally love to see in Wollongong.
Mr Dean said he would like a Red Bull Air Race over Lake Illawarra.
“Anything that has national or international drawing power that also has good recognition from a video perspective is just going to be huge for tourism,” he said.
Ms Savic bravely spoke of his love of V8 Supercars but emphasised that was his own personal view as a motorsport fan and he was not speaking with his official hotel manager hat on.
“I reckon Red Bull Air Racing would be amazing but for me it is V8 Supercars. It is the third most televised sporting event in Australia now and has the third biggest television audience,” he said.
“It is perfect for our demographic. I think V8s zooming along Cliff Road and Corrimal Street would make for a pretty good backdrop.”
Mr Gibson and Mr Van Gogh also like the idea of a Tour de France style bike race making use of the region’s great scenery and mountain roads.
They would also like to see more big surfing events.
And they would all love to hear ideas from people the community.