Brisbane Marketing campaign to boost economy
30/05/2012
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk is spearheading a new winter campaign of cultural and sporting events that will inject more than $50 million into Brisbane’s economy.
The Lord Mayor christened Brisbane Marketing’s annual Winter Campaign, as the largest to date after the city was able to exclusively secure some of Australia’s most sought-after shows.
Cr Quirk said this was a deliberate strategy to boost investment in Brisbane as part of his economic development plan for the city.
“I’m a hands-on Lord Mayor who went to the election with a promise to boost Brisbane’s economic development and now I’m delivering,” Cr Quirk said.
“Over the next few months Brisbane will play host to some of the best sporting and cultural events on the national calendar and this year’s Brisbane Marketing Winter Campaign ensures we capitalise on these opportunities.
“From State of Origin and horse racing to art and opera, we’ve worked hard to ensure this is the biggest Winter Campaign in history and Brisbane will be the winner with over $50 million expected to be injected into the local economy.
“I urge Brisbane’s restaurants, pubs, accommodation providers, tourism attractions and shopping precincts to be prepared for a busy winter with over a million* visitors expected to descend on our city for this jam-packed season.”
Cr Quirk said he was expecting people from across Brisbane, Queensland and Australia to visit Brisbane during the Winter Campaign, which will officially kick off on June 2 with the launch of the Brisbane Insider Guide lift-out.
He said this year Brisbane had secured a number of Australian-first performances by internationally-acclaimed acts such as Cirque de Soleil and the Hamburg Opera and Ballet, as well as the return of Opera Australia to the city for the first time in 25 years.
Cr Quirk said Brisbane would also host a brand new food event in addition to campaign staples such as State of Origin, Brisbane Festival, the Bledisloe Cup and the Brisbane Racing Carnival (BRC).
The BRC is a key partner of the Brisbane Winter Campaign and CEO Stephen Ferguson said he was excited to be involved in marketing Brisbane as a great short-break destination in winter.
“The Brisbane Racing Carnival is the highlight of Australia's winter racing calendar with prestigious events such as Oaks Day and the AAMI Stradbroke attracting both interstate and international visitors," he said.
“We have the nation’s best horses for a first class racing carnival in a state that boasts the country’s most sought after winter weather.
“In 2011, more than 68,000 people attended the Brisbane Racing Carnival – which is great for the local economy, businesses and jobs.”
* Source: Tourism Research Australia - National Visitor Survey, 2011.
Some of the highlights this winter include;
- The return of Opera Australia to Brisbane after almost a quarter of a century with the operas The Magic Flute and A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- The inaugural Queensland food event called delectable Brisbane which is a celebration of Queensland produce, farmers and chefs
- The Australasian debut of the Cirque du Soleil’s critically acclaimed, family friendly production, OVO
- The Queensland Art Gallery will unveil a Portrait of Spain: Masterpieces from the Prado, an exclusive survey of the history of Spain and Spanish art from the 16th century to the early 20th century
- Making their Australian debut, the Hamburg Ballet, the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hamburg State Opera will charm audiences when they take to the stage at The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC)
- The Brisbane Racing Carnival will thrill and delight punters at the races at Doomben and Eagle Farm Racecourses every Saturday until 9 June
- The Queensland Museum South Bank is featuring the Mummy: Secrets of the Tomb exhibition direct from the British Museum
- All the hit songs from the Four Seasons will be showcased at the Jersey Boys musical at The Queensland Performing Arts Centre
- Brisbane’s signature event The Brisbane Festival will provide an exciting program of music, theatre, dance and free entertainment across Brisbane in early September
- The action on field will be hot as the Brisbane Lions take on their rivals at the Gabba and the Brisbane Broncos fight through their 25th season at Suncorp Stadium.
For more information on this season’s offerings, visit
www.visitbrisbane.com.au.