Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk has urged residents to help visitors “experience Brisbane like a local” by sharing their Brisbane pictures, experiences and events as part of a new AUD$500,000 tourism campaign.
“Brisbane’s smorgasbord of blockbuster winter events and unique experiences will headline the Brisbane winter campaign, targeting drive market visitors in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales,” Cr Quirk said.
“From annual favourites such as the Royal Queensland Show, Regional Flavours and State of Origin to exclusives including American Ballet Theatre and Harvest – a GOMA exhibition devoted to all things food – variety is the hallmark of the events on offer from now until September.
“The winter campaign will highlight Brisbane’s robust line-up of new and annual events, while showcasing the city’s enviable winter climate, exceptional hotels, great dining options and superb leisure attractions.
“Underpinning our upcoming special and exclusive sporting and cultural events will, I hope, be the warmth and enthusiasm of the people of Brisbane.
“Research consistently shows our greatest asset is our friendly locals, who tend to treat visitors as ‘one of our own’ and make them feel relaxed and welcome.
“I encourage residents to join the campaign by listing their own events on the wonderful new VisitBrisbane website – www.visitbrisbane.com.au – and advocating the region’s leisure tourism experiences.”
VisitBrisbane is now a one-stop interactive shop for visitors and locals alike, allowing residents to sign up and register their own special events, and helping travellers experience the region like a local.
“Residents and visitors can also log on to VisitBrisbane and post reviews on leisure experiences that make them say ‘Give me Brisbane Any Day’,” Cr Quirk said.
VisitBrisbane is fully adaptable to mobile phones, tablets and PCs while the ‘Near Me’ function provides an on-the-move planning tool for mobile devices, allowing travellers to locate nearby wining, dining and shopping attractions.
“People who log on to VisitBrisbane can also go ‘shopping’ for their favourite events and leisure options by creating a ‘wish list’ which they can refer to on their travels around the region,” Cr Quirk said.
“We want visitors to experience the very best of Brisbane, and remind residents of all the wonderful opportunities that await them in their own backyard.”
John Aitken, CEO of economic development board Brisbane Marketing, said the campaign – being rolled out on television, print, cinema, billboard, transit and digital – was a wonderful collaborative effort for the region.
“Brisbane Marketing has partnered with 35 local operators in our region, which includes Moreton Bay and Islands, Somerset, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Scenic Rim and Lockyer Valley,” Aitken said.
“We’re delighted by the strong industry support for our campaigns, which allows us to drive the message further to encourage people to add a few days to their stay when they visit for an event.”