Queensland tourism expected to recover quickly from cyclone

Cyclone Ului has failed to do any major damage to Queensland tourism infrastructure, according to early reports.The tropical cyclone slammed into the Whitsunday Coast on Sunday. Winds of up to 200 km/h flattened trees and tore air-conditioning units from walls.

Airlie Beach took a battering but Tourism Whitsundays chief executive Peter O’Reilly says the physical damage there appears relatively minor.

The cyclone caused booking cancellations and led to island resorts being evacuated and some beaches closed because of dangerous surf conditions, but industry leaders are confident of a swift recovery.

O’Reilly says Easter trade will help, the clean-up shouldn’t take long and the situation should soon return to normal.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said Ului represented more bad news for a region where the tourism industry had been hit by the global financial crisis.

“It will take some places weeks, at the very least, to fix broken windows and be fully operational again,” she said. “We are characterising it as a significant event with severe damage in some pockets, but not a catastrophic event.” She said her government would talk to affected businesses to see what help it could offer.

The storm was downgraded to a rain depression after weakening rapidly once it struck land.

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Written by: Peter Needham Source: eGlobal Travel News 22/03/10

Valley in “the Valley” set to open - NEW Brisbane Hotel Meal Option

Guests staying at Metro Hotel Tower Mill on Wickham Terrace will soon have another fantastic dining option available to them.

Insyde Restaurant Group Pty Ltd, formerly Plaza Foods Pty Ltd, has announced that Siana Valley, sister venue to Siana City is scheduled to open in late April on the corner of Wickham Street and Brookes Street, Fortitude Valley.

Only a ten minute stroll from the hotel, Siana Valley offers a dazzling constellation of bars, dining facilities, lounge area and private dining or meeting space across 770 square metres.

“The expansion announcement of the Siana brand follows unprecedented demand for Siana’s uniquely Asian style of hospitality with the new infrastructure at Siana Valley providing us with more capacity for functions, dining and bar facilities,” said Grant Johnston, Managing Director for Insyde Restaurant Group.

The development of Siana Valley offers unique function areas suitable for 30 to 800 guests within the new HQ site located on the corner of Wickham Street and Brookes Street opposite the Fortitude Valley Police Station.

The design of Siana Valley incorporates a restaurant for communal and regular dining, exclusive VIP Pool and Billiards Room and Private Dining Room, two bars and a cocktail lounge across two floors and has been designed to stand-out amongst all current and future developments as the pre-eminent dining and social hub in Brisbane.

With more than 770 sqm of floor space, Siana Valley will be the largest restaurant and bar in the emerging Valley Gateway Precinct and will elevate the Siana concept of a communal dining experience, drawing on unique culinary influences from across Asia.

“In a clever juxtaposition of food and design we have taken the responsibility of the creative concept development through our business Insyde Restaurant Group to ensure that this new hospitality venue is sensitive to the specific location of the Valley and to fit the customer demographic of the area,” Johnston continued.

Hop to the Queen Street Mall this Easter - Brisbane Tourism News

The Queen Street Mall will be egg-loads of FREE fun this Easter as Alice in Wonderland is brought to life in a weekend of Mad Hatters, Easter eggs, white rabbits, magicians and more on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 March.

From 10am on Saturday children can participate in hat making workshops presented by Queensland Art Gallery’s upcoming exhibition Hats: an anthology by Stephen Jones, which also opens the same weekend, and catch an egg-stra special magic show featuring a real white rabbit.

At 2pm littlies can show off their Easter hat creations with the Mad Hatter’s Hat Competition, judged by none other than the Mad Hatter himself. There are great prizes to be won including Disney’s Alice in Wonderland movie prize packs.

The fun continues through to Sunday 28 March with another exciting magic show and a special Easter egg decorating workshop from 10am - 1pm, where an assortment of materials will be supplied to make the prettiest Easter eggs around.

Don’t miss the chance to meet the Queen Street Mall Easter Bunny who will be handing out scrumptious Easter eggs from 10am to 3pm on Saturday and 10am to 2pm on Sunday.

The following Saturday 3 April, kids can ice, sprinkle, dip and dust all things yummy including cookies and Easter eggs, as part of the Hilton Brisbane’s special Easter themed cooking class. All children participating on the day will receive a special lunch and take home their own culinary delights, recipe book and chef’s hat and apron. Bookings are essential through the Hilton Events Office on 07 3231 3231.

To view the complete QSM Kids Easter weekend program, pre-register for the Mad Hatter’s Hat Competition and for Easter hat making tips visit
www.queenstreetmall.com.

(source: brisEnews Issue 72)

For special hotel packages this Easter go to Metro Hotel Tower Mill

Brisbane: Favourite spot for sporting fans, fashionistas and festivals

Culture vultures, sporting fanatics and art aficionados will unite in appreciation of the stellar line up of major events on offer across Brisbane, Australia’s new world city, from March to June 2010.

Footy fans are spoilt for choice as the Brisbane Broncos and Brisbane Lions start their respective NRL and AFL seasons this month, while the Queensland Reds will continue their bid for greatness in the Super 14 series at Suncorp Stadium until May.

The 2010 Brisbane Tinnie & Tackle & National 4x4 Show (Friday 19 to Sunday 21 March) returns to Brisbane’s RNA Showgrounds offering the latest and greatest in boating and fishing. From the river to the sea, the swimmers can get ‘wrecked’ during the Tangalooma Ocean Swim (Sunday 21 March) on Moreton Island as part of the 2010 Queensland Ocean Swim Series.

Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones (Saturday 27 March to Sunday 27 June) will see fashionistas flock to the Queensland Art Gallery. Thanks to collaboration between London’s Victoria & Albert Museum and Stephen Jones, the spectacular exhibition – exclusive to Brisbane - presents more than 250 hats and iconic head pieces including Philip Treacy’s bridal headpiece created for Camilla Parker-Bowles's marriage to the Prince of Wales in 2005; and Jones’s own creations, such as Mick Jagger’s hat worn for the Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang World Tour and Kylie Minogue’s visor headdress for her Showgirl tour.

The forever innovative Brisbane Powerhouse provides a must-see program of events during Autumn with Brisbane Comedy Festival (until Sunday 21 March) featuring a who’s-who of the Australian comedy scene plus the 11th Annual Brisbane Queer Film Festival (Friday 9 to Sunday 18 April). Celebrations continue as the Powerhouse marks its 10th birthday on Sunday 16 May with a special line-up of performances by artists who have supported the creative centre since its inception.

The Paniyiri Greek Festival (Saturday 22 to Sunday 23 May) and Cootha Classic (Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 May) will round out May, while The Dreaming Festival (Friday 11 to Monday 14 June), Channel 7 Brisbane Racing Carnival and the Bundaberg Rum Series – Qantas Wallabies v Ireland (Saturday 26 June) will complete the diverse and entertaining events program.

Experience all Brisbane has to offer. Start at one of the well appointed city hotels and explore the near-by urban villages with cool cafes, award-winning restaurants, independent galleries and live music performances plus boutique shopping in the Queen Street Mall. Alternatively turn your weekend into a short break and escape the city with a day trip to discover Moreton Bay & Islands or the Scenic Rim.

Looking for centrally located affordable accommodation, Metro Hotel Tower Mill

source: brisEnews Issue 72
http://www.brisbanemarketing.com.au/Media/Ezine-Article.aspx?EzineIssueID=69&ArticleID=12549