Festival launch, first guests to luxury hotel, new flight route, SA Tourism Awards, & more...

An action-packed domestic cycling festival, a luxury hotel opens its doors in our CBD, a new flight route from Newcastle to Adelaide, and an innovative immersion experience – just a few of the things happening in our industry this week.

The 2022 Santos Festival of Cycling program was released today, with a media call in Adelaide’s Victoria Park/Pakapakanthi.

From 21-29 January, the Santos Festival of Cycling will bring Australia’s most elite cyclists and para-cyclists and their fans to our state, and again showcase our city and regions to the nation and the world.

Adelaide’s first internationally branded five-star hotel to open in 30 years, the Sofitel Adelaide, opened to guests yesterday. Its timing is impeccable as we get ready to open borders to our key domestic markets later this month.

QantasLink will launch direct flights from Newcastle to Adelaide from early next year, making it the only direct service from Newcastle. It will save more than two hours each way compared to flying via Sydney, a great benefit for leisure and business travellers.

The 2021 South Australian Tourism Awards were held at Adelaide Oval last night, awarding more than 30 tourism operators – including Adelaide Zoo which took home the Premier’s Choice Award for Service Excellence and Seppeltsfield Barossa which was inducted into the SA Tourism Awards Hall of Fame for having won in its category for the third consecutive year.

I want to also congratulate Craig Wickham from Exceptional Kangaroo Island, who was awarded ‘Specialist Guide of the Year’ at the World Guide Awards this week in London. Craig has always been dedicated to our industry, promoting SA and KI around the world.

It's fast approaching the end of the year – we’re getting ready to hold the 2021 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant next Saturday, and Tourism Australia has launched its new gift campaign today to encourage Australians to ‘give the gift of travel’ this festive season.

Read on for details and other updates.

Rodney Harrex
Chief Executive

View the Industry Update – 5 November 2021.