Newcastle gets global recognition as leading festival and event city

The International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) has recognised Newcastle as a World Festival and Event City for the second time.

Announced at IFEAs 59th Annual Convention and Expo,  held in Kansas City, USA, Newcastle joins Sydney; Dubai; Sao Paulo in Brazil; and the US cities of Dublin, Ohio and Philadelphia, Newcastle was named a World Festival and Event city in recognition of the city’s success at uniting local communities to host major events.

Newcastle’s recognition was welcomed by representatives of the Altogether Perfect campaign, which promotes Newcastle, the Hunter Valley and Port Stephens as events and conference destinations.

Newcastle Convention Bureau Business Events and Conventions Developer Georgia Lazzari said she was thrilled Newcastle’s hard work at transforming the city’s image had been recognised on the world stage.

Lazzari stated “successful partnerships between government, business and the community, boosted by the local population’s welcoming attitude and passion for culture and sport, have led to this win, with Newcastle now a vibrant, exciting and sophisticated coastal city able to host world-class, large-scale events.”

Launched earlier this year, the $270,000 Altogether Perfect campaign is a collaborative marketing campaign undertaken by regional partners led by Newcastle Convention Bureau, Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association and Destination Port Stephens to attract and secure business events tourism for the Hunter region.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Sandra Chipchase welcomed the award, stating “the recognition of Newcastle’s capability to deliver world class major events is an outstanding accolade that demonstrates the City’s continued efforts to establish Newcastle as one of the best events destinations in NSW.

“Securing major events has been a priority for Destination NSW ... as we work towards achieving our goal of doubling overnight visitor expenditure by 2020,” she said.

The recognition from IFEA comes off the back of a string of major event wins and investments by the NSW Government, through Destination NSW, including The Real Film Festival, Newcastle; the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games 2013; and the Eastern University Games.

Chipchase added “Destination NSW, with local partners, has also developed the “It’s ON! in Newcastle” campaign to promote all that Newcastle has to offer and ensure that visitors to the region know that there are always great events, festivals and things to see and do.”

IFEA President and Chief Executive Steven Schmader said Newcastle distinguished itself in all of the criteria considerations that define a World Festival & Event City.

Schmader stated “Newcastle has been recognised officially as a 2014 IFEA World Festival and Event City, in recognition of the City’s community leadership and ongoing, concerted efforts to provide a positive local environment that is conducive to, and encourages the success and growth of, festivals and events.”

The city also won the recognition as a World Festival and Event City from IFEA in 2012.

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