In addition to being named the country’s Best Tourism Event and the Australian Event of the Year, Vivid added to NSW’s success as the overall Best Event State.”Vivid Sydney, owned and managed by Destination NSW, is a great representation of the creative services industry in Australia, which is showcased during what is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest Festival of light, music and ideas, and which this year attracted record audiences of over 800,000 people,” Mr Stoner said.
“Over 18 days, visitors immersed themselves in Sydney and in the creative talents of artists, performers, innovators, entrepreneurs and experts as the Vivid Sydney Festival transformed the Harbour City.
“This year was the biggest Vivid Sydney ever, with an expanded Vivid Light footprint which took in new precincts in North Sydney with the first ever lighting of the western side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the spectacular water theatre of Aquatique in Darling Harbour.
“Vivid Sydney also enjoyed an expanded music program both with Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House, opening with legendary Kraftwerk, but also Vivid Music, with new music programing at the Overseas Passenger Terminal and the Seymour Centre.
“Vivid Ideas, where the creative industries intersect with business to create real opportunities, expanded to over 180 events, and sold over 6,000 tickets.
“Vivid Sydney not only makes an important contribution and provides a platform to showcase our creative industries, but generates an important economic contribution, with in excess of $10 million delivered to the NSW economy this year.
“I am very pleased to see Vivid Sydney recognised as the Australian Event of the Year, and would encourage anyone who hasn’t experienced Vivid yet, to mark the date for Vivid 2014 in their diary – May 23 to June 9.”
Mr Souris said Vivid Sydney was enjoyed not only by Sydneysiders, but by visitors from interstate, intrastate and overseas, who came to experience the city like they had never seen it before.
“Vivid Sydney is an important boon for visitation to NSW. In 2013 the number of domestic and international packages grew, in particular from China with 7,200 packages sold. It is an event that translates across countries and cultures,” Mr Souris said.
“Vivid is also now an event that is seeing more and more visitors staying in Sydney for one or two nights – it is a fitting, and very deserving, winner of the Best Tourism Event category.”
Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said it was a wonderful honour and achievement for the event to be named the Australian Event of the Year.
“Our thanks go to our sponsors, partners and festival directors, creative advisor Ignatius Jones and the NSW Government agencies across the city who have supported us to create an event which has captured the attention and interest of people across the world.”
The Australian Event Awards is the pinnacle awards program for the events industry in Australia.
Vivid Sydney 2013 images are available at vividsydney.com/media-centre
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