It's Official - Time-Poor Americans Can 'Do' Australia in Just One Week!

It's Official - Time-Poor Americans Can 'Do' Australia in Just One Week!

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Tourism Australia and Qantas sent 100 Americans to Australia for a week in the lead up to a new campaign which demonstrates that time-poor Americans can get a truly authentic and fulfilling Australian experience with just one week's vacation time.

The campaign, called Aussie Week, begins this week, with television, online and radio specifically targeting the west coast cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.

Michelle Gysberts, Vice President Americas, Tourism Australia said that though Australia is consistently listed on the top of popularity polls of desirable destinations for American travelers, many assume that they need more than a week to justify a visit.

"Americans generally think nothing of jumping on a flight to Europe to spend their annual week's vacation, yet the flight time to Australia is practically the same. Also, with great deals on transportation and accommodation and fewer ground costs -- Australia is better value for money than many other international destinations."

Wally R. Mariani, Qantas Airways, senior executive vice president, The Americas and Pacific, said that with Qantas, the journey begins as soon as you step onto the flight.

"With your own personal entertainment system in every seat providing over 400 choices on demand, fine Australian food and wine and friendly Aussie service, you're there before you know it," he said.

As part of the campaign, 100 west coast American competition winners were sent to experience different parts of Australia for a week. Video diaries and footage of a selection of the winners will air in a half-hour special on CBS at 7pm on the 19th January 2008.

A specially developed campaign microsite http://www.aussieweek.com/ includes iconic as well as off the beaten track itinerary ideas and experiences in and around the key Australian hubs of Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney from as little as $250 a day, including flights and 4 star accommodation.

The easy to navigate and interactive site also includes videos from the CBS half-hour special as well as travel deals, photos and travel blogs from other visitors.

City breaks are available for $1699 including roundtrip flights and four star accommodations for seven nights.

Choose from:

-- Sassy Sydney - voted one of the world's best cities for its first-class
restaurants, impressive icons, wine valleys, beaches and outdoor
adventures

-- Marvelous Melbourne - a stylish and progressive city with fascinating
architecture, trams, fashion, food, theatres, art galleries and
eclectic nightlife; or

-- Beachy Brisbane with its access to the Great Barrier Reef, wildlife,
beautiful coastline and tropical adventures.

An official launch event, including a preview of the CBS special, will be held at the CBS Studios Hollywood, 7600 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles on Wednesday, 16th January, 2008, commencing at 7pm.

To attend the launch event, contact athompson@tourism.australia.com or +1 310 695 3219.

Aussie Week is launched in conjunction with G'day U.S.A Australia Week. Growing from its inception in 2004 and celebrating its fifth year of success, Australia Week is now arguably the largest foreign country promotion held annually in the United States showcasing all things Australian from trade and investment, food and wine, film, arts, fashion, lifestyle, to indigenous culture and tourism. For more information see http://www.australia-week.com/

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Tourism Australia

CONTACT: Zoe Shurgold, +1-310-695-3213, or Cell, +1-310-283-9745,
zshurgold@tourism.australia.com

Web site:

http://www.australia.com/
http://www.aussieweek.com/
http://www.australia-week.com/

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