Wine Australia launches new marketing campaign

Wine Australia has launched a new marketing campaign aiming to highlight the versatility of wine styles from around the country.

A barbecue "just because" the sun came out. A lazy night in with your favourite person. A camping trip where the fire crackles and the stories get better as the night goes on.

The campaign is billed as a "fresh new message inviting Australians to see wine differently".

It showcases wines not only as suitable for celebrations and more formal occasions, but as something to share alongside smaller, unscripted moments using the slogan "We make a wine for that."

Australian winemakers use over 100 grape varieties grown in 65 wine regions around the country.

From August 4, people across the country are being invited to take a moment to make a moment, and share their Aussie wine experiences with @_australianwine for the chance to win one of 20 "We make a wine for that" prize packs, valued at $240 each.

A national calendar of Australian wine events is now live at www.wemakeawineforthat.com showcasing wine experiences across the country that wine lovers can get involved in.

Hot new Sydney precinct gets a little bit festive

Sydney Place, tucked behind Sydney's vibrant Circular Quay quarter, is offering a range of pre-Christmas drawcards. 

With a mix of activities for workers, visitors and families until December 20, the precinct is hosting prize giveaways, roving entertainers and festive-themed fun.

Sydney Place has three new, intimate city laneways with a diverse mix of day and late-night attractions. 

The area sits by the 55-storey Salesforce Tower - the city’s tallest office building. 

Ah Toy Lane, Sai Ying Lane and Underwood Street ware home to 23 eating and drinking destinations including Jacksons on George, Joel Best’s Bar Besuto - a Japanese Omakase restaurant and whisky bar - and Lode Pies & Pastries, by Sydney chef Federico Zanellato. 

Live roving entertainment throughout the precinct pre-Christmas includes The Shoppers, a troupe of retro juggling performers, and The Gagliardies (above), a group of circus performers, along with gingerbread men on stilts. Spot them 11:30am-1:30pm every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. 

Santa’s Mailbox, meanwhile, is a festive installation inviting visitors to write and deposit their ‘naughty or nice’ lists into Santa’s Mailbox. A QR code on the box offers entry into a giveaway for a series of  prizes.

Shoppers who spend $10 or more at Sydney Place can head over to the festive pop-up Prize Wheel with a chance to win prizes including free drinks lunchtime Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until December 20. 

How your spare change could make ALL the difference

I just checked my office drawer. There are some Vietnamese dong. A few Indian rupees. A handful of South African rand notes. Probably coins and notes from 15-20 different countries in all. 

Like many travellers, I am lazy. What is worth only a few dollars to me could make a difference to someone who is struggling.

Up steps ALL, the booking platform and loyalty scheme for Accor Hotel patrons.

A recent survey conducted for ALL showed that 59% of Australians having travelled abroad in the past 12 months - rising to 71% among those aged 18-34.

And a surprising 97% of Australians are still opting to carry physical cash in the destination currency when travelling abroad, despite the plethora of cashless travel money cards available. 

ALL is launching pop-up currency exchange booths across three major cities so you can unload leftover cash and do some good at the same time. 

Offering Australians 'the World's Best Exchange Rate', the pop-up opens the opportunity to exchange loose change foreign currency for the chance to win a holiday at various locations across the Pacific, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Queenstown and more.

All the currency exchanged will be donated to the Domestic Violence Collective charity, and Aussies who can't make it to change venues still have the chance to win exciting holiday prizes by signing up to ALL.com. https://all.accor.com/a/en/offers/meapac/worlds-best-exchange-rate.html.

Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer PM&E, Adrian Williams, said: “As Australia's largest hotel operator, we've witnessed first-hand the remarkable resurgence in international travel, particularly among younger Australians. 

"While we're seeing such strong appetite for global travel, we're also seeing millions in foreign currency sitting idle in homes across the country. Through the World's Best Exchange Rate, we're giving Australians a simple way to transform their unused travel money into something meaningful - with every dollar exchanged to go directly to the Domestic Violence Collective, supporting their vital work for those impacted by domestic violence. 

"It's a meaningful way to put idle travel money to good use while celebrating our spirit for exploration."

It turns out that nearly half (49%) of Australians traveling abroad admit to holding onto leftover foreign currency after a trip, hoping they will use it when returning to that country, or simply as a souvenir.

A quarter admit they hold foreign currency as it's just too much effort to exchange.

Here is where you will find the booths: 

SYDNEY: World Square, November 12-13, 8am-6pm

MELBOURNE: State Library Victoria, November 19-20, 9am-6pm 

BRISBANE: Queen Street Mall, November 28-29, 9am-6pm. 

ALL is also launching its End of Year Offer, giving travellers the chance to plan their next adventure for less. Travellers can enjoy up to 15% off stays of two nights or more across Australia, with members of ALL receiving an additional 5% off and Accor Plus members saving an extra 10%.

The offer is available to book from November 11, 2024, to January 15, 2025, for stays between  November 14, 2024, and April 27, 2025.

Accor operates 18 international brands and 350+ hotels across Australia, including Sofitel, MGallery, Art Series, Pullman, Swissôtel, Mövenpick, Grand Mercure, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Handwritten Collection, Novotel, TRIBE, Mercure, BreakFree, ibis, ibis Styles and ibis budget.

Visit https://all.accor.com/a/en/offers/meapac/members-private-sale.html.

# The research was conducted by Pure Profile on behalf of ALL between October 11-15 with a nationally representative sample of 1001 respondents across Australia, split 51% female and 49% male.