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Message from the Consul General
In January, the best of Australian culture, fashion, food and business was celebrated in Los Angeles and New York with the single largest annual foreign country promotion in the United States – G’Day USA: Australia Week 2008. This year featured a bigger and more diverse program with over 25 events which were designed to educate and entertain Americans across the country. Festivities began in Los Angeles from January 17-21 and continued in New York on January 21-26.
Celebrating its fifth year anniversary, G’Day USA 2008 was a resounding success, with more than 12,000 participants across both coasts. The ambitious and large scale program achieved its goal of raising Australia’s commercial and cultural profile in the highly competitive market of the US, as illustrated by the extensive media coverage across the nation. Many Australian participants have already reported substantial business outcomes and positive leads from this year’s promotion. Austrade indicated that participants in the food, beverage, wine and fashion industries have received additional sales. In addition, Qantas Airways announced record sales, with bookings for the month of January up 10 percent from January 2007. The upward trend for trade and investment will continue over the coming months as we continue to collate the results for the promotion.
On both coasts we were able to showcase our innovative and sophisticated economy with the support of prominent Australians and friends of Australia, including the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Stephen Smith MP; Deputy Premier of Queensland, The Hon Paul Lucas; NSW Minister for Tourism, The Hon Matt Brown MP; VIC Treasurer, John Lenders; SA Deputy Premier, The Hon Kevin Foley MP; TAS Leader of the Government Legislative Council, the Hon Doug Parkinson; VIC Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Mr Gavin Jennings MLC; John Travolta; Jack Thompson; Kylie Minogue; Harrison Ford; Julian McMahon and Hollywood actress Jessica Alba.
The event was produced by the Los Angeles and New York Consulates General, Tourism Australia, Qantas Airways and Austrade, and was also supported by six state Governments and more than 45 private sector companies.
I would like to particularly acknowledge the support of the Australia Week Committee members – Wally Mariani of Qantas, Michelle Gysberts of Tourism Australia, Innes Willox of the Australian Consulate General in Los Angeles, Anthony Weymouth and Gerard Seeber of Austrade for their contribution to making this the largest annual foreign country promotion in the United States. Also, a special thanks to David Howard of Austrade and Michael Londregan of Jetabout North America Inc. for their contributions during the year.
We are now in the planning stages for next year. I hope you will consider joining us for G’Day USA: Australia Week 2009.
The Hon John Olsen AO
The Black Tie Gala in New York was held at the venerable Waldorf Astoria Hotel.