Two Months in Leisure

Two Months in Leisure Some of the industry headlines over recent months. Daily industry news can be read at www.ausleisure.com.au

Wellington Regional Stadium Trust reveals naming rights deal with the Sky Network The Wellington Regional Stadium Trust and New Zealand’s Sky Network Television Ltd have announced a new partnership that will see the broadcaster replace Westpac as the venue’s naming rights holder from 1st January 2020.

The six-year agreement will see the Stadium rebranded and renamed Sky Stadium and includes a number of activations aimed at improving the fan experience both at the Stadium and on TV.

Evolution Wellness expands in fast growing south east Asian fitness market Offering two major brands - Fitness First and Celebrity Fitness - that target key market segments, Evolution Wellness has grown over the past two years to become the largest fitness operator in south east Asia, with over 160 clubs across six countries, more than 375,000 members and over 6,000 staff members.

With members in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Thailand, using its clubs over 25 million times a year, the growth has been driven by the merger of Fitness First and Celebrity Fitness to become Evolution Wellness in 2017.

More funding for

Western Australia’s national parks and reserves The Western Australian Government is investing more than $22 million towards the creation and ongoing management of national parks, marine parks and conservation reserves in its 2019/20 state budget.

Belgravia Group assumes ownership of additional JUMP! Swim Schools businesses After months of speculation and a series of legal proceedings involving various entities of the JUMP! Swim Schools business, the Melbourne-based Belgravia Group has assumed ownership of the franchise agreements for another 21 Jump! Swim School trading businesses.

Having purchased an initial 40 franchise agreements of the main franchisor company, Swim Loops, in July, Belgravia will now become the franchisor for these businesses and reunite them with the rest of the Jump! group.

Increasing Western Australia’s conservation estate by over 20%, the ambitious Plan for Our Parks initiative will see five million hectares of new national and marine parks and reserves established over the next five years.

Brisbane City Council

Byron Bay named among world’s worst locations for overtourism The NSW coastal community of Byron Bay has been named among two Australian locations - along with Uluru in the Northern Territory - as places suffering the greatest rates of overtourism.

Byron Bay was among 98 identified in a new global map as struggling with the burden of too many visitors by UK tour company Responsible Travel - which drew upon news reports of overtourism from around the world in an effort to shed light on the scale of the issue.

Tenders are invited for:

Tender Market Sounding for Riverstage Partnership Project (560230) Details

Council is seeking industry feedback on how to best secure Riverstage as an iconic music venue and cultural icon for the people of the Brisbane for the next generation. Market Sounding documents are available at: https://supplierportal.brisbane.qld.gov.au/ For assistance to register and download documents telephone the Business Hotline on 133 BNE (133 263). For further information Ph. (07) 3027 3636 or e-mail chelle.day@brisbane.qld.gov.au

Closing

12 noon Qld time, 28 February 2020

Massive tree planting has potential to tackle climate crisis The planting of billions of trees across the world would be the biggest and cheapest way to tackle the climate crisis, according to scientific analysis.

New research estimates that a worldwide planting program could remove two-thirds of all the emissions that have been pumped into the atmosphere by human activities, a figure the scientists describe as “mind-blowing”.

AEG Facilities and SMG complete merger to become ASM Global US-based AEG Facilities and Onex-owned SMG have completed their merger to create a new, standalone global facility management and venue services company, ASM Global.

First announced in February, the even-split merger of AEG Facilities, owned by Anschutz Entertainment Group, and SMG, a portfolio company of private equity firm Onex, was previously cleared by both the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority and the US Department of Justice, allowing the completion of the business combination.

Headquartered in the USA in Los Angeles, California and with key operational offices near the eastern US city of Philadelphia, as well as in London and Manchester in the UK and the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, the new entity will be led by former AEG Facilities President Bob Newman, who has been named President and Chief Executive of the new company.

Queensland Tourism Digital Workforce Development and Training Plan gets industry launch The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) has launched the first Queensland Tourism Digital Workforce Development and Training Plan.

The Plan highlights key technologies in tourism, provides case studies of digital champions and identifies four priority areas and 14 key initiatives that will enable Queensland tourism businesses to upskill, train and develop experiences, processes and services that embrace this new digital era.

Griffith University was commissioned by the QTIC to prepare the Plan, with the funding support from the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training ‘Training in Emerging and Innovative Industries Fund’.

ExerciseNZ backs relaunch of Yoga New Zealand Yoga New Zealand (YogaNZ), the national yoga body for yoga in Aotearoa New Zealand, has been relaunched with its own national yoga council guiding its operations.

First established by Yoga Australia three years ago, it is now operationally supported by the Exercise Association of New Zealand (ExerciseNZ).

ExerciseNZ Chief Executive Richard Beddie advises that the body is now 100% New Zealand run and operated, explaining “we support all forms of movement and physical activity. We know hundreds of thousands of Kiwis regularly practice yoga and the numbers have more than doubled in the last 10 years.”

Show have revealed that business exhibition space of Australia’s largest and most comprehensive fitness industry event is to be revamped as

Fitness Show B2B.

Taking place on 1 st and 2nd May 2020

on Level 4 of the ICC Sydney, Fitness Show B2B will offer enhanced opportunities for exhibitors to meet face-to-face with the largest gathering of fitness professionals in Australia; reach new target audiences and vertical markets, drive consumer action through brand interactions and experiences as well as offering networking opportunities with industry professionals with purchasing power.

Fitness Show B2B 2020 has also been refreshed with a targeted marketing plan to drive attendance from vertical markets, attracting buyers from council aquatic and recreation centres, emergency services, schools and universities, hotels and other fitness facilities.

Sea World hits back at TripAdvisor ban Sea World on the Gold Coast has hit back at TripAdvisor including it in a ban on ticket sales to attractions that feature whales, dolphins or porpoises.

The internet travel giant has announced a ban on any theme parks and tourist attractions that breed or import whales, dolphins and porpoises for public viewing.

TripAdvisor has advised that it will review experiences for sale on its platform and remove any commercial facilities that breed or import whales, dolphins and porpoises by the end of the year, according to a statement.

The new policy, which groups Sea World - widely famed for its marine conservation work - alongside more exploitative international attractions, comes after TripAdvisor stopped ticket sales for elephant rides, selfies with tigers and other tourist entertainment deemed cruel to animals in 2016.

Australia’s Cultural Ministers agree to new framework for the performing arts A new National Performing Arts Partnership (NPAP) Framework to support the performing arts sector has been agreed by the Australian Government along with states and territories at the latest annual Meeting of Cultural Ministers.

The new agreement will replace the existing Major Performing Arts (MPA) Framework, which currently supports the nation’s major orchestras, opera companies, ballet and theatre companies.

In addition to the new framework, the Cultural Minister’s meeting also invited Brisbane company Circa to be recognised as a major performing arts company under the 2011 Major Performing Arts Framework.

Safety concerns see glass bridges closed in China’s Heibei province Glass-bottomed bridges in the Chinese province of Heibei have been closed due to safety concerns.

An increasingly popular form of tourist attraction in the topographically diverse region, more than 32 Glass bottomed bridges have been built in scenic locations over the past decade.

However, following a number of reported deaths, officials in the province have been shutting the bridges, citing “a lack of national standard and supervision”, according to Chinese state-owned news service ECNS.

Athletics Australia and

Little Athletics agree to unite After years of previously inconclusive negotiations, Athletics Australia and Little Athletics Australia have announced a “proposed merger” to create OneAthletics, a new national sporting organisation to be responsible for athletics in Australia.

If seen through, a successful merger will see athletics transformed into one of the biggest participation sports in the country and deliver a clearer pathway for athletes, coaches and officials throughout their life in sport.

Sport professionals survey shows respondents paid ‘less than expected’ A survey of Australian sport industry professionals has revealed a level of dissatisfaction with industry salaries, with 47% of respondents stating they felt they were paid less than expected in their roles.

By contrast, just 1% of respondents said they were paid more than expected.

These views, and the findings that 84% of respondents were likely or highly likely to remain in the industry in the next three to five years, perhaps due to 90% believing they were offered flexible working hours/locations, have been revealed in the first industry wide survey conducted by the recently formed Australian Sports Professionals Association.

Aquatic centre study shows school swimming programs not enough to keep children safe The majority of children who only learn to swim by attending intensive school swimming programs can’t swim a year later according to new research from Deakin University.

The world-first study into the learning and retention of swim and safety skills by Mornington Peninsula-based aquatic facilities operator Peninsula Leisure and Deakin University found that undertaking an intensive school swim program alone is not enough to keep Australian children safe, placing them at greater risk of drowning,

The year-long study, Swim Lesson Models: Effectiveness and Impact Study, found parents who solely relied on school swim programs overestimated their child’s swimming and water safety abilities.

Ongoing drought impacts aquatic centres Facing extreme water restrictions, drought affected councils across NSW are committed to keeping their public swimming pools open, seeing that the amenity, social and wellness values of their facilities as being vital to local residents.

With the drought causing some of the highest temperatures in 120 years and years of below average rainfall putting an increased strain on water storage, local authorities are increasingly restricting water use for domestic pools and favouring keeping public facilities open.

As reported in Dubbo’s Daily Liberal, a Cabonne Council spokesperson advised of the importance of keeping its public swimming pools open, stating “Council needs to balance the responsible use of water with the fact that these swimming pools are an important part of the social fabric of our towns and villages and a sanctuary for many people feeling the effects of this terrible drought.”

Cabonne Council drained and refilled its pools for the summer season re-opening, with the drained water to be used for road building works across the local government area.

In a report examining councils’ approaches to water use, the Daily Liberal quoted a Dubbo Regional Council spokesperson as stating that despite the drought there would be no changes or restrictions at any of its three pools, explaining “while a critical role of council is to manage the distribution and use of precious water resources, just as critical is providing an inclusive social environment for residents even in hard times such as a drought.”

The spokesperson added that pools were “critical for a community’s social, vocational and mental health wellbeing” and it would work to carefully plan and make provisions for the ongoing operations of all Council-owned aquatic centres.

With water restrictions in its area at ‘extreme’, Bathurst Regional Council has exempted its Manning Aquatic Centre advising on its website “Council will continue to water parks and sportsgrounds using water wise irrigation technology for as long as possible to protect these significant and high value community assets.

“Council has undertaken an audit to prioritise parks and sportsgrounds so that should it need to cease irrigation that the highest value assets may be conserved for as long as practicable.”

Indoor and outdoor pools at Orange Aquatic Centre will operate as normal despite the drought.

Explaining this, Orange City Council Manager of Corporate and Community Relations, Nick Redmond told the Daily Liberal “we will be using these pools as normal including re-filling to maintain water quality standards, but we’ll continue to monitor their use.”

Water restrictions in its area have seen Tamworth Regional Council opt to open only one public pool during the summer.

Commenting on this, the Council’s acting Manager Sports and Recreation, Peter Watling, advised of strong co-operation among pool user groups to create a schedule to accommodate all swimmers’ needs at one location.

Watling explained “since Councillors decided in August that Scully Pool would open for the new season, we have been talking with all user groups to come up with a plan to ensure they have the pool access they need while also meeting the needs of the general community.

“It has been a challenge to program the activities of two Tamworth pools into one but there has been a great willingness to compromise shown by our local aquatic clubs.

“By working together to put achievable options to Council they have ensured we could accommodate general community needs at one pool.”

In August, Tamworth Regional Councillors decided to temporarily amend its Drought Management Plan to allow the opening of Scully Pool and Kootingal Memorial Swimming Pool at Level 5 Water Restrictions on the condition that pool water is sourced from a non-potable supply. They also agreed to review the temporary arrangement when water levels at Chaffey Dam approaches 15% capacity.

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Great Barrier Reef island reborn as eco-friendly luxury holiday destination A formerly abandoned southern Great Barrier Reef island has been resurrected into an exclusive eco-resort having been leased by a hotels group which has redeveloped the destination.

Surrounded by blue water and coral reef, Wilson Island, located off the coast of central Queensland, has seen guests visit for the first time in five years.

The secluded natural coral cay, 80 kilometres off the coast of Gladstone and 15 kilometres from Heron Island, has been resurrected as an eco-friendly luxury camping resort.

Just 5.24 acres in size, the island was left abandoned by a former owner five years ago and in 2017 was bought on a rolling lease by Aldesta Hotels, which has since redeveloped the picturesque island paradise.

Sport Australia advice ignored by former Federal Sports

Ministers in award of community sport infrastructure funds Former Federal Sports Minister Bridget McKenzie rejected 618 applications for community sports infrastructure despite recommendations from Federal Government agency Sport Australia to approve the projects as part of the $100 million Community Sport Infrastructure grants program.

The program is being investigated by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO), with Senator McKenzie’s home state of Victoria receiving a quarter of the funding.

Brisbane venues thrive as Stadiums Queensland operations deliver more than $300 million in economic benefit Venues in Brisbane - and the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in particular - were Stadiums Queensland’s star performers during 2018/19, while stadia outside of the Queensland capital saw significant falls in attendance in the last financial year.

Stadiums Queensland’s latest annual report shows that the state’s venues opened their gates to 128,854 fewer patrons in 2018/19 than the year before, hosting 4.2 million patrons across its nine venues, down from 4.3 million in 2017/18, but above the 3.9 million in 2016/17.

The annual report also showed that the venues contributed more than $300 million in economic benefit to the state.

Love Recruitment launches specialist fitness industry recruitment service to Australian employers With the ability to deliver the right candidates to fitness industry employers, Love Recruitment have launched their specialist industry recruitment service in Sydney.

Lift Brands introduces mentoring program to help investors achieve Snap Fitness and 9Round franchise ownership A new Mentoring Program from Lift Brands Australia & New Zealand has been created to help people with the right skills and experience own a fitness franchise by steering them towards the financial backing to take the first step to club ownership.

Lift Brands Chief Executive Ty Menzies set out to develop a program targeting the more than 1200 passionate and talented trainers and operators across the group’s Snap Fitness and 9Round franchises.

Launched in the UK in 2015, over the last four and half years Love Recruitment have grown to the largest fitness specialist recruitment company in the country, serving over 30 UK organisations and thousands of UK fitness professionals, their success has been built upon service, delivery, relationships and trust.

NSW Government opens tender process for new Sydney Theatre Royal operator Plans to reopen Sydney’s Theatre Royal have moved closer with the NSW Government announcing that it has reached a commercial agreement with the owners of the venue to commence a tender process to secure a new theatre operator.

It has also advised that it has reached an agreement with building owners Dexus to increase the lease from 45 years, as originally planned, to 55 years.

Parks and recreation professionals make great career choice in delivering ‘joy’ Professionals who work in parks and recreation have made a “great career choice” as they deliver “joy” to children and the wider population with the facilities they provide, according to Parks and Leisure Australia President, Paul Jane speaking at the opening of the association’s 2019 annual conference in Perth.

Adventure Park Geelong (left), Victoria’s largest water theme park, has opened The Tsunami, a new triple funnel waterslide.

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), in partnership with Volleyball Australia and Sport Australia has launched an Australianfirst all-weather beach volleyball training facility at its Canberra base.

The NSW Government has approved funding for the redevelopment of Pier 2/3 at the Walsh Bay precinct (left), ending fears from some of the state’s largest arts companies that the major project would be delayed indefinitely.

The New Zealand Government has announced that it will back plans for a new 1300-seat theatre in Hamilton, making a $12 million investment from its Provincial Growth Fund.

The historic North Sydney Oval (left) is set to remain as the home of women’s cricket in Sydney after the agreement of a deal between Cricket Australia, Cricket NSW, the Sydney Sixers and North Sydney Council.

A four-year $10 million project to expand and improve the Tallebudgera’s Coplick Family Sports Park on the southern Gold Coast’s major sporting hubs has been completed.

The City of Launceston has approved $7 million conversion of a heritage-listed gasometer frame that will be infilled with a three-storey art gallery (left).

Viagogo acquires rival ticket reseller StubHub in US$4 billion deal Secondary ticketing firm Viagogo has announced a US$4 billion deal to buy its rival StubHub, in the biggest ever transaction in the secondary ticketing market.

With eBay having been evaluating the future of its ticketing subsidiary over much of the past year, Viagogo said the deal will unite the two businesses which “share the same fundamental principle of providing a secure platform for people to buy and sell tickets to live events”.

YMCA becomes the Y with first logo change in 52 years As part of a national brand and logo refresh, YMCA NSW has announced that it will now be known as ‘the Y’.

Confirmation of the introduction of the new branding, which will be rolled out progressively across Australia in the coming months, follows the governors of the 15 individual YMCAs across the nation came together to endorse the move at the 102nd AGM of the National Council of YMCAs in Melbourne, following a pilot of the rebrand by the Y NSW in November.

Google acquires Fitbit in US$2.1 billion deal Global technology giant Google has announced that it is to acquire wearable company Fitbit in a US$2.1 billion deal.

In a blog announcing the news, Google Senior Vice President of Devices and Services Rick Osterloh said that the Fitbit purchase is “an opportunity to invest even more in Wear OS as well as (to) introduce Made by Google wearable devices into the market.”

Under the deal, Fitbit will be joining Google, with a separate press release issued by Fitbit, advising that the company will still take privacy for health and fitness data seriously, noting that “Fitbit health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads.”

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