The sad story of “no room at the inn” in Sydney tomorrow for two amazing global adventurers who have sailed, cycled and skied from the North Pole to the South Pole.

If you are in hotels in Sydney – we need your help NOW – read on to hear what may be a rather sad reflection about what I thought was a great, philanthropic and socially reponsible industry.

About two months ago I was approached by the mum of an Aussie international yacht crew member and asked if knew of anyone that could help her organise a welcome reception for two English boys arriving in Sydney on Friday – TOMORROW!

You may be thinking “so what”, what’s special about two English boys arriving in Sydney, thousands do it ever year!

Well, when they arrive in Sydney Friday at the National Maritime Museum for a massive welcome reception, with politicians, dignitaries, potentially your guests, etc, etc, they will arrive on the ice strengthened yacht Blizzard at the culmination of a 22,000 mile journey from the North Magnetic Pole to the South Magnetic Pole…………under manpower only, having skied, sailed and cycled half way around the globe to achieve three core goals; to break an exploring record, to raise money for charity and most importantly to highlight the negative effect of carbon emissions on our environment…………..and they are only 20 years old!

I asked a few of the travel industry’s leading PR specialists, including Nicole Lenoir-Jourdan MD of Five Star PR and Mike Parker-Brown if they would help and they said they were delighted to create a fitting welcome to the world’s favourite city!

So, back to the boys………in May 2006 James Hooper and Rob Gauntlett became the youngest ever westerners to scale Mount Everest…….they were just 19!  I was trying to remember what I was doing when I was 19 and sadly, it was not climbing Everest!

The two young explorers caught the eye of Adidas who signed them up to be part of their new “impossible is nothing” campaign and this campaign saw them star alongside David Beckham and Sachin Tendulkar, and tied in with Rob and James’ new adventure: Pole to Pole – man powered.

In March 2007 they began the journey from the Magnetic North Pole to the Magnetic South Pole travelling only by manpower. The 22,000 mile journey has never been achieved before and when completed on May 9, will have covered three continents through a range of climates from +50º to -50º.

The boys have skied, sailed and cycled from the North Magnetic Pole to the South Magnetic Pole to achieve three core goals; to break an exploring record, to raise money for charity and most importantly to highlight the negative effect of carbon emissions on our environment.

I think they left one aim out, which is also demonstrate to young people around the world including in Australia, that “impossible is nothing”, the slogan of their journey or the other way around, “nothing is impossible”.

The journey is the first of its kind, not only due to its route but also because it is interactive and James and Rob have regularly updated their website with their progress and are using this tool to educate people all over the world about the challenge of global warming and climate change.

See the boys’ award winning website http://www.180degrees.co.uk – over 8 million hits!

Please make sure you watch the video clips and look at the photographs

The site is continually updated – including educational content and video blogs.

So, they when they arrive in tomorrow morning, we have masses of TV, radio on line and print media – we also have ITN and BBC news from the UK attending and this is and will be massive in the UK!

By the way both boys will have attained the age of 21 in the last stages of their mammoth journey.

Now, while they have had some sponsorship, please check out the web site, they have largely funded this themselves, have acquired significant debt, yet we are very keen to make a big splash of their arrival in Sydney, hence my contacting the Sydney hotel industry to secure accommodation for the boys during their stay in Sydney.

Well, I am very sorry to have to tell you that having contacted virtually everyone I know in hotels in Sydney that we thought might come to the party, but we have drawn a blank with hotels saying that they are very busy, they don’t have rooms – yet wotif shows they do and a number said we can’t give you a room, but can offer you special deal of $XXX a night – they don’t see the value or what’s in it for them…..basically every excuse you can imagine! 

Now I am not shooting the messenger as I am sure that our contacts have been working to the “rules”, but it is a very sad reflection indeed that there does not appear to be a hotel in Sydney, willing to put its hands in its pocket to offer these two young guys and their crew…….who have travelled 22,000 miles under their own power to get here………with accommodation for a week – maybe it has become just too easy to make money – perish the thought, but hard times will come again!

So, what do we need and how can you help?

** We need 2 twin rooms or one 2 bedroom apartment for the boys and support team in Sydney for 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 May – departing 17 May.

We also need the following FOC or at a discounted rate:

** 1 twin or double room for the parents of one of the boys for 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 May – dep 13 May.

** 1 single room for the documentary maker for 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 May – dep 13 May.

** In addition, up to 5 other rooms may also be booked and paid for!

We have already had a large piece in the Sydney Morning Herald with a photograph reporting that the boys have not slept in a real bed for over year and they can’t wait – we will also be organising a photo shoot and media call with them in their real beds in Sydney!

You will also be able to ask your key clients to the welcome event at the Maritime Museum and you can have displays and will be included in the presentations.

The boys will also include the hotel and their accommodation in the documentary and on line coverage, with footage from their accommodation with them speaking from the first real beds they have slept in for a year!

VISA is giving them $1,000 each for their time in Sydney, Magisitic have given a boat to meet them at the Heads, Land Rover have given vehicles, GMT has given flights, the Maritime Museum the venue for the welcome, J&J O’Brien have given them vouchers for food, and much more etc, etc……………!  The only sector missing is hotels…..come on guys!

These two young guys have proved that the “impossible is nothing or “nothing is impossible”….let’s show them that this is true of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry in Sydney.

So, if you are a Sydney hotelier out there who wants to put something back into society and help two young guys who have achieved something we never could, by accommodating them in Sydney, please URGENTLY call me now on 0402 891 674 or email me on [email protected]

Time us running out, they cross LINE ZULU at the Heads tomorrow morning, Friday 9 May at 06:30 and at this moment have nowhere to sstay…..how sad is that and how sad a reflection is it on Sydney, Australia and our travel and tourism indutry?

An appeal for the help by John Alwyn-Jones – TravelMole