Tut, tut, The Mole might or might not have made a mistake!!

As some of you may recall, TravelMole ran an article yesterday on Tourism New South Wales’ involvement in G’Day USA, which is taking place at the moment in Los Angeles and New York.

The article was based on a release issued by Tourism New South Wales and the outgoing Tourism Minster Nori’s office in relation to the events going on in LA and in particular Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, the release without any doubt whatsoever, giving much more than an impression that Minister Nori was in LA with quotes from the Minister in the release!

Interestingly, Natalie Soltyszewski, TNSW’s Corporate Communications Manager speedily contacted Travel Mole pointing out that the article was incorrect and requesting a correction as Minister Nori was not in the USA.

Perhaps Minster Nori was to busy cleaning out her desk to go to the US or her departure too imminent, but The Mole pointed out to TNSW that as the release was all about what TNSW is doing in the USA, also providing quotes from the Minister about the current activity in the USA, it was very reasonable indeed to assume that the Minister was in the USA along with the event, promoting New South Wales and Sydney. 

So that you can draw your own conclusions, I quote from their release: –

“NSW Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation said Tourism NSW was running a consumer and media promotion in Santa Monica, California today to entice Americans to visit Sydney and see Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical.”

“There is a replica “Priscilla Bus” in Santa Monica’s 3rd promenade promoting a sweepstakes and 5-day holiday package with Qantas,” Ms Nori said.

“Tony Sheldon and other performers from the musical will also be in costume at the promotion,” Ms Nori said.

“Ms Nori said that in the evening, over 600 influential travel, film and entertainment media and celebrities will attend a special film screening of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, followed by a performance from the stage show.”

“The stars of the musical will perform in outrageous costumes designed by Oscar winning designers Lizzie Gardiner and Tim Chappel at Paramount Studios in Hollywood,” she said.

“Ms Nori said that Tourism NSW would also hold an event for key travel trade and media in New York as part of the promotion.”

“In a reciprocal arrangement, the NY & Company’s tourism booth in Times Square will distribute Sydney maps and guides during Australia Week, while our Sydney booths will distribute New York guides.

The Mole thinks that all these all say – “I am here in the USA”!! 

What do you think?  Click on COMMENTS below to give your views

In the meantime, The Mole has suggested to TNSW and the Minister’s Office that in order to avoid any confusion during what is the rather short future for this Minister of Tourism, in similar circumstances, they might like to add a phrase in their releases to the effect “Minister Nori, speaking from Sydney today said…………….”  or “Minister Nori, speaking from Los Angeles today said…………….”, etc.

In the meantime The Mole is actually surprised that the Minister is not there at what is clearly such an important event for inbound tourism to Australia from the USA and has asked TNSW why the Minister is not there, whether she wanted to go, who is the most senior NSW Government official at the event, who is representing the Minister and who is representing TNSW? 

No reply has been received as of this morning!

Report by The Mole