Tag Archives: VIA Byron

Tommy Franklin_Kirra Pendergast_thumnail

Follow Byron’s dancing man

Follow Byron’s dancing man

The Byron shire is warming up for the summer tourist season, with solid bookings from beachfront to national park.

The rainbow shire’s peak tourism body VIA Byron reports that more and more travellers are staying in places like Brunswick Heads, Mullumbimby, Bangalow and the hinterland villages and visiting Byron’s famous beaches and cafes during their stay.

“Byron itself is still a major drawcard” said VIA Byron President Cameron Arnold. “But further afield there are just so many unique properties to choose from, from old dairies to tee pees, apartments and historic homes. You can really get away from it all and soak up the colour, that’s what it’s all about”.

No-one embodies the freedom of the Byron shire more than Byron’s Dancing Man Tommy Franklin. Tommy starred in Splendour in the Grass’s 2012 festival line-up video, which featured him dancing around Byron’s iconic landmarks. Since then he has found national fame as a Grand Finalist on Australia’s Got Talent.

“Tommy puts a smile on the face of everyone he meets, it’s a gift” said Splendour in the Grass’s Jo Hickey, who produced the video featuring Tommy. “He makes you want to just bust out of your stressed out city life.  He’s full of magic and life and that’s what Byron’s about, people visit here for a dose of life”.

In true Byron style Tommy is humble about his new celebrity status, recently telling a journalist “I don’t shit golden nuggets” and attributing his childlike joy and wonder to a “Steve Irwin gene”.

The music keeps coming between now and New Years’ Eve in the Byron Shire, with the Byron Latin Fiesta November 1 – 3, Mullumbimby Music Festival November 21 – 24 and the Byron Falls Festival from December 31.

There are still bargains to be had in the rainbow region. Head to www.byronbay.com/deals for specials like

►Five nights for the price of four in a two bedroom bungalow at the deluxe Bayshore Bungalows on Belongil Beach in Byron Bay

► Three nights for $330 or seven nights for $540 from February in a two bedroom apartment in the heart of Brunswick Heads with Brunswick Seaside Holidays

► Three nights for the price of two between May 13 and July 31 at Beach Suites on Byron’s Main Beach

► Two nights for $250 (normally $360) Monday to Thursday at the award winning Apartments Inn in the heart of Byron Bay

► Save 40% when you stay for three or more nights at BreakFree Eco Beach in Byron Bay

With 52 flights a week into the Ballina Byron airport.

Watch Tommy Franklin’s promo video for Splendour in the Grass 2012   http://vimeo.com/41331398

Background for journalists:

With some of the world’s best beaches, stunning national parks and award winning restaurants and cafes, the Byron shire offers respite and inspiration. Home to Australia’s highest concentration of creative professionals and artists per capita, it’s little wonder Byron is a place of annual pilgrimage for many. Whether for a festival, time in or time out the Byron shire, with its politically active communities, Green Council and plethora of healers, is open to all.

www.byronbay.com/deals

Downloadable high resolution images:

Photo 1 – Tommy Franklin – image by Kirra Pendergast for commongroundaustralia.com

Photo 2 – Tommy Franklin – image by Kirra Pendergast for commongroundaustralia.com

Photo 3 – First Sunday of the month, Brunswick Heads – image by Michelle Begg

Photo 4 – Apartments Inn Byron Bay

Photo 5 – Apartments Inn Byron Bay

Byron regular Tim Freedman

BYRON ON SALE

BYRON ON SALE

BYRON ON SALE!

Byron Shire’s tourism group VIA Byron has released a massive range of hot winter specials for the hip coastal town and beyond. From beach shacks to apartments, luxury homes and five star resorts. Deals like

$250 for two nights at the award winning Apartments Inn in the heart of Byron Bay

$680 for five nights plus a free room upgrade when booking a one bedroom fully self contained Bungalow at the deluxe new Bayshore Bungalows Resort at Belongil Beach Byron Bay

$480 for seven nights at a Brunswick Seaside Holidays two bedroom fully self contained courtyard apartment or cottage in the heart of Brunswick Heads

Activities like Circus Arts, the famous Crystal Castle and Byron Bay Adventure Tours are also on sale, as are Byron’s favourite restaurants including Byron Beach Cafe and The Balcony.

Go to www.byronbay.com

Aussie rock icon and The Whitlams frontman Tim Freedman is a Byron regular. “In winter the ocean is warm and the beaches are less crowded, the days are sparkling and it’s great sleeping weather” said Tim. “It’s when the locals love it the most and they usually know something”.

With 52 flights a week into Ballina Byron airport.

Images: Byron regular Tim Freedman, Main Beach Byron Bay

For further information, interviews or images please contact Caroline Desmond on 02 66875674  0415 499429  caroline@carolinedesmond.com.au

 

 

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Byron Winter Visitor Campaign Launched!

Naren King from Crystal Castle, who are participating in the VIA Byron campaign, with Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson

Byron shire’s winter tourism marketing campaign has commenced.

Crafted by the new shire wide representative body for the visitor industry VIA Byron, the campaign will run for the next few months.

Targeting visitors aged thirty-five and over nationally through digital marketing, social media, billboards, direct marketing and public relations, the campaign seeks to support participating businesses during the quieter winter months.

“We have taken the best elements from previous campaigns such as the Byron Naturally campaign and worked from there” said VIA Byron’s Cameron Arnold. “Destination marketing is one facet of a functional visitor industry and we want all to know that VIA Byron is about so much more than marketing. It’s incredibly exciting to finally have all the key stakeholders for tourism and the visitor economy in the Byron shire talking from the same page. This is our greatest achievement so far”.

The group, which boasts members including Byron Shire Council, the Brunswick Visitor Centre, the Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce, the Byron Visitor Centre, Byron United, Business Ashored (Ocean Shores) and the Bangalow Chamber of Commerce represents Byron shire’s visitor industry at local, state and federal level. VIA Byron was formed in 2012 to provide leadership, strategic direction and cohesion to the local industry, which has been valued at between $350 and $400 million. They are actively funded for three years and are “building acumen to secure long term funding” according to Cameron Arnold.

“Hats off to this new unifying tourism force for our shire” said Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson. “We are one of the most, if not the most, naturally endowed regions in this country. Sustainable tourism should always be at the heart of our economic, cultural and social planning. I am seeing more people working together across the whole of the shire toward creative tourism outcomes and I’m loving it.

“Getting our tourism approach right is a long term organic process. Like everything in Byron, it’s a journey. The collective work of VIA Byron to date is clear indication that we have come a long way”.

For enquiries about the Winter marketing campaign please contact Katie O’Rourke on 0412 387604 or katie@cakemarketing.com.au

Downloadable high resolution images (photos by Koby Hagenfelds):

Photo 1 – Naren King from Crystal Castle, who are participating in the VIA Byron campaign, with Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson

Photo 2 – Naren King from Crystal Castle, who are participating in the VIA Byron campaign, with Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson

Photo 3 – Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson at Crystal Castle, who are participating in the VIA Byron campaign

Photo 4 – Naren King from Crystal Castle, who are participating in the VIA Byron campaign