Americans will receive a heavy dose of Australia over the next couple of weeks with a $5 million tourism advertising blitz, Oprah Winfrey's Down Under visit airing on TV and the eighth annual G'Day USA festival held in 11 cities across the US.
The ad blitz, funded by Tourism Australia, Qantas and other key partners, is aimed at enticing American tourists to Australia and will coincide with the airing on US TV network ABC next Tuesday of the first episode of the four-part Oprah's Ultimate Australian Adventure.
The 14-day G'Day USA program begins on Saturday at the Palm Springs Film Festival, where seven Australian films including the new Peter Weir-directed epic, The Way Back, will be screened.
The G'Day festival promotes Australian food, wine, business, tourism, research and innovation at 40 events held in cities including Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Boston, Washington DC and Houston.
Grame (Grame) Barty, Austrade's regional director for the Americas, said Austrade-managed events include energy, water management, bio-fuels, financial services, fashion and food events.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
The G'Day festival highlight will likely be the sold-out black tie ball on January 22 held at the iconic Hollywood Palladium, with singer Barry Gibb, actress Abbie Cornish and tennis legend Roy Emerson honoured.
Olivia Newton-John will present Gibb with his award, Hollywood director Zack Snyder will honour Cornish, while Andre Agassi will praise Emerson on stage.
The 900 tickets for the ball were snapped up more than a month ago.
