Friday, 26 September, 2014

Wellington paints city red for WOW®

To celebrate the 2014 World of WearableArt® Awards Show, Wellington is ‘painting the city red’ with a retail window dressing competition, hospitality deals and building light installations, all themed on the colour red.

WOW® General Manager Tim Launder says the colour red was selected for its vibrancy and its connection to the show.

“It was about choosing something distinctive and fun, and inspiring the retailers and restaurateurs who are participating. Also, we’re welcoming the Shaolin Monks to this year’s show, with a colour that in Chinese culture evokes happiness and good fortune.”

Councillor Jo Coughlan, chair of Council’s Economic Growth and Arts Committee, said that Wellington excels at this kind of promotion.

“With the enthusiasm of Wellington retailers, hospitality teams and building owners getting on board, it’s possible to make a real transformation to our compact city centre. It demonstrates that the spectacular energy of WOW® is well matched to the creative capital.”

Over 60 Wellington retailers have created themed window displays for the WOW® Window Dressing Competition. In addition to a judged award to be announced on Monday, the public can also vote for their favourite display via www.WOWWindowcomp.com , with the store receiving the most votes by October 7 winning the People’s Choice Award. Voters are also in line for a daily $50 retail voucher giveaway.

A selection of Wellington buildings and public spaces are also being lit up in red during the season of WOW®. Centered on the TSB Bank Arena, the colour red extends each night around the waterfront and into the centre city.

A number of local bars and restaurants are offering special red-themed drinks, dishes and set menus. Dishes offered as part of the promotion include beetroot cured salmon to Bloody Marys and sangria-poached tamarillos. Details can be found at www.WellingtonNZ.com/WOWRedOffers

PWT Chief Executive David Perks says the campaign helps spread the show’s ‘wow factor’ throughout the city.

“Every year tens of thousands of visitors come to Wellington for an amazing WOW® experience. The show is at the heart of their visit, but we want that sense of magic to be present on the streets of the city as well.“

/ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS

World of WearableArt® Awards Show

• In 2012, Wellington City Council signed a nine year partnership deal with WOW®

• More than 47,000 people came to a WOW® show in 2013

• 71.6% of those people came from outside of Wellington

• They provided a direct economic benefit of $22.6 million to Wellington

• The 2014 season has been extended to a third weekend.

Positively Wellington Tourism

• PWT is the regional tourism organisation for Wellington. It is a council-controlled organisation funded by Wellington City Council’s Downtown Levy and private and regional partnerships.

• Visitors spend over $3,166 in the Wellington region per minute – over $1.6 billion per year.

• (Source: Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, Regional Tourism Estimates)

• Over four million visits are made to Wellington every year: 750,000 international and over 3.4 million domestic.

(Source: Ministry of Economic Development Regional Tourism Data)

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