SYDNEY VOTED ONE OF THE TOP CITIES IN THE WORLD

Sydney has once again shown its international appeal as the only Australian city to feature in the Top 25 Cities in the World, in Condé Nast Traveler's latest annualReaders' Choice Awards in the United States.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said Sydney was voted as the number four city, cementing its position as one of the world’s premier travel destinations, alongside Vienna, Budapest and Florence.

“With Sydney’s buzzing night life, spectacular harbour and beaches and world-class restaurants, it’s no wonder that this city is continually loved by visitors from across the globe,” Mr Ayres said.

“The US represents one of our core growth markets and in the year ended June 2015, NSW welcomed 337,600 overnight visitors from the US, demonstrating a 6.4 per cent increase from last year.”

Sydney also performed strongly in the ‘Best Hotels in Australia and New Zealand’ category with the Park Hyatt Sydney ranked as number one.

In total, nine Sydney properties featured in the list of 15; Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay (3); Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney (4); The Langham, Sydney (6); 1888 Hotel (8); Hilton Sydney (10); Four Seasons Hotel Sydney (11); InterContinental Sydney (12); and The Darling (15).

Lord Howe Island and Shark Island Sydney Harbour were also featured in ‘Australia’s Most Beautiful Islands’ category.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said the Awards were yet another tribute to the State’s tourism and events industry that continues to demonstrate a commitment to delivering quality products and experiences to local and international visitors.

“Sydney’s iconic attractions and natural beauty amazes visitors right across the globe all year round. Whether they are visiting for the first time or returning after discovering something special, Sydney never fails to impress,” Ms Chipchase said.