From the official FISM organisers (Australia):- We've just met with the President of FISM 2009 and it looks like Beijing is going to deliver an absolutely amazing event. Any Australians who would like to go to FISM next year, and travel as a group to get great airfares, advance hotel bookings, airport transfers and pre-registration, please email us at tim@magicunlimited.com for full details. After investigating a LOT of different airline options, it looks like we'll be flying 'Airline of the Year 2008' Singapore Airlines and this is our itinerary: * Friday July 24th you'll depart from your own capital city (Auckland 1.10am, Sydney 8.05am, Brisbane 10.05am, Melbourne 10.15am) and meet up in Singapore and take the 4.55pm flight to Beijing, arriving in Beijing on July 24th at 11pm. After customs we are escorted to our FISM Hotel by an official FISM tour guide and receiving our FISM registration packs as we check in to the hotel. * Saturday July 25th is free for sightseeing and shopping. (We may offer some tours you can prebook from Australia if interest is there). * Sunday July 26th FISM begins in the morning with an Opening Ceremony and Show highlighting Chinese Artists and a Grand Welcome Banquet featuring Chinese music, dance and acrobatics. * Monday July 27th is a day filled with competitions, lectures, and a Stage Gala Show. * Tuesday July 28th is more competitions, lectures and a Close Up Gala Show. * Wednesday July 29th and there are more lectures (ten all up), competitions and a second Stage Gala Show. * Thursday July 30th is the last of the competition (100 stage acts and 50 close up acts) followed by a seated Banquet in the evening with even more entertainment. * Friday July 31st is the final day and features the Stage and Close Up finalists, a Stage Gala Show and the Awarding of the Prizes. * Saturday August 1 is a day set aside for shopping and sightseeing. * Sunday August 2 is your last chance to shop before we take a 4pm flight out of Beijing. * Monday August 3 we arrive back in Australia around 8 in the morning. Flights should cost around $1750 Australian. Hotels will be priced from $70 a night for a three star apartment style hotel 15 minutes walk from the venue, to $150 a night for the four star Grand Hotel on site at the Convention Centre, to $220 a night for the top of the range five star luxury hotel. Prices will be released in October and we will be booking immediately Please contact us asap if you'd like to join us on this amazing tour - and make sure you go HERE www.fism2009.org and register for the FISM Convention immediately! Oh, and you don't have to be a magician to take this magical tour, if you have friends of family who'd like to join you to explore China, see the Olympic sights, and enjoy a week of world class magic shows, they are just as welcome to join our group! TIM ELLIS & SUE-ANNE WEBSTER ======