Schoolies 2019: Tribe Schoolies plans to rev up celebrations with celebrities and star DJs
A new company plans to spice up 2019 Schoolies parties with top DJs and visiting reality TV personalities, but some hold grave concerns.
Gold Coast
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A NEW company plans to rev up 2019 Schoolies parties with top DJs and visiting reality TV personalities, leaving the incumbents divided about facing competition.
Popular Surfers Paradise nightclubs Sin City, The Bedroom, Havana and Melbas have partnered with Tribe Schoolies to host parties for school leavers.
Tribe Schoolies will also branch into accommodation packages in a bid to “test the market” but focus more on accommodation offers next year.
The new entrant has already secured a DJ line up plus reality TV’s Scotty T from Geordie Shore and Jessika Power from Married at First Sight as ambassadors to make appearances.
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Their entry has sparked mixed reaction from the incumbents - Schoolies.com’s boss is questioning the rival’s credentials whilst Gold Coast entertainment king Billy Cross is welcoming their arrival.
Youth Travel Pty Ltd, claiming to have worked on North America’s Spring Break events for a decade, are behind “Tribe Schoolies”.
In a statement to the Bulletin, the company said more than 100,000 Spring Break travellers booked with them for events in resort hotspots including Las Vegas and Cancun and they were bringing that expertise to the Gold Coast.
Its statement claimed Schoolies forward bookings were slumping by 35 per cent this year - a figure they based on visiting traditional Schoolies accommodation providers - and had decided to step in.
“The company believes it is time for a news Schoolies competitor to enter the market and stop the falling attendance of Schoolies on the Gold Coast.
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“We firmly believe a new competitor is desperately needed to excite Schoolies events by offering a fun, safe environment and the type of experiences they want, not the same tired Schoolies Gold Coast holiday of the past 25 years plus.”
They planned 16 Schoolies parties across their four nightclub partner venues in Surfers Paradise.
Sin City, Bedroom and Havana general manager Tim Martin said the DJ line up so far included Will Sparks, TigerLily, Teddy Cream and Rockafellas.
Mr Martin, who is also the Surfers Paradise Licensed Venues Association president, said: “We are trying to create an environment of activities. We are looking to create new different parties, new environments and new experiences for the kids.
“It’s not just about getting as many people into as many venues as we possibly can.
“The old format of Schoolies is just the same every year.
“It’s not great when someone has the whole monopoly of a product.”
Mr Cross and Schoolies.com’s Matt Lloyd have been hosting an annual second weekend beach party for the past seven years.
Mr Lloyd: “My biggest concern is I think (the Tribe Schoolies) website is a little bit misleading. They have a quote from a 2018 Schoolie. If they are a new company, how did they have a 2018 Schoolie travel with them?”.
“I am also wondering what basis they are on to be the ‘number one’ for parties. They are a new company.
“It reeks of someone trying to look bigger and more experienced than what they are.”
But Mr Cross, when asked if he was concerned about the company’s entry, said “not at all”.
“What we do on the beach doesn’t even compete with them,” he said of his beachfront festival parties for Schoolies.
“You have to buy your tickets through Schoolies.com and it is part of your (accommodation) package. The ticket is part of the program — it includes the festival, nightclub entry, everything,” Mr Cross said.
“As long as it’s a professional organisation and it’s dealing with a local person like Tim (Martin), then I think it will be great.
“That was my only concern. You don’t want to see rogue companies coming in here and taking advantage of what we do. Any event on the Gold Coast is a good thing. Just as long as it’s done properly.”
Schoolies 2019 is in Surfers Paradise from November 16 to 23.
Police Assistant Commissioner Brian Wilkins said the police would work closely with all services providers in the lead up and during Schoolies to ensure safety of those attending.
His goal was to make sure kids got home safe and police would work with whoever is organising events to make sure of it.
“We work in very close partnership with the organisers and it’s about building relationships with the kids, Schoolies has turned around. Five years ago the kids and the cops were very confrontational, now the kids are coming up and wanting selfies with the cops, which is fantastic,” Mr Wilkins said.
“We’re there to look after them ... there’s over a thousand volunteers there to look after them.
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