International coup for FGI Sydney

Some of the globe's most influential fashion faces will soon be seen around Sydney after the city was awarded the rights to stage Fashion Group International's 2007 international conference.
The announcement follows months of successful lobbying by the group's Sydney arm, culminating in a fly-by-night trip to FGI international headquarters in New York to plead its case in person.
It is understood the bid, favoured over other delegations thought to include the US and Columbia, was approved by board members in a unanimous decision by panelists included executives from the New York Design Centre, Saks Fifth Avenue, USVogue and Sears Roebuck.
FGI Sydney regional director Dominic Beirne said the win was a momentous victory as it marked the first time in the group's 76-year history that the conference, to be held next November, has been staged outside the northern hemisphere.
Beirne said the delegation's case was strengthened by the presence of Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia (TFIA) executive director Ashley Van Krieken who spoke in support of the Australian bid.
Past conferences had shown it cost around $US3000 ($A3990) and $US4000 ($A5321) per delegate to stage the four-day conference.
With between 100 and 250 guests expected to attend the event, that equated to a significant amount of money that would be poured directly into the Sydney economy, Beirne said.
"We are expecting solid headquarters' board representation at the conference and we will be targeting the full international membership to combine the conference with a holiday down-under," he said.
Beirne said having already received support from business partners including Tourism Australia, the NSW department of State and Regional Development and Sydney City Council, during the bidding process, FGI Sydney would now be seeking further financial assistance to help it put the conference together.
Previous conferences have been held in London, Paris, New York and Toronto.