Qantas competition winners enjoy Oasis swagger and corporate hospitality at Accor Stadium

The Oasis swagger set the tone as 15 lucky travel advisors enjoyed an evening of Noel and Liam Gallagher on a steamy Saturday night in Sydney, thanks to Qantas.

The winning agents entered an Australia-wide competition earlier this year, which required competitors to book flights to the UK for their customers and answer, in 25 words or fewer, why they should be chosen to see Oasis ’25 at Accor Stadium in Sydney in the comfort of a corporate box. The most creative or unique entries were judged. There were bonus entries for those who completed the “Qantas and VisitBritain” Learning Hub module.

“Because maybeee they’ll be the ones to save meeee, I don’t want to look back in anger because I didn’t go, we don’t live forever!” wrote winner Lauren, from Flight Centre, playing on the lyrics of just a few of the Manchester band’s hit lyrics.

Reece, from Windsong Travel, wrote in his submission: “I am from Manchester originally and I grew up listening to Oasis. This would be an experience I would remember forever.”

The winners came from across Australia, such as Quentin from Martini Travel in Perth and Rut, stepping in for a colleague, who organises study tours with Reho in Melbourne. They were hosted by Qantas’ Kathryn Robertson, Executive Manager Global Sales & Distribution, Peter Ross, Senior Manager Corporate Agencies, and joined by Peta Evans, Trade Engagement Lead – Australia & New Zealand from VisitBritain.

With the roar of the crowd, Oasis opened and Liam lasted around 40 minutes before his voice gave out with Noel taking to the instrumental guitar with a Talk Tonight solo. Liam returned three songs later with D’You Know What I Mean, no doubt much to the relief of Noel, our 15 advisers and the crowd of 80,000.

After a night of raucous singalongs and dancing in the corporate box, plus some quirky commentary from Liam about “Blossom the possum” and guitar riffs from Noel on stage, guests stayed the night in Sydney courtesy of the Accor Handwritten Collection hotels. Following their overnight stay, five of the luckiest of the 15 advisors also won the opportunity to head off on their own QF1 flight, including Reece and Lauren, to the UK the following day, perhaps to enjoy their own Champagne Supernova in the sky on QF1.

The trip will include a tour of Manchester, the home of Oasis, as part of their prize, courtesy of VisitBritain. Reece told Travel Weekly that despite growing up in the area, he still intends to take the guided tour around his old home town.

“I’ve never done it, so may as well,” he said, perhaps pointing out the primary school he went to when Oasis were at their early 2000s peak.

In fact, Lauren admitted that she wasn’t even born when Oasis were at No. 1.

All we can say is, Don’t look back in anger.

And the winners are…

Names in bold signify top 5 winners heading to the UK.