US Art Deco lover wins her dream trip to Napier

Louise Ross (right) of Miami gives a delighted thumbs-up after being told by Sally Jackson she would be heading Napier's way next month.

There is a resident of Miami, Florida, who has hardly stopped smiling for the past fortnight.

Louise Ross, who is a devotee of all things Art Deco and who never misses the annual Miami Art Deco Weekend, is set to head downunder for the first time in her life for an event she has long dreamed of one day attending - the Tremains Art Deco Weekend.

"It has long been her dream and it is now about to come true," Art Deco Trust general manager Sally Jackson said.

Ms Ross entered a competition for a trip to Napier and the experience of Art Deco celebrations, Kiwi-style.

She won, and has since found it difficult to keep the smile off her face.

"She was so super excited," Mrs Jackson said.

"She loves Art Deco and has heard all about our big weekend - now she is going to see it for herself."

Being able to stage the competition, as well as stage a display and lectures about Napier's Art Deco events during the Miami Art Deco Weekend had been made possible by the "invaluable" support the trust had received through the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, Mrs Jackson said.

"We were able to present what we had to thousands of people and I think we are going to see some very good international visitor figures from it."

The trust also received support for its Miami expedition from Air New Zealand and a leading American tourism agency.

The Miami Art Deco Weekend was staged from January 15 to 17 and had the tag-line 'The Art in Architecture'.

The event is driven by the Miami Design Preservation League which is a non-profit organisation devoted to preserving and promoting the unique architecture of the Miami Beach district.

The Tremains Art Deco Weekend is being staged between February 18 and 22 with big crowds again expected.

Ticket sales had been strong and in several cases were ahead of last year's event which drew more than 35,000 people and was regarded as a record-setter.