In this edition:
Industry opportunities
Quick snippets
Industry gongs
People on the move
Events
G'day! Enjoy your stay! Good news story
Campaign entices visitors to have a whale of a time on Fraser Coast
A new $330,000 tourism marketing campaign focused on promoting whale watching on the Fraser Coast has been rolled out across South East Queensland. Tourism Queensland's Fraser Coast Whale Watching campaign runs until October and has been coordinated in partnership with Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism and 26 local operators. The campaign features, print, TV and online components. For the first time a live twitter feed will also feature on the whalesherveybay.com site where operators can tweet about sightings and whale facts. For more information on whale watching on the Fraser Coast click here.
Where's Ben this week?
Ben Southall has been busy in the Fraser Coast region for the ‘Return of the Whales- Launch of the Hervey Bay Whale Watch Season’. While in the region he participated in a ‘tag along’ 4WD tour on Fraser Island and visiting Lake McKenzie. To read more on Ben’s activities go to the Island Reef Job blog.
More news
For the latest media releases from Queensland Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor, click here.
Industry opportunities
- NEW! Tourism Queensland’s International Market Briefings RSVP – 8 October
Tourism Queensland’s International Regional Directors will be on the ground in Queensland in October for the International Market Briefings. The briefings are open to anyone in the industry wanting insights into key international markets. You don't have to already 'play' in the international space to attend. If you’re looking to expand, these sessions offer you a chance to listen and talk with market experts. Tourism Queensland encourages anyone interested to participate. Sessions are as follows:
Brisbane - 22 October, Holiday Inn 8.20am - 2.00pm
Whitsundays - 25 October, Coral Sea Resort, Airlie Beach 12.45pm - 5.00pm
Cairns - 27 October, Shangri-La, Cairns 11.50am - 6.00pm
The day will start with market briefings by each of the international regional directors followed by round table sessions. RSVP by 8 October to Tash Petrolati.
- NEW! Queensland on Stage Eastern Hemisphere - 20 October
Tourism Queensland in partnership with Tourism Tropical North Queensland will host 'Queensland on Stage Eastern Hemisphere 2010'. A one-day workshop will be held on Wednesday 20 October at the Cairns Convention Centre followed by an evening function at the Cairns Wildlife Dome and Pullman Reef Hotel Casino. Approximately 100 key travel trade participants are expected to attend the workshop looking for new and exciting experiences and products to sell in their markets. Buyers are anticipated from Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, India, Singapore, Malaysia, India and the Middle East. For a prospectus click here or email Alison Saunders.
- NEW! 2010 Outback Queensland Tourism Awards call for nominations
The Outback Queensland Tourism Association has announced that nominations are now open for the '2010 Outback Queensland Tourism Awards'. The awards are to be held on 30 October, hosted by the Winton community. The awards are open to all members of the Outback Queensland Tourism Association. There are 17 award categories, to read more about the categories and to nominate contact Melanie Avery.
- NEW! Wildlife Tourism Conference - 1 - 3 September
Australia’s wildlife is a huge draw card for international tourists. 'Wild Benefits', a national conference at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary 1 – 3 September will explore the economic and social benefits of wildlife-related tourism (wildlife in the wild, in zoos, at farmstays, in the sea etc.) and ways to ensure adverse effects from tourism is minimised. To submit an abstract or for more information contact Ronda Green or click here.
- NEW! Savannah Symposium call for papers – 1 and 2 November
Join Northern Australian community leaders, service providers and visionaries exploring 'Doing Sustainable Business in the Bush'. Community, water, conservation and tourism will be the four themes discussed at the symposium. Contact Russell Boswell for more information or click here to read more
- Conversations with TQ Whitsundays and Mackay - 4 and 5 August
Tourism Queensland will hold a “Conversations with TQ” in the Whitsundays on Wednesday 4 August and in Mackay on Thursday 5 August. The forum gives Tourism Queensland the opportunity to hear from industry and is also a chance for industry to hear more on Tourism Queensland’s strategic direction for 2010/11. The Whitsundays event will be held at the Coral Sea Resort in Airlie Beach on 4 August from 8.45am-1.00pm and in Mackay at Ocean International Hotel on 5 August from 8.45-1.00pm. Both events will be followed by a light lunch. RSVP to Sarah Power +61 7 3535 5255.
- Downunder Travel Bulletin feature – 11 August
The Downunder Travel Bulletin is running a 'Keeping an Eye on Queensland’ feature on 11 August made up of eight product news segments - placed around a map of Queensland. Each segment is being offered to Queensland suppliers with export ready developments for $595 plus GST. The Downunder Travel Bulletin is a fortnightly inbound tourism focused trade publication both hardcopy and online with over 4000 international industry subscribers. For additional information email +61 2 9967 4070 or click here.
- Climate Smart Business programs – August 2010 to March 2011
Looking to reduce your business' carbon footprint but don’t know where to start? Two Mackay-based companies have successfully applied for funding under Department of Environment and Resource Management's Climate Smart Business initiative. The funds will provide small businesses in the Whitsundays and Mackay regions with an opportunity to carbon benchmark at a subsidised cost. Participation costs $275 (a saving of $500) and includes an independent site visit, resources and assistance on identifying emissions. Businesses will attend three workshops and receive a certificate for their involvement. The program begins in August 2010 and ends March 2011. The deadline for registrations is 30 July and space is limited. Contact Jane Turner +61 7 4944 0688.
- South Queensland Tourism Industry Conference – 3 - 4 November
In its sixth year, the 2010 South Queensland Tourism Industry Conference (formerly the South East Queensland Country Conference) is being held at Picnic Point in Toowoomba on 3 - 4 November. The conference is an opportunity to develop your skills while networking with industry operators, Visitor Information Centre staff and leading industry delegates. For more information, contact Jayne Kidd +61 7 3893 1988.
- Queensland on Tour India - November and December
Queensland on Tour India will take place from Monday 22 November to Friday 3 December. The tour will be in two modules with module one visiting Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai from Monday 22 November to Saturday 27 November, and module two including Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Hydrabad and Bangalore from Monday 29 November to Friday 3 December. For more information contact Paul Buggy.
Quick snippets
- Tourism Queensland’s key decision makers met with Sunshine Coast operators in Caloundra last week to discuss tourism priorities for the region during the year ahead. The ‘Conversations with TQ’ forum at Rumba Beach Resort in Caloundra was an opportunity for Tourism Queensland’s management team to hear first-hand from the Sunshine Coast tourism industry and for the industry to learn about Tourism Queensland’s strategic direction for 2010/11. Attendees heard from specialists in key areas, such as brand and marketing, aviation, research, communications and publicity, industry development and international markets.
- Don’t forget to take a look at The Big Marketing Guide on www.tq.com.au. The guide is full of practical tips and examples of how tourism businesses can sell themselves to visitors, both here in Australia and around the world. A Grants Guide is also available on the website and helps operators understand government grants and how to apply. The Big Marketing Guide is available at www.tq.com.au/bigmarketingguide, while the Grants Guide can be found at www.tq.com.au/tad.
- Queensland Events is offering a free website makeover for one lucky regional event. The only catch is that you will have to share the experience at QERDP10 (Queensland Events Regional Development Program for 2010). To be part of this opportunity Queensland Events is asking all Queensland-based regional event organisers to evaluate their event website and in 50 words or less explain how the website would benefit from a website makeover. All answers will need to include;
* a current web address
* what would you change about your event website and why?
* features would you like on your event website (eg Twitter, Facebook etc.)
Please include your name and position with your answer. You will need to be available leading up to the conference in November and to attend QERDP10 in Rockhampton on 12–14 November. Nominations to be emailed to info@qerdpconference.com.au by 28 July. The successful applicant will be notified by 13 August 2010.
Industry gongs
- Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays has been named as one of the best eco friendly beaches in the world by news network CNN.com. To read more click here.
People on the move
- After nearly 22 years in the backpacking industry in Cairns Brett Claxton has stood down as chairman of Backpacking Queensland.
- Stuart Perry has been appointed General Manager Toowoomba and Golden West Regional Tourist Association.
- Brisbane Marketing currently has two positions available Media and Communications Advisor: Investment Attraction and Convention Bureau and Media and Communications Advisor: Leisure Tourism. To read more and apply click here.
- Hideaway Resorts have appointed Karen Taylor as Group General Manager, Claudia McFadden as Director of Sales, and David Henry has returned to Dunk Island as General Manager.
- UnderWater World on the Sunshine Coast is looking for a new Marketing Manager. For more information email shark@underwaterworld.com.au.
For employment opportunities at Tourism Queensland please visit Opportunities at TQ.
Events
- Hervey Bay Whale Festival
7 August, Hervey bay
Click here for more information.
- Diamantina Open Golf Championship
14 - 15 August, Winton
Click here for more information.
- Fraser Lions Hervey Bay Seafood Festival
15 August, Hervey Bay
Click here for more information.
- Sacred Drum Circle with Native American Peace Ambassador J. Reuben Silverbird
31 August, Gold Coast
Click here for more information.
All events listed are sourced from the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW). To list your event of leisure tourism potential in the ATDW and gain exposure on a broad network of consumer websites, go to www.tq.com.au/atdwevents.
G'Day! Enjoy your stay! Good news story
Donna Kramer from the AOT Group received some great feedback from a couple who won a Sunlover holiday in the Tropical North Queensland region:
“We have just come from a wonderful holiday - thank you all so much. The resorts were beautiful, the staff at Lakes Cairns and Paradise Palms were welcoming and made our stay enjoyable. The Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail trips were magical. We got a history lesson as well as a bird’s eye view of the rainforest. We also took a trip to the reef and again, what an experience - beautiful colours, squillions of fish and coral all in warm water! The service provided by Down Under Tours and Quicksilver was second to none. They picked us up at our door and delivered us back again in the afternoon. The drivers made these trips more enjoyable because of their informative commentary. Cairns is wonderful and everything is pitched at the holiday experience. All of the locals are full of information and are prepared to go that extra mile to make visitors stays memorable. We recommend it to anyone, especially at this time of year. We thank you all for the opportunity to spend time in the warm and hospitable Cairns. We would also like to thank all the staff in your office as well as Donna from Sunlover Holidays for their assistance in making everything so easy to organise.
Les and Louise Burgett"
Tourism On Q is always of the look out for good news stories that exemplify the G'day! Enjoy your stay! visitor hospitality campaign. Please share your story about going above and beyond the call of duty for a tourist by emailing Tourism On Q.
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