Essentials this week… | John O’Sullivan bids farewell | Queensland Conversations with Industry | GoPro Creator Summit 2019 | Adventure tourism | and more…

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26 June 2019     As I enter my last week as the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Tourism Australia, I wanted to use my last edition of Essentials to write and say thank you so much to each of you. The Tourism Industry is one of the great industries in our country. You are resilient, you are diverse and you have been the growth story of the economy for much of the last 8 years. You are the overnight sensation that has been 50 years in the making! To have been part of this industry in the MD role over the last 5 years has been one of my greatest experiences. Thank you so much for your support of Tourism Australia. As I have always said, Tourism Australia is the platform on which your story is told to the rest of the world. We are not the drivers of growth for the industry – you are. We are here to tell your story in our 15 core markets. And what a story of unique experiences, wonderful people, amazing landscapes, delicious food & wine and unique wildlife it is. Every time I have had the opportunity to tell this story abroad, I have realised just how lucky Tourism Australia is to be able to share it with the world. Since the Dundee campaign in early 2018, Tourism Australia has made a pivot in bringing to life our industry through our people – not only Chris Hemsworth and Danny McBride - but also our wonderful indigenous peoples and of course you, the industry. Over the coming months, you will see us go even harder on our unique way of life and philosophy of living. We believe that this way of life is so unique to the rest of the world that it’s a core competitive advantage. Our people and our nature is what makes us unique. In closing, I would like to take the opportunity to thank Ministers Birmingham, Ciobo, Robb and Colbeck and their teams for their great support. I have had three Chairs in this role - Geoff Dixon, Tony South and Bob East - and I would like to acknowledge them and all of the current and past members of the Tourism Australia Board. And finally, a huge thank you to the staff of Tourism Australia - who tell your story, every day, all around the world. Thank you again, it’s been a privilege to serve you. Kind regards JOS

TOURISM AUSTRALIA NEWS  GoPro Creator Summit 2019 to come Down Under The diverse landscapes of the Kimberley region are set to capture the imagination of the world’s best digital content creators when Western Australia hosts the GoPro Creator Summit 2019 from 4-8 August. Up to 40 content creators will attend the Summit in Broome for four days of unforgettable tourism experiences and hands-on product training in the Kimberley region, with their adventures shared online with tens of millions of followers. Tourism Australia Managing Director, John O’Sullivan, said the partnership will allow Australia to leverage GoPro’s highly engaged online network of ‘selfie-stick’ travellers and provide a powerful tool to help sell Australia to the world. Australian adventure tourism on show in North America Over 250 American travel professionals and media gathered at ATTA's AdventureELEVATE conference in Lake George, New York this month. Australia’s adventure experiences were presented to delegates with a special emphasis on the Signature Experiences of Australia including: Great Fishing Adventures of Australia, Great Walks of Australia, Discover Aboriginal Experiences, and Australian Wildlife Journeys. Strong interest was received from delegates to include Australia in their programs as well as from media. Australian premium experiences in the NY market Australian premium experiences were promoted at an intimate gathering of luxury travel advisors in New York City last week. The event was hosted with MAPTA (Metropolitan Association of Professional Travel Agents), a membership organisation made up of New York based travel advisors and suppliers from various agencies. Advisors were educated on Signature Experiences of Australia and were particularly interested in Great Golf Courses and Great Fishing Adventures.

AUSTRALIAN STORIES  Head to the moon and back at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum, NSW To commemorate the 50th anniversary since Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, the Powerhouse Museum is hosting a cosmic exhibition dedicated to the landmark event. The Apollo 11 exhibition will feature more than 200 objects involved during the momentous 1969 space journey and other pieces exploring the science, design and historical impact of the event. Starring at the exhibition will be Luke Jerram’s iconic installation ‘Museum of the Moon’. Measuring seven metres in diameter, the intricate replica moon features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. At an approximate scale of 1:500,000, each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 5km of the moon’s surface. The Apollo 11 exhibition opens 29 June 2019 at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. Stay in pure luxury at Hepburn Springs Escape Villas, VIC Following the success of the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, Hepburn Spa Retreat has opened new state-of-the-art villas with magnificent, serene views over the surrounding native bushland. Designed for relaxation and reconnection, unwind in your exclusive in-room freestanding spa or choose from a selection of signature mineral bathing and spa experiences with all-inclusive packages available. Perched on the edge of Hepburn Regional Park on the grounds of the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa in Daylesford, Hepburn Springs Escape Villas are a one and a half hours’ drive from the Melbourne CBD. Sleep in style in the Red Centre, NT Kings Canyon Resort is set to launch six premium glamping tents, offering visitors a chance to experience Australia’s Red Centre in comfort and style. Offering modern accommodation amenities in the heart of the outback landscape, the new homestead-style glamping tents will include premium linen, air-conditioning, a private en-suite bathroom and plenty of room to relax including an outdoor deck with seating. With tent styles for both couples and families, bookings will be available from 1 July. Located in the heart of the Red Centre, Kings Canyon Resort is a one-hour plane charter from Uluru or a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Alice Springs. Indulge in a feast for the senses at the 2019 Truffle Festival, ACT Savour the flavours and aromas of heavenly truffle creations at the iconic Truffle Festival when it returns to the Canberra Region for 2019. Running throughout the entire truffle season from 1 – 31 July, the Festival will offer an exciting program of events and experiences. Join a truffle hunt at nearby truffle farms, learn from accomplished chefs at a cooking class or explore the markets and buy your own black truffle gems.  From humble beginnings, the Festival has grown to an annual celebration of the Canberra region in winter, highlighting the delicious food and wine experiences perfect for cold-weather indulgence. To book a truffle experience, visitors can contact the participating venues direct ahead of their visit.

INDUSTRY NEWS AND EVENTS  Advance Program applications open Applications are open until 1 July for the 2019/20 Advance Program. The program offers the Australian business events industry the opportunity to leverage Tourism Australia’s international marketing expertise to grow the number of delegates to confirmed business events taking place in Australia as well as the number of international business events secured for Australia. Tourism Australia’s dedicated business events unit Business Events Australia manages the program. Conversations with Queensland industry Registration is open for Tourism & Events Queensland's Conversations with Industry events on the Gold Coast on Thursday 11 July and in Brisbane on Friday 2 August. Tourism Australia is taking part in the TEQ event series providing updates on its international marketing activities and consumer insights. Australia Marketplace China 2019 Seller applications are open until Tuesday 16 July for Australia Marketplace China 2019, formerly known as the Greater China Travel Mission (GCTM). The event will be held in Chengdu from 11 to 15 November and includes pre-scheduled appointments between buyers and sellers, and opportunities to network at the official event functions. Australia Marketplace China is an opportunity for the Australian tourism industry to establish business relationships with key qualified travel agencies and tour operators from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. AMC19 will be followed by the Australia Premium Showcase China for which applications will be by invitation only. Survey results from GCTM 2017 held in Guangzhou found that 100% of buyers and sellers were satisfied with the program.  Dreamtime 2019 Seller applications are open until Friday 5 July for Dreamtime 2019, Tourism Australia’s signature business events showcase held every two years. Hosted in Perth from 1 to 3 December in partnership with the Perth Convention Bureau, the event will provide an opportunity to meet and do business with 120 qualified international business events decision makers and international trade media from ten key markets. The program includes a full-day of face-to-face pre-scheduled appointments as well as networking events. Survey results from Dreamtime 2017 held in Brisbane found that 100% of buyers and 99% of sellers were satisfied with the program.

NEWS IN BRIEF    Tourism Australia’s 2017/18 Annual Report received a Silver Award in the 2019 Australasian Reporting Awards. Registration is open for the VIC Tourism Conference on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 July in Geelong. Nominations are open until 26 July for the Queensland Government’s Young Tourism Leaders program. A call for papers is open until Friday 31 July for the Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism Conference to be held from 2 to 4 December in Cairns.     Registration is open for the DestinationQ 2019 Events Conference on Tuesday 6th August in Cloncurry, Outback Queensland. Registration is open for the 2019 Regional Events Conference to be held in Dubbo NSW from Wednesday 4 to Friday 6 September. Registration is open for ATEC Meeting Place to be held from Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 November in Brisbane. Registration is open for Australia’s first ever Wellness Tourism Summit to be held on 19 and 20 March 2020 in Noosa.

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