Essentials this week… Domestic Aussie Specialist Program launch | Virtual Australia Marketplace events | Business Events Australia Advance Program and more….

Having trouble reading? View online version 20 May 2020 TOURISM AUSTRALIA UPDATE We had a great weekend with the launch of Live from Aus on Friday night on Network 10 with the Love Australia Project, then a full weekend of live streaming events on our social media channels. Close to 1.3 million people tuned into the Love Australia Project and over 50 million people in more than 40 countries saw the Live from Aus campaign on our social platforms. The Live from Aus videos have been viewed over 12 million times and continue to generate views around the world. The campaign also generated over 1,600 articles globally online and in print. If you missed any of the segments, or want to revisit any of your favourite videos, you can catch up on the live streams here. We are also continuing our live-streaming program on Tourism Australia’s Facebook page this week, so make sure you check it out. This week’s webinar will include an update from Simon McGrath, Chief Operating Officer, Accor Hotels Pacific, who will share an industry perspective on what restarting and recovery will look like in a post-coronavirus (COVID-19) world, as well as his thoughts on potential opportunities and innovation for the industry moving forward. We will also be joined by Peter Harbison, Chairman Emeritus at CAPA – Centre for Aviation. Peter will be giving an update on the global aviation situation, how that relates to the Australian tourism industry, and provide some insights on what things might look like moving forward. Tourism Australia’s Global Manager for Public Relations, Emma Sturgiss, will also be giving an update on our PR activities. Register here.  Phillipa Harrison Aussie Specialist Program launches in Australia Tourism Australia has launched a local version of the Aussie Specialist Program, providing a free online training resource for frontline travel sellers in Australia. The program has been designed to equip agents with relevant information and showcase destinations and experiences within Australia. It offers interactive training modules, itinerary suggestions, fact sheets, the latest industry news and email updates covering what’s new in Australian tourism. Further information is available at: www.tourism.australia.com/aussiespecialist.  Tourism AUSTRALIA activity Marketplace events to be transformed into virtual trade shows Tourism Australia is transforming the Australia Marketplace North America and Australia Marketplace UK & Europe into virtual trade shows in 2020. Both events will have a revised format and Australia Marketplace North America will take place from 20 to 22 October 2020 and Australia Marketplace UK & Europe from 10 to 12 November 2020. Further details will be released shortly. Corroboree Asia, scheduled to take place in Darwin in August 2020, has been postponed due to COVID-19. Tourism Australia and Tourism NT are currently working together to confirm alternative dates.  Podcasting in Germany and France Tourism Australia in Germany produced two podcasts to support bushfire recovery messaging with the help from Australian tourism industry representatives explaining first-hand how quickly nature recovers and how operators reacted flexibly with new routes. The two podcasts have been downloaded more than 10,000 times. In France, Tourism Australia recently invited French listeners, on the travel podcast channel 1001decouvertes.com, to learn and dream about Australia during lockdown. The podcast attracts an average of 1,500 listeners per week with more than 40,000 registered users. The podcast is also distributed via the travel industry media outlet Tourmag, which has more than 30,000 users.  Applications closing soon for the Business Events Australia Advance Program Applications for Tourism Australia’s Business Events Australia Advance Program 2020-21 will close on 1 June 2020. The Advance Program is a partnership marketing initiative that provides financial assistance to support marketing and distribution activity that drives international business events to Australia or delegate boosting activity for confirmed international business events. For more information see the Advance Program Prospectus.  Business Events Australia’s Australia Next magazine goes digital Tourism Australia’s dedicated business events unit, Business Events Australia, has launched the first digital edition of its self-published magazine Australia Next in New Zealand. The magazine offers event planners bite-sized inspiration for Australian incentive events. Tailored digital editions for other key business events markets will be launched in the coming months. Tourism Industry News Free Trade Agreements Digital Seminars Austrade and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are hosting a 12-part Free Trade Agreement digital seminar series. Senator the Hon. Simon Birmingham, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment is kicking off the first one on Tuesday 26 May at 11am. The seminars are targeted at Australian exporters and those businesses seeking to export. Join the webinar to hear an update on the current state of play and the importance of operating in a free trade environment; learn about the financial support initiatives for exporters; and understand the Australian Government's economic response to COVID-19. Register here. Export Finance Australia supporting Australian exporters As the Government’s export credit agency, Export Finance Australia provides a range of loans and guarantees for exporters including tourism businesses. If you have had unexpected challenges such as payment difficulties or business interruptions and are unable to secure finance with your bank due to COVID-19, Export Finance Australia may be able to assist. Whether you are a small business or a large enterprise, they could help. Speak to Export Finance Australia’s experienced team on 1800 093 724 or visit exportfinance.gov.au/COVID19.  Southern Gold Coast shoutout Three operators on the Southern Gold Coast have teamed up to film this video for their trade partners, letting them know they are thinking about them and to giving an update on what’s going on while they have been closed due to COVID-19. Hear an update from Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Tropical Fruit World and Jellurgal Aboriginal and Cultural Centre and watch the video here. Qantas and Jetstar announce Fly Well and Flexibility measures Qantas and Jetstar are rolling out a series of wellbeing improvements to give peace-of-mind to customers at each point of their journey in preparation for domestic travel restrictions easing. The ‘Fly Well’ program brings together a number of temporary measures already in use by the Qantas Group, including on repatriation flights and represents a combination of best-practice medical advice and feedback from customers. Qantas and Jetstar have also introduced a range of flexibility options for customers to give them confidence when they book.  Australian Stories  Learn the tricks of the trade from Australian drink connoisseurs To coincide with Museum Week, a worldwide festival for cultural institutions on social media, Cultural Attractions of Australia (CAOA) has created a virtual travel page showcasing the digital offering of its members, some of Australia’s truly iconic cultural attractions. Showcasing many world firsts, as well as revisiting great cultural moments, viewers can dip into interviews, watch an opera, visit a gallery or check out memorabilia from great sporting heroes all in the one place. CAOA is also currently running a series to tell the stories behind some the great storytellers who have brought its experiences to life. For new news and an insight into some of CAOA great personalities, visit the CAOA news page. Transport your tastebuds across Australia with Australia’s favourite food experts The annual Southern Highlands Pie Time festival will continue for 2020, this year in pie-solation. Hosting week-long program of virtual events including cooking classes, pie and pinot masterclasses and paddock to plate tours, people from across Australia will be encouraged to buy a pie or bake one at home in celebration. Also laying claim to a new national ‘Pie Day’ on the 1 June, Pie Time in Pie-solation will be celebrated online from 1 to 7 June. For more information on Pie Time visit www.pietime.com.au or follow Destination Southern Highlands on Facebook for updates. Explore Tasmania Wines Wine Tasmania has launched a new portal that aims to bring together the “greatest hits of Tassie wine”, streamlining the shopping process with all proceeds going directly to Tasmanian winemakers. Enabling consumers to buy direct and enjoy wines from different estates, the site will also connect people with virtual events such as virtual taste testings from winemakers and wine educators. Get to know wine producers, explore wine and buy directly Tassie winemakers at www.wine-tasmania.myshopify.com Victoria’s longest-running wine festival returns Victoria’s longest-running wine festival, Winery Walkabout, will return on Saturday 6 June 2020 after the Winemakers of Rutherglen announced this year’s festival will take place virtually. ‘Winery Walkabout the House’ will see Rutherglen wineries come together to virtually showcase the very best of north-east Victoria’s celebrated wines with online wine chats, masterclasses and live entertainment. The wine festival will bring Australia’s wine community together like never before. Instead of purchasing a ticket, participants are encouraged to purchase a Rutherglen wine pack to be enjoyed at home. tourism.australia.com Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Contact Us This email was sent to latestnews401.travel@blogger.com To ensure that you continue receiving our emails, please add usto your address book or safe list. 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