| | | | | | | | |  | | TOURISM AUSTRALIA UPDATE | | Registrations are open for our annual ‘Destination Australia’ conference. For 2024, the theme is ‘The next chapter for sustainable growth’. The conference will provide an opportunity to come together and focus on the future of Australian tourism – in the year we hope we will exceed 2019 levels of visitation and spend. As we reach this milestone, not only can we stop using pre COVID figures as a reference point, we can evolve the conversation around what the sustainable growth of Australian tourism looks like, as we enter the next phase for our industry. Karl Stefanovic will be our MC to guide proceedings, and the conference will include industry leaders and topic experts sharing evolving trends and talking about key areas of focus. The conference will take place on Wednesday 13 March 2024 at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney. More updates on the agenda and guest speakers will be provided in the coming months. Register to attend here. Awards season is in full swing – congrats to all award winners, finalists and indeed all participants. I’m so enjoying seeing the celebrations through media and socials. With all the challenges thrown at our industry, it’s fabulous to see the success and celebrations too. Phillipa Harrison | | |
| | | | | | Tourism Australia ACTIVITY | | | | |  | | Save the Date: Tourism Australia's Key Events for 2024 | | Tourism Australia's events provide an opportunity for the Australian tourism industry to meet with distribution partners, qualified Aussie specialists and Business Events planners from Australia's key international markets. In 2024, Tourism Australia will host the following events for Industry: - Destination Australia Conference: 13 March 2024 - Sydney Darling Harbour/Tumbalong
- Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE24): 19 to 23 May 2024 - Melbourne/Narrm
- Australia Marketplace Japan: 26 to 27 August 2024 - Location TBC
- Australia Marketplace Korea: 29 to 30 August 2024 - Seoul
- Australia Next (previously known as Dreamtime): 8 to 11 September 2024 - Cairns/Gimuy
- G'day Australia: mid-October 2024 - Location TBC
- Australia Marketplace United Kingdom & Europe: mid-November 2024 - London
For further information on upcoming industry events, visit the Industry Events Calendar. As communicated earlier in the year, our Australia Marketplace events will now be run on a biennial basis. Australia Marketplace South East Asia, Australia Marketplace India, Australia Marketplace North America and Australia Marketplace China will return in 2025 (Financial Year 25/26). | |
| | | | | | | |  | | ICCA Congress in Bangkok | | Tourism Australia’s Business Events Australia team attended the 62nd ICCA Congress with global industry leaders in Bangkok last week, giving valuable time to discuss and brainstorm the issues the business events sector faces and looking for global solutions. There was a strong Team Australia representation, as part of 1,100 delegates from 80 countries. Robin Mack, Executive General Manager, Commercial and Business Events Australia joined the “Asia Pacific Meetings Industry Journey in the Global Arena” panel moderated by Caitlin Skinner from Business Events Perth. It was an interesting discussion around the benefits of hosting association events in our part of the world. The conference theme was ‘it starts with us’ and encouraged the sharing of ideas to shape the future of association congresses. The event was designed to amplify engagement, networking, and innovation, and delivered productive discussions and knowledge exchange amongst attendees. | | |  | | Singapore Airlines and Tourism Australia Memorandum of Understanding | | Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Tourism Australia have reaffirmed their longstanding commercial ties by signing a new multi-year strategic marketing deal to jointly promote leisure tourism to Australia. The three-year agreement will see the two parties provide joint funding to promote travel from a number of key inbound markets including the United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, India and Indonesia. It is an extension of an existing partnership that sees collaboration to promote Australia as a premier tourism destination. The renewed agreement highlights the importance of Australia in the Airline’s global network at this critical time when international travel is continuing to rebuild and return to growth. This follows a separate agreement between Tourism Australia and Singapore Airlines, signed earlier this year, aimed at promoting business events travel to Australia. | | | | | | | |  | | Minister Don Farrell meets with United Executives at APEC, San Francisco | | Australia’s Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell, recently met with Chris Allison (Vice President, The Americas at Tourism Australia) and senior executives at United Airlines last week at the APEC Conference, which was held in San Francisco. The group discussed the critical importance of the United States traveller to Australian tourism, the significant capacity increases across United’s routes into Australia during 2023, and the airline’s ongoing commitment to Australia as a key strategic market across its international network. | | |  | | ‘Come and Say G’day’ roadshow sharing Australian experiences in Indonesia | | Tourism Australia’s Aussie Specialist Program team in Indonesia, Qantas Airways, and five State and Territory Tourism Organisation partners recently hosted a ‘Come and Say G’Day’ Roadshow in Jakarta and Surabaya. Attended by a total of 150 travel agents, the roadshow saw Destination New South Wales, Visit Victoria, South Australia Tourism Commission, Tourism Western Australia, and Tourism and Events Queensland join forces to conduct a comprehensive training session and thematic state-pairing itinerary exercise with the agents. Feedback from the agents was highly positive, with the roadshow equipping them with more knowledge of participating states, enabling them to engage their partners and consumers in deeper conversations about Australia’s destination highlights. | | | | | | | |  | | Register for Tourism Australia’s December Industry Webinar | | The Tourism Australia Industry Webinar will take place on Friday 15 December at 11am AEDT. This will be our final webinar for 2023 and along with an update from Tourism Australia, we will be joined by our Chief Marketing Officer, Susan Coghill, who will give an update on our ‘Come and Say G’day’ marketing campaign. Register to attend. | | |  | | Japanese Vlogger shows off Australia | | Japanese YouTuber ‘Miku’, travelled to Australia on the International Media Hosting program last month. The aim of her trip was to promote Virgin Australia’s new flight between Tokyo Haneda and Cairns with its convenient domestic connections. Tourism Australia, with the support of Virgin Australia, Tourism and Events Queensland, and Visit Victoria hosted Miku who travelled widely from Cairns/Gimuy, to the Daintree, Port Douglas, Great Barrier Reef, to Melbourne/Narrm, Yarra Valley, and Geelong. The Vlog she produced features on her YouTube channel, which has over 520k subscribers, highlights Australia’s natural attractions, wildlife, sustainability focus, Indigenous experiences, and food and drink she experienced on her trip. Miku’s trip Vlog has reached over 210k viewers so far. | | | | | | | | | |  | | Vacayit unveils groundbreaking accessible audio player for enhanced SEO | | Vacayit, a Brisbane/Meeanjin-based startup dedicated to making the digital landscape more inclusive, has announced the launch of its latest audio player. This innovative new tool transforms how websites engage with audio content, with an integrated transcript significantly enhancing SEO. Designed for compatibility with screen readers, intuitive hotkey control, and automated transcription, it marks a substantial step in making audio content more discoverable to those who are blind or have low vision. Destinations and tourism products interested in making their websites more accessible by integrating audio content can find more information here. | | |  | | John Brown, Former Tourism Minister, offers sneak peek of 'Brownie' at Tourism Australia | | Last week, Tourism Australia had the pleasure of hosting the Honourable John Brown AO, former Minister for Sport, Recreation, and Tourism, famous for the iconic Paul Hogan Come Say G'day ads of the 80s. Brown, a key figure in shaping Australia's tourism landscape, offered a lively sneak peek into his soon-to-be released book, Brownie – The Minister of Good Times. The book delves into his journey from a working-class Sydney suburb to becoming a confidante of Prime Minister the late Bob Hawke, shedding light on how he, alongside the Australian Tourism Commission, transformed global perceptions of Australia. The book also recounts how Brown, alongside his Prime Minister, revolutionised Australia’s sporting scene. Preorder the book here now. | | | | | | | | | |  | | Gold Coast’s HOTA to host premiere sneakers exhibition | | Contemporary cultural precinct HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast has announced the Australian premiere of Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street. The Australian exclusive, summer exhibition explores one of the most universal design objects, bought and worn by millions of people worldwide every day. Presenting over 400 objects, including over 200 shoes, process material, photography, posters, videos and artworks, the exhibition charts the design and cultural journey of sneakers. Looking towards a future of sustainable footwear, the exhibition also shines a light on the designers working to make this industry change. | | |  | | Virgin Australia resumes direct flights to Uluru | | Virgin Australia this week announced a return to Uluru, expanding the airline's domestic network with two new direct services connecting the iconic destination with Melbourne and Brisbane, starting 6 June 2024 and 7 June 2024 respectively. It will be the first time Virgin Australia has ever operated Uluru services from Brisbane and Melbourne. Flights between Brisbane - Uluru will operate three times per week, while Melbourne - Uluru services will operate up to four times per week. The new services will inject more than 62,000 seats per year to the Red Centre, connecting tourists directly to the spiritual heartland of Australia. | | | | | | | |  | | Morgan Hipworth to launch new Melbourne/Narrm eatery | | Opening in Melbourne/Narrm this December, Maven is set to be the new culinary destination by Morgan Hipworth. Preparing to integrate into the fabric of the vibrant Fitzroy dining scene, Maven will greet the early risers with contemporary breakfast dishes, delight the lunch crowd with a mix of classics reinterpreted, and invite diners to indulge in evening feasts three to four nights a week. Working alongside Hipworth, Co-Head Chef Daniel Neytha (Lona Misa), will lead the kitchen and bring their collaborative culinary expertise across key dishes like a classic Roast Chicken, Duck Waffles, Slow-Roasted Lamb, Crispy Pork Sandwich, and Chilli Scramble. With interior design by Studio Esteta, Maven boasts thoughtfully designed interiors reflecting a harmony of rustic charm and contemporary flair. | | |  | | Applejack Hospitality to take up residency at URBNSURF Sydney | | Earlier this year leading Sydney/Warrane-based hospitality group Applejack Hospitality revealed their partnership with URBNSURF Sydney, the first-ever surf park in NSW opening in Autumn 2024. Ahead of launch, the hospitality group has revealed the highly anticipated food and beverage offerings that will make the surf park an exciting culinary destination, including a premium restaurant, an all-day casual eatery, and multiple event spaces. As part of the space, Applejack’s hatted North Sydney restaurant RAFI is launching its second location, the 200-seater RAFI URBNSURF Sydney. Downstairs at URBNSURF Sydney will house Sandy's, a casual surfside all-day eatery as well as ‘Surf Suite’, a multi-purpose events room with food and beverages catered by RAFI. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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