17th September 2007

FROM THE ACTING CEO'S DESK

On behalf of TTNQ I would like to congratulate Desley Boyle on her appointment as the Queensland Minister for Tourism. We sincerely thank Margaret Keech for her strong support for Tropical North Queensland and our organisation during her time as Tourism Minister and now look forward to enjoying just as strong and productive relationship as we work with Minister Boyle and her team.

We also welcome the appointment of Anthony Hayes to the role of Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Queensland ahead of a strong field of applicants. He joined TQ in 2005 as Executive Director International Operations in 2005 after many years with Qantas. Anthony currently serves as a member of the TTNQ Board and has provided valuable input to our organisation in that capacity.

And still more congratulations – to everyone involved in putting together Festival Cairns 2007. Yet again this dedicated team has provided our city and our visitors with a fantastic program full of fun and entertainment that did us all proud and really did have something for everyone. Well done and we all look forward to Festival Cairns 2008 after you’ve had a well deserved break.

David Rose Acting Chief Executive Officer

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THE LATEST NEWS

ECOTOURISM STUDY PRESENTED TO NEW MINISTER
In her first official function since being named the new Minister for Tourism Desley Boyle accepted the Scoping Study Ecotourism Opportunities in East Trinity presented to her by Acting CEO David Rose. TTNQ was commissioned by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to conduct the study which found that there was strong potential for East Trinity to fill the existing gap for half-day nature based activities and for Aboriginal enterprise development such as guided bush tucker and natural history walks.

JETSTAR INAUGURAL OSAKA FLIGHT
TTNQ Chair Stephen Olle, our Japanese Business Development Executive Lisa Monks and CPA’s Neil Quinn were passengers on the inaugural Jetstar International flight to Osaka. TTNQ is giving Jetstar and the Japanese market its full support during the initial changeover period and beyond. Haruhiko is in Japan this week for a series of sales calls with wholesalers and retail agents which will focus on promotion of the Jetstar International services. TTNQ thanks TQ and CPA for their strong support in getting key messages related to the new services into the market.

THE LATEST STATISTICS
IVS and NVS Summaries for year ending June 07 will be available on www.tropicalaustralia.com.au/corporate the NVS by Monday 24th September and the Market Snapshots by the end of September.

ELLA BAY RESORT LAUNCH
Acting CEO David Rose attended the official launch of the Satori Resorts Little Cove at Ella Bay last week and welcomed the company’s investment in our destination which will add further to the diversity of environments and experiences on offer here. Satrori are a leading Australian developer of sustainable communities and Little Cove will include many environmental initiatives. As well as residential sites there will be a luxury 30-villa boutique eco-resort.

TTNQ IN MARKET - NORTH AMERICA
Jana attended the Goway Pow Wow event in Toronto which included training & networking with over 50 reservations staff and a consumer night attended by 250 people. This was followed by Oz Talk North America East & West Coast with over 100 appointments making for a successful event.  Between the East & West Coast Jana attended the Oz Talk Roadshow in San Francisco & Chicago with over 200 Aussie Specialists walking through the door.  Overall the event was a success and great feedback from agents indicates that there is plenty of interest and high bookings into Tropical North Queensland.

BUILDING PRESENCE IN KOREA
Liz and four TTNQ members participated in Queensland on Tour Korea taking in Seoul and Busan. The 3-day event included the opportunity to meet with frontline wholesale and retail agency staff and conduct individual appointments with product managers. This was QOT Korea’s inaugural visit to Busan where the 4.2million population offers good prospects for future business. Access is available via Korean Air into Sydney and Brisbane from both Seoul and Busan, while Asiana Airlines also operate direct into Sydney from Seoul. The concept of linking into Cairns via Narita and Hong Kong was well received. The key segments in the Korean market are honeymooners, backpackers and soft adventure seekers and families. Qualifying TTNQ members will have the opportunity to participate in a sales trip to Korea in April 2008. Liz also received confirmation that Korean Air will again run these again in 2008 for an extended period throughout July and August. Further details on both of these activities will be published as soon as they become available.

CRUISE NEWS
David Rose represented TTNQ at the 11th Cruise Down Under Conference and AGM in Darwin late August. More than 50 delegates, including representatives from Cairns Port Authority and Tourism Queensland, attended along with participants from ports, cruise shipping lines, ground handlers, suppliers and tourism boards across Australia. Cairns is Australia’s busiest cruise shipping port and other destinations in the Tropical North are also increasing their profile in this highly competitive sector. Immediately prior to the event, TTNQ hosted the Conference's key note speaker on an intensive famil visit to the region. Darius Mehta, Director of Land Programs for Florida-based Regent Cruises, confirmed Tropical North Queensland’s popularity with cruise shipping lines, but warned that more innovative ground itineraries were needed if the destination was to see off emerging ports of call around Australia and the Pacific.

CAPE YORK FAMIL
Nine of Australia’s leading inbound travel agents are currently experiencing Cape York’s best indigenous tourism operations this week for the very first time. The famil is an initiative of Don and Judy Freeman of Freeman Productions who are mentoring the Cape York businesses under a federal indigenous business ready scheme. The group will visit Cape York Turtle Rescue and Aurukun Wetland Charters. TTNQ, Qantas Link and Weipa Air have all lent support.

CHRIS IS A STAR VOLUNTEER
Congratulations to the Gateway Discovery Visitor Information Centre volunteer Chris Dunlop – named volunteer of the month for September in recognition of his willingness to go that extra mile for the customers and other volunteers & staff and his fantastic outlook on life and his role as a volunteer. Chris you are a star!

TTNQ BUSINESS PLAN ONLINE
TTNQ’s 2007-08 Business Plan is now available for members to view or download from the Members Area of our corporate website, under “Reports to Industry”. Visit www.tropicalaustralia.com.au/corporate

TTNQ WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Bohemia Central
Gonzo Photo
Oliver's - Australian Fine Cuisine
Express Chauffeured Coaches & Limousines
Torres Pearls
Holy Spirit Care Services
Port Douglas Sands Resort
End of the Road Motel
Esplanade Backpackers
G Force 9

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
TTNQ also reminds anyone who intends to rejoin as a member for 2007-2008 but has yet to complete the Membership Renewal forms to do so as soon as possible as the closing date of 31 August has now passed and you will not be able to access member benefits until your renewal is complete. For more information please contact our Membership Development Executive Niaomi McSwiney on 40151208 or niaomi.mcswiney@tnq.org.au 

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IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS

TTNQ AGM – CALL FOR DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS
The TTNQ 2007 Annual General Meeting and Networking Function will be held on 23 October 2007 at the Cairns Colonial Club Resort. Registration opens at 5.00pm and the meeting will commence at 5.30pm sharp. A Formal Notice of the meeting together with further information as required by Corporations Law will be forwarded shortly to all members. Meanwhile nominations are invited from eligible financial members of Tourism Tropical North Queensland for the following Board positions to be elected at the 2007 Annual General Meeting. See the Invitation and Nomination Form for more information.

TNQ TOURISM AWARDS TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE
Saturday 13 October 2007, Cairns Convention Centre
Thanks to the many generous sponsors who are making the 2007 Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards Gala Presentation Evening possible. Don’t miss our tourism industry’s biggest night of the year. Tickets can be purchased until 8 October and are available online at http://corporate.tropicalaustralia.com.au/tourism_awards/tourism_awards_tickets 

 
TENDERING FOR GOVERNMENT BUSINESS WORKSHOP
9:00am – 1:00pm Tuesday 18 September 2007 Pacific International Hotel
For bookings complete Registration Form, enquiries to businessassist.cairns@sd.qld.gov.au

             
WORLD FESTIVAL OF UNDERWATER FILMS
Saturday 23 September 2007, JUTE Theater, Abbott St Cairns
The winning entries of the 33rd Festival in Antibes, France will be screened at two sessions only 3:00pm and 7:00pm. Entry $15 per session, for advance bookings phone 0412 290 281.

CANCER CRUSADE CHARITY WALK
Sunday 30 September 2007, Fogarty Park The Esplanade Cairns
See the attached flyers for details of these upcoming events organized by Couch to raise funds towards a fully equipped cancer treatment facility for Cairns. Why not get a team together or lend whatever support you can to this worthy cause and help make a difference. Flyer page 1, Page 2.

GREEN ISLAND OCEAN SWIM
11:00am Sunday 14 October
Get out the speedos – the great ‘Aussie swimming cozzie’ because the Great Adventures Green Island Ocean Swim is on again. The event consists of 1.5 and 3km swims on the leeward side of the island and is open to swimmers 12-years and up with prizes awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place overall for men and women.  A ‘nippers’ swim for under 12s will take place on a course parallel to the beach. For bookings contact Great Adventures on 4044 9944 or register on line at www.quicksilvergroup.com.au/oceanswim.htm

OPERA IN THE OUTBACK 19 – 20 October 2007
Undara Experience is again staging their popular event, Opera in the Outback. For bookings phone 1800 990 992, fax (07) 4097 1955 or visit www.undara.com.au/opera.html  Please note due to the enormous interest in this event there are only camping and powered sites still available.

JCU SYMPOSIUM & SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
26 October 2007, The Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina, Cairns
The Symposium is presented by James Cook University Centre for Tropical Tourism and Hospitality and supported by the QHA and TTNQ. It will explore the notion that collaboration between tourism, hospitality, and other service industry providers is key for sustainable regional development and destination management. For more information contact Jenny Walker, JCU Centre for Tourism & Hospitality; Phone 4042 1744 or email jenny.walker@jcu.edu.au To register visit www.jcu.edu.au/fac1/public/business/symposium  

EXCELLENT MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES

BACKPACKER EZINE
Andrew Cavallaro of Tourism Queensland’s UK, Ireland, Nordic office is putting together a Backpacker e-zine. After already receiving a huge response to the project Andrew is currently revising the brief etc. Anyone interested in obtaining more information can contact Andrew at andrewcavallaro@hillsbalfoursynergy.com

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BEHIND THE SCENES

• TTNQ Chief Executive Rob Giason got together recently with current Chairman Stephen Olle and three past Chairs – Peter Goulding, Bob Manning and Cam Charlton.

• Tourism Australia's Senior Insights Analyst Keith Suckling met with the TTNQ Research team to provide updates on consumer trends and the Global Experience Seeker.
• John McIntyre attended the Tourism Transport Forum’s climate change forum in Sydney. He will travel to Bali to present to PATA on the Planet Safe Partnership program, which is progressing well with over 20 applicants currently being evaluated and going through evaluation. Tourism Queensland and the CRC for Sustainable Tourism have both expressed interest in the program.
• Niaomi will attend a tourism meeting next week as part of Gulf Savannah Development Forum being held in Georgetown.
• As part of their curriculum a group of 20 University Students and 2 professors from Osaka University of Tourism visited Cairns recently to learn more about our tourism industry and Australian culture. They conducted site inspections of various hotel properties and visited the reef and rainforest. Harry presented to the group outlining TTNQ’s role as a Regional Tourism Authority and a brief outline of the destination. The University brings a group of students to Cairns each year.

• TNQ hosted a networking dinner function at the Hilton Hotel last week for the 16 agents who were part of the Look JTB Nagoya retail famil. Look JTB Nagoya is conducting a Cairns Campaign called “Cairns Koala Touch”. The group familiarized themselves and updated their knowledge on Tropical North Queensland product to enable them to promote and sell Cairns during this campaign. Jetstar supported this famil group by providing seats on their direct service from Nagoya to Cairns. Thanks to all the operators in Cairns that consistently support these important dinner networking functions and famils to our region.

• Sharyn is currently in Europe and the United Kingdom with Rhett Lego participating in a variety of Tourism Queensland marketing opportunities, Team Cairns activities and sales calls.
• Donna joined the Travel Experts famil in Port Douglas last weekend.
• Liz leaves tomorrow for a trip to China and Hong Kong for a series of sales calls and meetings with airlines and government representatives.
• Jana is following up on Corroboree 2007 and preparing for the upcoming Cairns Backpacker Famil & Sydney Backpacker Expo.
• Stephen Olle and other TTNQ representatives attended last week’s QTIC Aussie Host information session.
• CRCB’s Kyla is attending a Tourism Australia educational mission to Korea and Taiwan with six other bereaux, presenting to travel and incentive agents and corporate buyers.
• The Gateway Discovery Centre Visitor Information Centre recently conducted their regular Product Presentations at Sea Temple Resort & Spa Palm Cove where some of the exhibits from Cairns Tropical Zoo made quite an impression, including this crocodile seen with Sea Temple GM Vinay Gupta.

TTNQ APPLAUDS ACHEIVEMENT
Congratulations to:

• Daintree Discovery Centre on receiving a Douglas Shire Council 2007 Developing Sustainable Communities Award for ‘Places of Visitation’ Award.
• Holy Spirit Care Services who won the Ministers Award for Excellence in Aged Care Information Technology Award for their work with their Far North Queensland facilities, Holy Spirit Bethlehem, Coral Sea Gardens and Holy Spirit Mary Potter.
• TTNQ members who received Restaurant and Catering Awards including Winner of Best Tourism Restaurant Red Ochre Grill, and other category winners Café China, 2 Fish Seafood Restaurant Port Douglas, Lago Restaurant - The Lakes Cairns Resort & Spa, Kingsfords Restaurant - Cairns International Hotel, Bayleaf Balinese Restaurant - Bay Village , The Sofitel Reef Hotel Casino and C’est Bon French Restaurant.
• Angsana Resort & Spa, included in Conde Nast’s 10 Favourite Hotels In Australasia and South Pacific. The Great Barrier Reef islands were included for the first time in the list of Top 10 Favourite Islands.
• The Lakes Cairns Resort and Spa, one of only two Australian hotels named in the top 100 in the inaugural Expedia Insiders Select list of the world’s best hotels and resorts.
• All businesses who participated in the Festival Cairns Dress Up Your Business competition including the Gateway Discovery Centre which received an Honourable Mention.
  

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ON THE MOVE

• Karen Doane has joined TTNQ as Media and Brand Executive in the Marketing Communications Department joining Director of Marketing Communications, Dion Eades, Corporate Communications Manager Helen Laird and Online Communications Coordinator Samantha Taylor. Karen most recently worked with The Quicksilver Group and has extensive media and marketing experience gained here and in the United States. Karen recently received an Emmy award for her work as an associate producer with NBC Sports.

• The new General Manager of the Cairns Colonial Club is Peter Blackburn and the new Director of Sales and Marketing is Paolo Gambino.
• Vocational Training Australia (VTA) is now known as the National Institute of Training.
• Do you need staff? Unlock the door to over 12,000 potential employees. The JCU Careers & Employment Service can connect your business with motivated students willing to work flexible hours in a range of part-time, casual, vacation, volunteer or graduate positions. Contact us now to advertise your vacancy and join the growing number of local businesses utilizing this FREE service. Phone Lisa Crema Graduate and Student Employment Officer on 40421152 or email employment@jcu.edu.au
• WORK WANTED German student Juliane Hayn is studying for her MBA through a German University. She spent 6 months working in the TTNQ offices supporting various research and marketing activities. She was a great asset throughout that time and comes highly recommended so if your company could possibly offer her any part-time work please contact her on 0432031679 or email: Juliane.Hayn@gmx.de

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OTHER INDUSTRY NEWS

• Tusa Dive has welcomed the arrival of their new vessel TUSA 5 designed for the ultimate comfort in day cruising and a maximum of 60 passengers who can enjoy lounge space for twice that number. TUSA 5 is custom crafted for day cruising and diving in Great Barrier Reef waters with the latest technological features, including an electronically lowered water level platform.
  
• Travstar.com has received a State Government grant of almost $20K to develop a website that combines a traditional travel agency with on-line access to help promote Tropical North Queensland to the world.
• Cairns Seaplanes are now part of the Tropical Aviation group and are expanding their fleet with the addition of a second “Beaver” Seaplane operating from the Pier Jetty.
• Jowalbinna Bush Camp near Laura on Cape York is reopening after significant improvements and a refurbishment were completed by new marketing partners, Cairns-based tour operator Wilderness Challenge. Jowalbinna is the gateway to Queensland’s most significant Aboriginal rock art sites, the Quinkan galleries, which are rated by UNESCO as one of the top ten rock art areas in the world.
• Civil works commence this week as redevelopment of the Domestic Termnal continues at Cairns International Airport. Visit www.cairnsport.com.au or phone 1800 177 748 for more information.
• Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service are carrying out controlled burns in the Walsh’s Pyramid are throughout the rest of September.
• TTNQ members are invited to nominate for The Queensland Regional Achievement and Community Awards MacAir Airlines Events and Tourism Award which recognises individuals and businesses in regional Queensland who are developing tourism enterprises, organising community events or creating incentives to increase and encourage tourism flow to their region. For more information contact Kate McKay on 5531 1541, email qld@awardsaustralia.com or visit www.awardsaustralia.com
  

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SEEN IN THE MEDIA

• TTNQ’s Sharyn Brydon was recently interviewed for a segment on the ABC’s JTV on Tropical North Queensland’s backpacker market.

• The Sun Herald featured an article on the Great Barrier Reef earlier this month.
• The Sunday Mail Brisbane highlighted Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours in the Cape Tribulation & Daintree article they published last weekend.
• Thomas E. King’s visit to Sell TNQ continues to pay dividends with another article on the destination’s attractions for business tourism published by MICE in Asia.
• A Weekend Australian article featured the Camp Chivaree turtle conservation camp near Mapoon.
• The Sydney Morning Herald published a letter received which sang the praises of Willie Gordon and Guurrbi Tours.
• John McIntyre was featured in Scotsman Magazine in an article titled Eco Maniac which promoted Great Tropical Drive and Tropical North Queensland as as world leader in ecotourism
  

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GOOD NEWS STORIES

Rose Gums proprietors Peta and John were thrilled to receive this note, along with a beautiful potted plant, as a thank you for a much enjoyed stay at the Tableland property.

Dear Peta and Jon
 
You have truly created Paradise here. We felt so one with nature. This is a sanctuary - the birdlife is amazing.
You both must be perfectionists. The tree-house is without fault. All the detail! There is too much to mention. It is incredible -congratulations. It is so obvious the work that has gone into making Rose Gums the Wilderness Retreat it is today.
 
Thank you,
Paddy and Chris
Potts Point, NSW

 
A conference organiser who recently organised the Bureau of Meteorology Conferences at Novotel Rockford Palm Cove and Cairns Convention Centre was very impressed with the teamwork of the business tourism industry in the region, as the following email to CRCB shows:Hello Karen,
 
Thank you very much for your help in ensuring our two meetings were successful.  Our delegates at both Palm Cove and the Cairns Convention Centre were delighted - partly due to all planning working well as well as your clients providing good professional service. Our international people now know that Cairns can mix it with the best.
 
My planning was aided by the visit I made - thanks for your help in organising that - it made the world of difference. Great team work by everyone.
 
I'll look forward to a repeat visit with fond memories.
 
Regards
 
Val Jemmeson,
Science Support and Meetings Management,
Bureau of Meteorology,
Melbourne.

If you have a good news story or have achieved a recent success please send your information to Helen Laird.

In Touch with TTNQ e-newsletter is produced by Tourism Tropical North Queensland. If you would like to unsubscribe to future mailings of In Touch with TTNQ, please email membership@tnq.org.au.  

While every effort is made to ensure the information in this newsletter is accurate, Tourism Tropical North Queensland disclaims all responsibility and liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs incurred as a result of the information being inaccurate or incomplete in anyway, and for any reason.