6 November 2007
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The Latest News - Important Upcoming Events - Excellent Marketing Opportunities - Behind the Scenes - On The Move - Other Industry News - Seen in the Media - Good News Stories |
FROM THE CEO'S DESK
Welcome to In Touch with TTNQ. In this edition you will see that some of the usual sections are missing. There is so much going on in our vibrant tourism industry and so much news to share that we have decided to create a separate e-newsletter just for industry news. This will be posted on www.tropicalaustralia.com.au/corporate just like In Touch with TTNQ and you will receive an e-postcard to notifiy you when each new edition is posted. We continue to welcome your contributions on the many happenings, events and good news stories you have to share. Meanwhile In Touch with TTNQ will bring you all the news on TTNQ related activities and happenings.
Some TTNQ members have noted a considerable number of communications coming through from us recently. There is certainly plenty going on and while I appreciate that we all receive a large amount of email these days I do not apologise for trying to keep you informed of the many marketing activities and events that could be of value to your business. I know most of you would prefer this to missing out on a good opportunity.
Thanks to the many members who were able to make it along to our recent AGM and networking function. It was great to see such a good number supporting this official occasion. I congratulate Rod Punshon and Todd Parker on their return to the TTNQ Board and thank all the eight candidates who stood for election.
With the election looming we have taken the opportunity to hold a forum where the main contenders for the seat of Leichhardt can share their vision for the future of the Tropical North Queensland tourism industry and how they can help make it a reality. I encourage our members to attend if possible and you will have the opportunity to put your questions to the candidates too.
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Rob Giason Chief Executive Officer |
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THE LATEST NEWS
AGM OUTCOMES & SOCIAL PIX
The TTNQ AGM was held on Tuesday 23 October at the Cairns Colonial Club with around 120 TTNQ members attending to hear presentations on TTNQ activities and industry updates from the Chairman Stephen Olle and CEO Rob Giason and vote in the TTNQ Board elections. There were eight nominees for two General Director positions, with the voting returning Rod Punshon and Todd Parker to the Board. The AGM also saw three Zone Directors return to their positions uncontested with Mark Evans returning as the southern Zone Director, Ian MacLaughlin as Tablelands Zone Director and Hamish Haslop as Outback/Remote Director. They rejoin Angela Freeman (Douglas Zone Director), Anthony Hayes (Tourism Queensland Appointed Director) and Lloyd Smith (General Director) to complete the current Board.
The new Board met immediately after the AGM and reelected Stephen Olle to the position of Chairman and James Dixon to the position of Deputy Chairman. TTNQ thanked Appointed Directors Rodger Robertson and Andrew Steel for their service to the Board and acknowledged their decision to stand down from their positions. The last TTNQ networking function for the year followed the AGM – check out the happy snaps from the event.
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TNQ MAINTAINS PRESENCE IN CHINA - MARKET UPDATE
As mentioned in the last edition of In Touch with TTNQ Liz Webb has just returned from a trip to China during which meetings were held in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Joint calls with Tourism Qld were planned for Shanghai & Beijing but due to unfortunate circumstances TQ carried out these calls alone.
The Cairns & Great Barrier Reef region is included in 90 per cent of Chinese itineraries to Australia, but our biggest obstacle is direct access plus availability of seats on domestic sectors when passengers are required to travel via SYD/MEL or BNE. Qantas, Cathay Pacific and Virgin Atlantic are the main carriers being used by these agents. Many of the agents are looking for new accommodation and experience product throughout our region and particularly Palm Cove, Port Douglas and the Islands, as they wish to provide unique itineraries to their clients.
Team Cairns campaign activity has commenced in Beijing & Shanghai as well as Hong Kong & Shenzhen. While the Team Cairns Beijing/Shanghai activity for the 06/07 period ended late July, it was agreed that the 07/08 activity should continue to run from September to January to maintain the market momentum and hopefully fill the void generally found at this time of year. The Team Cairns Hong Kong activity has also commenced and we are in partnership with Miramar Express, who have just opened a new branch in Sha Tin and this is themed entirely with the Great Barrier Reef & Rainforest images to help attract business to the region.
Results for the 06/07 Team Cairns Activity for Southern China and Hong Kong campaigns were:
Hong Kong (1 Agent Partner) (Travel Period: 15 March to 31 May 2007) – 579 passengers
Guangzhou (2 Agent Partners) (Travel Period: 15 March to 31 July 2007) – 863 passengers
Qantas Airlines (Hong Kong) will be operating supplementary flights HKG/CNS for the Chinese New Year period between 2 – 9 February.
See the IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS section below for details of the Hot Market Update for China & Korea on this Wednesday.
FOODWORKS CONFERENCE BOOST FOR TNQ
Foodworks Group recently held their national conference in Tropical North Queensland for the second time and are seriously considering the region for 2009 due to the continued success of their events here. Their first conference here was the largest ever for Palm Cove with 450 delegates attending, while 410 came to the Cairns event last month. The total direct spend for the 4-day 2007 conference was well over $800K, plus their expenditure during two free nights where delegates and their families dined in the Cairns restaurants of their choice. Many delegates also stayed for extra days to enjoy pre or post touring in the region.
ATEC INBOUND UP NORTH
TTNQ joined tourism operators from the Port Douglas, Daintree, Cape Tribulation area to welcome 48 inbound tour operators (ITOs) here for the recent annual Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) Inbound Up North. TTNQ organised a treasure hunt, held at Rainforest Habitat in Port Douglas, which gave the opportunity to promote the attractions of Mission Beach, Palm Cove, Kuranda, Cooktown, the Tablelands and the tropical Gulf Savannah as well as Port Douglas, Daintree and Cape Tribulation. Chair of NQ ATEC, Megan Bell of The Quicksilver Group, said the event was highly successful with agents’ familiarisation reports contained high ratings for the variety of activities and events they had enjoyed during their four day itinerary.
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CAIRNS BACKPACKER FAMIL
Twenty backpacker specialist agents from around Australia enjoyed five days of fun as well as workshops and site inspections during the Cairns Backpacker Famil last week. TTNQ and industry hosted the agents who represented STA Travel, Student Flights and Oz Travel Bugs agencies from Perth, Darwin, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle and Bryon Bay. They had the opportunity to experience some of the fantastic youth/adventure tourism product including white water rafting, bungy jumping, skydiving, an overnight trip to Cape Tribulation and the Great Barrier Reef.
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mice.net FAMIL
Cairns & Region Convention Bureau, Qantas and mice.net magazine provided nine buyers the opportunity to Change their Business Latitude when they visited the region last week for a four night deluxe educational program. The participants were selected from over 150 applicants, a clear indication of the region’s popularity in the business tourism market. A total of 36 product advertised in the Tropical North Queensland bumper supplement included in the August edition of the mice.net magazine and the buyers were given a chance to get up close and personal with these business tourism operators in Cairns, Palm Cove and Port Douglas.
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PARTNERING WITH POLICE ON PARTY SAFE MESSAGE
Rob Giason joined Queensland Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Mike Keating for a media launch of the Party Safe program during Crime Prevention Week. TTNQ is pleased to be working closely with the Queensland Police Service in Cairns to help address crime relating to visitors. The Party Safe initiative is of particular relevance to our fun-loving backpacking visitors as some of these predominantly young people may take risks in a holiday destination that they would never take at home and this can lead them into trouble, both as potential victims or perpetrators of crimes or misadventures. With the help of the TNQ Backpacker Hostels Association TTNQ will distribute merchandise provided by the Police to reinforce the PARTY SAFE messages to this market.
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CRUISE SHIP KEEPS VIC BUSY
The Visitor Information Centre was a whirlwind of activity last week while cruise ship Pacific Star was in port. Many of the 1287 passengers and 600 crew passed through the doors during their two day visit and volunteers helped them with information and bookings for the many experiences to enjoy here in Tropical North Queensland. It was one of Pacific Star’s nine scheduled visits to Cairns for the year. During November and December we will welcome 9 more cruise ships to Cairns and another will anchor off Yorkey’s Knob. There have been a total of 39 cruise ship visits to Cairns this year with another three anchoring off Yorkey’s.
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to John Hudson, who is the Visitor Information Centre’s Volunteer of the Month for October. John is a quiet achiever and always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it. John is well respected and liked throughout the organization. Thanks for your continued efforts.
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TTNQ WELCOMES NEW MEMBER
The Duyfken 1606 Replica Foundation
www.duyfken.com
The Duyfken is an authentically built replica of the first known European vessel to visit Australia in 1606. Duyfken is a fully operational sailing vessel, that opens as a museum exhibition to educate the public about Australia’s early maritime heritage and what life was like on a 400 yr old vessel.
INTRODUCING DEREK TOTTLE
TTNQ is pleased to welcome Derek Tottle to the position of Information Services Manager. Derek brings over 25 years experience in this vital area including many years with IBM providing customer support services. He is a born and bred Queenslander, originally from Maryborough, and has spent the past five years contracting around Tropical North Queensland, with a large part of his time devoted to an overhaul of systems for Fresh Network. Derek is the TTNQ contact for Book Tropical Australia, Email derek.tottle@tnq.org.au or Phone 4015 1220.
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IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS
TOURISM IN FOCUS FOR ELECTORAL CANDIDATES
The Future of Tourism in Tropical Australia Forum
6:00 – 9:00pm 15 November Trinity Room, Rydges Tradewinds
TTNQ members are invited to attend this forum where they will have the opportunity to hear Leichhardt candidates’ views on tourism in Tropical North Queensland as they provide prepared answers to set questions as well as taking questions from the floor. Click here for more information and RSVP.
BEST WISHES FOR QUEENSLAND TOURISM AWARDS
TTNQ sends best wishes to all our members who have entered into the Queensland Tourism Awards this year. Rob and Leonie Giason and several of the TTNQ team will be attending to lend their support at the awards which will be held in Townsville this Saturday, 10 November.
TTNQ HOT MARKET UPDATES
To ensure our members are well informed on the intelligence gained from our various in-market activities, TTNQ is providing Market Updates presented by our representatives once they have completed their sales mission, tradeshow or other major in-market activity.
Coming up this week are:
CHINA & KOREA MARKET UPDATE: 2:00pm 7 Nov TTNQ Boardroom
RSVP elizabeth.webb@tnq.org.au
UK/EUROPE MARKET UPDATE: 10:00am 8 Nov, TTNQ Boardroom
RSVP marketing@tnq.org.au
A JAPAN MARKET UPDATE was held last week and information is now available online.
SEMINAR - ACCIDENTS WHILE HAVING FUN The Legal View
8:00– 9:15am Thursday 15 November 2007,
MacDonnells Law cnr Shield & Grafton Streets
TTNQ and MacDonnells Law present this informative seminar exclusively to TTNQ members. Click here for more information & RSVP details.
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BEHIND THE SCENES
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Rob gave a presentation at the JCU Symposium and attended meetings with JCU on research issues.
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David met with Study Cairns and JCU to explore education tourism opportunities.
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Minister for Tourism Desley Boyle will visit TTNQ this week for updates from the management team on the organisation’s function and activities.
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Annie attended the Reef & Catchments Operations Committee meeting
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Donna is currently in the US for the major dive trade show DEMA along with six TNQ operators and Tourism Queensland.
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Preparations are continuing for the NZ Megafamil and the UK Corroboree being held here later this month.
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The Japan team held a Hot Market Brief to report on last month’s sales trip. Visit www.tropicalaustralia.com.au/corporate to find out more about the Japan market.
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Almost 50 people attended the recent special Japan Tourism Advisory Group meeting which included updates from Tourism Australia, Qantas, Jetstar and Tourism Queensland representatives.
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Harry and Lisa are also preparing for upcoming Continental and Jetstar agent famils and a Jetstar media famil all coming up before the end of the year.
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CRCB are making the final preparations for Sell TNQ which is on from 16 – 19 November followed by post touring. The 100 buyers who applied to participate were carefully screened and 35 well qualified buyers selected.
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The TTNQ Board held their October meeting at Rydges Sabaya Port Douglas followed by drinks by the pool for the 12 Board members and around 30 representatives of local TTNQ member businesses.
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Rob & Sharyn attended the Port Douglas Daintree Tourism AGM last week and Niaomi joined them for the networking function which followed after conducting member visits in Port Douglas.
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If you have a good news story or have achieved a recent success please send your information to Helen Laird.
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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.