1 February 2008

FROM THE CEO'S DESK

In a week or so we will welcome a few thousand visitors from China on the charters coming in especially for Chinese New Year from Qantas, China Southern and Viva Macau.

This is the result of a lot of hard work by the industry with the support of Cairns Port Authority and the wholesale partners involved. It is another example of our industry’s tenacious commitment to building on seasonal opportunities in markets such as China and India to boost visitor numbers during our traditionally quieter times.

While I congratulate everyone who is committed in this way there are still many in our region who benefit from tourism but make little or no contribution to the resources required to continue to attract visitors to this destination. For example while most of our visitors eat three meals a day plus at various locations throughout the region, only a small percentage acknowledge the importance of tourism to their business through TTNQ membership. We work hard to ensure that those who do reap the benefits.

I encourage all TTNQ members to study our membership list and wherever possible when planning a function, dinner, meeting and so on to please ensure you support your fellow members. We are arguably one of the strongest membership based organisations in the country. That is nothing to do with me or the TTNQ team. We are the current facilitators, but it is the industry itself that has made TTNQ a leader through its many years of commitment. This message needs to go out to others who have yet to realize the active part they should play, rather than live like parasites off your good work.

Rob Giason Chief Executive Officer

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THE LATEST NEWS

INDIAN MISSION PUTS RUNS ON THE BOARD
Participants in the recent Queensland on Tour India mission took a break from marketing duties to play their annual cricket match between Queensland operators and Indian agents. The result was a win for India by just four runs. Elizabeth Webb is holding a Hot Market Update to report on the mission and provide the latest news from this market on 18 February – see below for details.

TAIWANESE FILM CREW IN TNQ
TTNQ recently assisted with the hosting of three Taiwanese journalists visiting the region as part of a TQ-sponsored VJP familiarisation. Tun Sung and Hsien Chiang were filming travel segments for Taiwan's largest cable television channel TVBS. Ms Chiang also writes for Elsite Reader, one of Taiwan's leading women's magazines. The group visited the Reef, Skyrail and various locations on the Tropical Tablelands.
David Rose, Director, Strategy and Emerging Markets said visitor numbers from Taiwan to TNQ had seen a big increase, albeit from a relatively low base, with more than 4,000 travelling to the region annually.

MERCURIO’S MENU
TTNQ’s Karen Doane worked with the producers of new Channel Seven program, Mercurio’s Menu, to identify filming opportunities in the region. Show host Paul Mercurio spent an afternoon in the kitchen at Red Ochre Grill with owner/chef Craig Squire during with they were joined by Rob Giason. Other locations included Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, Palm Cove and Cairns Esplanade along with various farms on the Tablelands. Thanks to Jetstar who also supported the initiative to bring the show to the region.

WELCOME JAPANESE POLICE LIAISON OFFICER
TTNQ’s Chairman Stephen Olle was a guest at the welcome function for the newly appointed Cairns based Japanese Police Liaison Officer, Keiko Berry. Her role will include liaison with visitors as well as Japanese residents, to assist them in any police related matters with translation, information and advice. TTNQ was among those groups who lobbied the Queensland Police Service to consider allocating resources to this vital role.

FURTHER ENHANCEMENT FOR BOOK TROPICAL AUSTRALIA
Following the exciting pricing restructure we are pleased to bring you news of further enhancement to Book Tropical Australia with V3, the company responsible for marketing the system in Australia and the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) recently announced that the RMS property management system is now been connected to the newly launched Tourism Exchange Australia (TXA) allowing more than 2000 properties using RMS the opportunity to present their inventory with live price and availability to more than 150 Australian online distributors. For more information on Book Tropical Australia click here to view the Book Tropical Australia Fact Sheet or contact Derek Tottle derek.tottle@tnq.org.au

NVS & IVS SUMMARIES ONLINE
TTNQ’s summaries of the National Visitor Survey and the International Visitor Survey for year ending September 2007 are now available for members to review on www.tropicalaustralia.com.au/corporate

RESEARCHERS AND TOURISM COLLABORATE TO DEVELOP NEW TOOLS
TTNQ and the Alliance for Sustainable Tourism have been seeking to upgrade research capacity so tourism operators have additional information and tools to help in developing, interpreting and presenting nature based tour products. This includes the compilation of a handbook for guides within the World Heritage Wet Tropics. To find out more click here.

TTNQ MEMBER FOCUS GROUPS
JCU will be facilitating focus groups with TTNQ members (as randomly selected by JCU) at the end of February, following on from the online membership survey conducted mid-2007.  Members who are contacted and accept the invitation from JCU will meet and discuss various aspects of TTNQ’s business and operations, based on the topics covered in the survey.  These focus groups will be confidential with outcomes of discussions provided to TTNQ to help us ensure we are meeting our member’s needs and expectations. We thank in advance those members who agree to participate and look forward to hearing the results of your open, honest and constructive discussion.

TTNQ WELCOMES NEW MEMBER
Flight Centre Business Travel www.fcbt.com.au
Flight Centre Business Travel is a specialist division of Flight Centre Ltd providing complete Corporate Travel Management Services, focused on increased savings, superior customer service and a high level of efficiency & flexibility. They specialise in understanding the Corporate Travellers needs & are experts in managing all facets of your company’s travel.
 
JP AVAILABLE
TTNQ’s David Rose, Director, Strategy and Emerging Markets, is now a fully fledged Justice of the Peace and welcomes enquiries from TTNQ members re JP services.

HELLOS & GOODBYES
TTNQ welcomes Johanne Flynn who joins Cairns and Region Convention Bureau (CRCB) in the role of Sales Liaison Executive taking over from Kyla McIntosh who leaves us to make a move back to the Sunshine Coast. Johanne comes with a sound background in business tourism including time at the Cairns Convention Centre. Our very best wishes to Kyla and thanks for her dedication and contribution to building business tourism for our region over the past couple of years.

We also say farewell to Hannah Luchi and thank her for all the hard work she has put in at the Cairns and Tropical North Visitor Information Centre over the past few years.

MORE TROPICAL AMBASSADORS NEEDED
Due to some recent moves the Tropical Ambassadors program is again recruiting volunteers to assist visitors arriving at the domestic terminal of the Cairns International Airport during the redevelopment phase. Please contact Genevieve Tardy for more information and let any friends or family who may enjoy this role know about the opportunity.

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IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS

Mice.net BRIEFING
10.00 - 11.00 am, Monday 4 February, TTNQ Boardroom
Mice.net & CRCB will host a morning tea and briefing session on the magazine’s destination feature for the June 2008 edition to enable members to meet with mice.net’s Jenny Gill and to answer any questions you may have regarding the publication.  For more information and RSVPs re either of the Briefings outlined below please contact angela.uhlig@tnq.org.au

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TRAINING SEMINAR
11:00 – 11:30am 6 February 2008 National Institute of Training, 36 Abbott Street Cairns
This free session for TTNQ members offers information on the Food Safety Supervisors required which legislation requires all outlets serving food have by 22 February. The Institute offers courses for this and other topics to improve specific areas of your business. Click here for more details.

REGIONAL TOURISM INVESTMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN
11:00am – 12:00noon 12 February 20078, TTNQ Boardroom
TTNQ is currently working with Tourism Queensland, the Department of Tourism and a number of other Government agencies to develop and implement a planning framework that will facilitate the future development of tourism in the region. TTNQ invites members to a short briefing on the Regional Tourism Investment and Infrastructure Plan (RTIIP) currently being developed and to provide feedback on the outcomes. To attend please RSVP to Christie.faul@tnq.org.au by the 8 February. For more details contact John McIntyre on 40151202. Click here for more information.

DATE CLAIMER – INDIA HOT MARKET UPDATE 18 February 2008
This session will provide the latest market intelligence gained during the Queensland on Tour India Mission and will be of interest for TTNQ members looking to promote their product to this market. The information will be posted on www.tropicalaustralia.com.au/corporate shortly after the session for members unable to attend.

TTNQ INFORMATION SESSIONS
TTNQ is holding information sessions in the following areas to update members on the brand roll out and access to branding tools, upcoming famil activity, recent changes to Book Tropical Australia and the latest from our research department.
MISSION BEACH: 12:00noon 19 February 2008, Rydges Castaway. Click here for details
ATHERTON: 1:00pm 26 February 2008, The Summit Rainforest Retreat. Click here for details
PORT DOUGLAS: 1:00pm 28 February 2008, Mantra Treetops. Click here for details

MACDONNELLS LAW SEMINAR
WORKPLACE DIRECTIONS – What lies ahead?
8:00 – 9:15am or 12:15 – 1:30pm 20 February 2008 MacDonnells Law cnr Shields & Grafton Streets
This free session for TTNQ members will provide an employment law update and discuss the implications of the change of government and workplace laws. Click here for more details.

TOURISM QUEENSLAND INTERNATIONAL MARKET WORKSHOPS
Thursday 21 February, Cairns International Hotel
Eastern Hemisphere from 8:30am
Western Hemisphere from 1:00pm
This year the TQ International Market Briefings will take a new format with smaller interactive discussion groups providing more targeted information and opportunities for questions to be answered. If you wish to attend please email marketbriefings@tq.com.au or fiona.mori@tq.com.au

TTNQ NETWORKING FUNCTION
5:30 – 7:00pm Thursday 21 February 08
SEBEL HARBOUR LIGHTS & DUNDEE’S RESTAURANT
The first TTNQ Member’s Networking Function for 2008 will be held on the evening of Thursday 21 February to coincide with a visit by Tourism Queensland representatives here to provide market briefings to industry. Site inspections of Sebel Harbour Lights are available to those interested between 5-5.30pm. Invitations will be issued for this event next week.

BEHIND THE SCENES

• Rob Giason, John McIntyre, Haruhiko Niihori and Lisa Monks will all be involved in a visit from the Governor of Guam to share information and build relations.
• Last week Rob met with Tourism Australia for market and business tourism updates. He also joined Lisa and Harry for TTNQ’s six-monthly meeting with the Yonshakai group of major Japanese wholesalers to discuss the current issues for the Japanese Market.
• John McIntyre attended a meeting of the Tourism and Climate Change Task Force (Environmental Performance Subgroup) in Canberra last week. Click here for a Summary of Issues and Outcomes
• David travelled to Brisbane with Cairns Port Authority for meetings with SkyAirWorld, representing Lion Air Australia to discuss future opportunities and will continue to work with CPA and the Queensland Government to further this.
• Liz is just back from QoT India and preparing for the market update on 18 February.
• She has also been working closely with our domestic airline partners and wholesalers confirming campaign activity for the next six months.
• Liz is working on the upcoming Korea Mission and Liz & David (with members) have also been finalizing details for the scheduled Chinese New Year charter services.
• Jana is in London with nine TNQ youth/adventure operators to promote Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef at The Daily Telegraph Adventure Travel Show.
• Val and the VIC team have been conducting Great Tropical Drive training for other Visitor Information Centre’s in the region.
• TTNQ Management are continuing the fine tuning of the draft Business Plan for presentation to the Board on 22 February.
• Dion has been working with Liz on the various upcoming domestic campaigns including those with Virgin Blue and Sunlover Holidays, as well as viral, billboard, and accessibility campaigns. He and Karen are also working with Derek on the Total Travel online campaign. Karen has also been assisting film crews such as Mercurio’s Menu and Fresh TV and famils for Port Douglas Carnivale. Karen is also preparing for the sub-regional brand presentations coming up in February. Helen attended the Cairns Local Disaster Management Group meeting and the welcome for the new Japanese Police Liaison Officer.
• The Western Marketing team are working with Dion to assist with the Cape York and Gulf Savannah guide books, Donna is following up on the New Zealand Megafamil, preparing for the TQ Der Tour famil which will bring 140 German travel agents here in May and working with Tamara to prepare for the upcoming Caravan and Camping Shows, Jana is preparing for the Cairns Backpacker famil and Sharyn for the UK/Europe Mission.
• Harry and Lisa are preparing for the Japan Australia Mission after conducting sales calls in Sydney recently where they met with Japanese major wholesalers to discuss the current issues for the Japanese Market.
• Harry and Lisa traveled to Melbourne to meet with Jetstar and Tourism Queensland to discuss JQ tactical campaigns in Nagoya and Osaka.
• CRCB are preparing for AIME, Karen will travel to Japan for business tourism sales calls as part of the Japan Australia Mission.
  

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SEEN IN THE MEDIA

• CRCB’s Sell TNQ has attracted more media coverage with this feature in the December 07/January 08 edition of Travel inc. Magazine.
• More coverage in 4WD Monthly with Cape York featured in the February 2008 edition.
• Scuba Diving Magazine’s Queensland feature concentrated on the more remote parts of the Great Barrier Reef off Cape York.
• Various parts of Tropical North Queensland were highlighted in The West Australian recently.
• Ellis Beach was recognised as an ideal family holiday destination by The Courier Mail.

TTNQ now brings you our monthly Industry Info e-newsletter full of news from our members and industry. Click here to see the previous edition and watch for the next one coming to your inbox soon.

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

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