23rd July 2008
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The Latest News - Important Upcoming Events - Excellent Marketing Opportunities - Behind the Scenes |
FROM THE CEO's DESK
The saying, “When the going gets tough…the tough get going” has certainly been the recent call to action for the tourism industry here in Tropical North Queensland. In an already lean time for the tourism, with impending flight cuts and soaring petrol prices, instead of finger pointing and pity parties, the TNQ industry has rallied together to continue promoting our destination. Recently a collective contingent of over 120 TNQ operators (more than any other destination) attended the important Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) meetings at the end of June in Perth.
What is even more encouraging is the incredible support and interest we received from international travel wholesalers and inbound operators, who were more interested in the Cairns & Great Barrier Reef than ever before. There is not doubt the galvanized cooperative spirit of the TNQ representatives further helped solidify our commitment to providing the best tropical holiday experience once they arrive.
The TTNQ team continues to work on a very focused and dedicated program of activities with our industry partners as we continue to remind ourselves and others that we are a destination that attracts some 1.2 million domestic visitors annually and 850,000 visitors from our key overseas markets. Currently we have TTNQ representatives and members in China and Japan, as well as meeting with key domestic wholesalers and rolling out marketing campaigns in the Domestic, New Zealand and UK markets.
Now more than ever we must continue to work in solidarity and in total cooperation at local, state and national levels. We have open lines of communication from the highest level of government, starting with the Prime Minister, Federal Tourism Minister, Premier, and State Tourism Minister, as well as Tourism Queensland and Tourism Australia. It is reassuring to know that TNQ has tremendous support and seen all of these key players very responsive to taking up the issues and utilizing various levels of influence.
Of course we still must make time for fun and those who attended the recent ATEC lawn bowls competition would certainly agree. Yes, when the going gets tough, the tough get going and fortunately in Tropical North Queensland we can also have a laugh at the end of the day, too.
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Rob Giason Chief Executive Officer |
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THE LATEST NEWS
TTNQ's IMAGE LIBRARY IS NOW LIVE!
The wait is finally over! TTNQ's Image Library is available on our corporate website and includes our latest images.
These images are available to travel and tourism industry professionals, media and anyone seeking professional images for use in the positive promotion of Tropical North Queensland.
Images are FREE to download, however you will need to register and agree with the Terms and Conditions and approval of registration may take up to one business day. Please note this is a separate registration from your current membership ID and password.
Once registered, you can download images by selecting the image and clicking on ‘Download image’. You must also comply with the Copyright Laws which can be found within the Terms and Conditions.
Click here to register for your first look at TTNQ's Image Library!
ATE SKY HIGH ON TABLELANDS
ATE UK buyers were treated to the hospitatility of Hot Air recently with the company highlighting to buyers their operation, including new balloons and breakfast venue. It was great to see them enjoy first-hand the Hot Air product that they all brochure.
I’M A TRAVEL AGENT, GET ME OUTTA HERE!
Voted the most popular reality TV show in the UK, "I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here" by consumers and trade alike, the creative minds at TQ and Etihad Airways created a competition for UK travel agents. The competition was titled, “I'm a Travel Agent Get Me Out of Here!' and ran simultaneously with the show, giving travel agents the chance to win one of 30 places on the famil trip to Queensland. The agents were recruited through sales incentives, the top selling Queensland agent for their travel agency and a celebrity look-alike competition.
This eight day mega famil showcased different Queensland destinations including time spent on the reef, as well as traveling to Palm Cove, Cape Tribulation, Port Douglas as well as traveling up to Kuranda for their bushtucker trials which saw them eat some of our Aussie Animals as well as get up close and personal with a few of them as well.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland hosted the agents and our industry members with a final night of their stay at the AJ Hackett Bungy site, with the Minjin Swing and Bungy both in action.
KOREAN UPDATE
Recently seven TTNQ Members joined TTNQ representatives in Seoul, Korea for the 2nd Korean Sales Mission this year. This trip is part of the extensive marketing activities being conducted for the Korean Air charters (which began 19 July 2008). These charters provide our destination with direct services Seoul-Cairns twice a week for 6 weeks, with the potential for over 3,000 Koreans to visit TNQ during this period.
Meetings were conducted with the key wholesalers for the charter services, as well as meetings with other agencies that include TNQ in their clients itineraries. These charters provide TNQ as a short-haul destination (flying time just under 7.5hours direct) and most will visit TNQ only during their time in Australia.
As an added bonus for the trip, TTNQ had the Pamagirri Aboriginal Dancers of the Rainforestation Nature Park at our stand and they performed four times a day, which was well received by the Korean agents. Many photos were taken, with enthusiastic audience participation during the performance and didgeridoo lessons.
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UK VIP FAMIL
TTNQ secured eight high profile UK Product Managers to visit the Tropical North Queensland region following ATE. These agents were treated to an extensive familiarisation into the region and were able to explore new and established products that were offered during their nine day program.
The program consisted of three days of regional touring the Atherton Tablelands, Daintree and Port Douglas; two days of optional touring (personal choice), and one day for the UK forum in Mission Beach. The final night included invitations to the gala opening party at The Elandra.
While six of the eight product mangers had previously visited Cairns, Port Douglas, Daintree/Cape Tribulation and the Beaches, they had not travelled into the Atherton Tablelands or Mission Beach areas. As they left, all indicated they were very impressed and looked forward to sending vistors here upon their return.
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OVERVIEW FOR CCC SHOWS FOR 2008
The caravan show circuit has come to an end for another year. 296 585 people visited the caravan shows this year looking for holiday ideas and touring information.
TTNQ distributed the Great Tropical Drive guide, Holiday planner and Gulf and Cape York guide books along with a variety of attractions, accommodations and reef, rainforest and outback touring options.
20,000 caravan park directories were collected by visitors at the shows.
Visitor numbers to the show:
Adelaide: 39 673 (Brochure participation only – Holiday Planner)
Perth: 40 548(Brochure participation only – Holiday Planner)
Melbourne: 61 089 (TTNQ attended)
Sydney: 76 526 (TTNQ attended)
Brisbane: 78 749 (TTNQ attended)
Total Visitors to the shows 296 585
BUSINESS EVENTS AUSTRALIA US FAMIL
CRCB is delighted to announce an upcoming famil for approximately eleven North American Incentive House delegates has been secured for Tropical North Queensland in conjunction with Business Events Australia (Tourism Australia) and Air New Zealand. The dual destination famil will showcase Tropical North Queensland and Brisbane from an incentive destination perspective and will be held Sunday 20 – Sunday 27 July 2008.
TOP SELLERS GET TREATED TO A DOSE OF TNQ ISLAND PARADISE WITH A VIEW TO SELLING TNQ HOT DEALS TO COOL PLACES 2008 - 2009
Last weekend’s island event is being followed up this week with the distribution of brochures to over 3000 retail travel agencies across Australia and New Zealand and will be continually distributed throughout the 08-09 travel season as part of the Sunlover Holidays brochure collection.
The brochure features more than 40 Tropical North Queensland based product spanning accommodation (from small properties to the top end of town), attractions, restaurants and touring as well as incorporating special tips.
SPEND MORE THAN ONE DAY IN THE DAINTREE
Local tourism association Tourism Daintree Coast has selected the first day of the new financial year to launch its significantly upgraded website – www.daintreecoast.com
It replaces the association’s website developed back in 1999 before much of today’s web technology was available.
Association member Alison Gotts was the project manager and acknowledged the $10,000 contribution from Port Douglas Daintree Tourism towards the website rebuild.
Members of Tourism Daintree Coast stretch from the Daintree River through to Cape Tribulation. All 60 members provided information about their own tourism product contributing to the site’s 120 pages. As a result, the website is packed with information about river cruises, crocodile spotting, diving and snorkelling on the reef, sea kayaking, jungle surfing, birdwatching, horseriding and exotic fruit tasting.
TTNQ/JTB WESTERN JAPAN FAMIL AND “LOVEARTH” PROMOTION
JTB Western Japan selected Cairns to be the first destination for one of their new original ECO tourism programs which focuses on a carbon offset scheme "Lovearth". This "Lovearth" ECO package tour to Cairns is the first overseas tour from Japan to include a carbon offset scheme. Ahead of this package tour JTB sent out Western Japan Groups and Education Agents to experience the destination. Although Jetstar will suspend their Cairns direct services from Western Japan in December, JTB Western Japan still believes Cairns is the best destination for ECO tourism and did not cancel this trade famil. In fact, when the 100-seat “Lovearth” package went to market, it sold out in under five minutes!
TTNQ appreciates the support of the 27 TTNQ members who attended the networking dinner function to welcome the JTB Western Japan Group & Education Famil group held at The Hotel Cairns.
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OZCARS AWARD CAIRNS AS BEST
Cairns had a "win" at the recent OzCars held in London. The winners all represent key marketing partners for TTNQ and our businesses.
Indeed, Austravel's best Regional UK Campaign (one of four awards they picked up!) was for their Cairns GTD Campaign which we worked on together to create.
Of course, Cairns as a region was well represented across a number of the winners' entries, including the Tailor Made Luxury entry, and their Best Australian brochure content and of course TravelBags www.tasteofAustralia.com website award.
The OzCars categories for 2008 were redesigned in order to reflect Tourism Australia’s strategic objectives in the UK market and reward and recognize those trade partners that aligned with these.
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TICKETMATES ARRIVES IN TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND
The future of tour desk ticketing has arrived to Tropical North Queensland. TicketMates is an Australian owned and operated company that was introduced to the Gold Coast tourism market in 2004, as an on-line ticketing solution for agents and accommodation building managers.
TicketMates offers an aggregation of small and large tourism based operators the opportunity to promote their product through the website, targeting a vast portion of the tourism market.
TicketMates member base has grown significantly since its arrival in 2004 and currently has over 380 resellers, 130 operators and 1000 + products ranging from Byron Bay in the South to Port Douglas in the north.
Click here for more information.
TTNQ VISITS OUR ISLAND REGIONS
TTNQ’s Niaomi McSwiney and John McIntyre recently visited members on Horn and Thursday Island to discuss key tourism related infrastructure projects for the Regional Tourism Development plan, and general membership information.
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BEST CROP OF COFFEE NOW BEING PICKED
Coffee plantation owners at Mareeba in Tropical North Queensland expect their best ever harvest this year as growing conditions have been particularly favourable during the 2008 season.
The region’s oldest coffee estate, Skybury Coffee, is currently harvesting a crop which is anticipated to top 50 tonnes. Managing director Ian MacLaughlin, who is also chairman of the Australian Coffee Growers Association, says this year’s regional yield will be the best ever.
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MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
Thank you to all members who have already renewed their membership. As a reminder, the renewal deadline is 31 August. Should you have any queries relating to your membership or if you would like your renewal kit to be resent, please contact Niaomi McSwiney on 40151208 or Niaomi.mcswiney@tnq.org.au .
NEW YEAR, NEW IDEAS PRESENTED BY TQ
For some interesting slides taken from a TQ presentation, including commentary on:
The year ahead – Economic Impacts
Domestic Leisure Expenditure in QLD
Total travel by Australians (regardless of where that travel occurs)
Declining ALOS
International Challenges
International and Domestic Expenditure in TNQ
No of international visitors to TNQ
Please click here for complete presentation.
SELL TNQ FOLLOW UP LUNCH
CRCB held an inaugural ‘Sell TNQ Follow Up Lunch’ in Sydney on Friday 13th June, in order to reunite with 2006 + 2007 Sell TNQ hosted buyers and continue to challenge them to ‘change their business latitude’. Media were also in attendance as CRCB took the opportunity to present a product update outlining the latest infrastructure developments in the region and to re-confirm the region’s continued commitment to supporting business tourism.
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IS YOUR BEACH THE BEST?
Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland are calling on coastal communities to enter your favourite beaches in the 2008 Clean Beach Challenge.
Simply complete the Clean Beach Challenge entry form at www.keepaustraliabeautiful.org.au/qld and return it to us by Friday 1 August 2008.
VALUE OF TOURISM TO THE REGION
The 2008 edition of the Dept of Infrastructure and Planning’s “Economic and Social Impacts of Tourism – Far North Queensland Planning Region” has been released and available to view by clicking here .
WHY WE LOVE IT HERE CAMPAIGN
By now you have probably seen the “Why We Love it here” campaign the Cairns Post is running. The campaign aims to encourage people to visit Cairns based on the endorsement of the region by we locals!!. If you haven’t seen the campaign visit http://www.cairns.com.au/visitor-information/your-stories/index.html
TTNQ supports the campaign and therefore you are invited, if comfortable, to submit your own stories to the site. The campaign is gaining good momentum with cairns.com.au a very popular site for potential visitors.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
bugbitten.com
www.bugbitten.com
bugbitten.com provides everything a traveller needs in one place. Using our innovative web-based tools, adventurous travellers and the entire travel industry can easily share and search information in a collaborative manner. Our core demographic since 2003 has been adventurous travellers on working holidays around the world.
Pip Miller PR
www.pipmillerpr.com.au
Established 14 years , Pip Miller PR is one of Cairns' leading public relations consultancies specialising in tourism & real estate development. In 2009 Pip was awarded ATEC's outstanding contribution following 12 years of service as NQ Branch Manager. Clients include Festival Cairns (since 2001), Hilton Cairns (since 1994) H&S Vision Group, Rydges Hotels & Resorts NQ, Cairns Colonial Club Resort, Parker Travel Collection, Red Peak Forest Estate & Coconut Grove Port Douglas.
DFO
www.dfo.com.au
Direct Factory Outlet brings a new and exciting style of shopping to the retail scene, with over 90 individual outlets under the one roof. With many well-known brand names in the complex, stores offer the whole spectrum from mens and womens fashion to luggage, homewares, lingerie and jewellery, children’s wear. Our stores offer discontinued lines, previous seasons stock, current season end-of-lines and special purchases. DFO Cairns opening November 2008.
Small World Journeys
www.smallworldjourneys.com.au (website under construction)
Small World Journeys is the ecotourism travel company of Cairns. Our multi-day itineraries mix nature, adventure and aboriginal culture, using only superb locally-owned accommodation, restaurants and outfitters. Led by a naturalist guide, our carbon-neutral trips give you the best Cairns has to offer while traveling in an ecologically responsible style.
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UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TRAINING SEMINAR
School Based Trainees in the tourism and hospitality industry – 6 August
An invitation will be issued closer to the seminar.
SELL TNQ 2008
CRCB is delighted to announce the dates for Sell TNQ 2008 as Friday 28 November – Monday 01 December 2008. Registration will open in July 2008.
CRCB WINS AGAIN!
CRCB has secured another important business conference for our region, which is an incentive trip for 100 delegates from New Zealand. The conference will be held in Port Douglas in August 2009 and has a conservative estimated worth of $250,000!
CRCB put together a bid document with general information, exclusive touring options, and evening event ideas. We won this incentive conference over the Whitsundays. The conference organiser is House of Travel (HOT) out of Christchurch.
CHINA MISSION
TTNQ China Mission – Northern & Southern China is planned for mid-November 2008, further details and firm dates will be forwarded shortly. Further information please contact elizabeth.webb@tnq.org.au
BUSINESS EVENTS AUSTRALIA US FAMIL
CRCB look forward to welcoming 11 North American incentive house delegates to Tropical North Queensland next week. Organised in conjunction with Business Events Australia (Tourism Australia) and Air New Zealand, the dual destination famil will showcase TNQ and Brisbane from an incentive destination perspective and will be held in TNQ Tuesday 22 – Friday 25 July 2008.
INBOUND UP NORTH
The North Qld Branch of ATEC is in the planning stages for the region’s showcase event for 2008 – Inbound Up North. We are very excited to be bringing our 9th annual famil event back to its original base of Cairns. We are planning an action-packed, three-day program for you to participate in, and interact with, the invited inbound tour operators. It is also an excellent opportunity to showcase your hotels, tours & attractions. Further info will be forthcoming.
In the meantime, please mark your diaries for 2008 Inbound Up North – 29th October – 1st November.
TTNQ – TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND REGIONAL TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT PLANNING
As you are aware, TTNQ is currently undertaking a long term tourism development planning and implementation process. You were recently sent a questionnaire seeking comment on a draft Infrastructure Summary prepared by The 20/20 Group detailing the current public and key tourism infrastructure in the various areas within the TNQ region.
TTNQ now seek your comment on what you see as the key priorities for Tourism Support Infrastructure – could you please provide us with details of the five most needed Tourism related infrastructure projects in your local government area. The intent is not to make this an onerous exercise, rather to identify significant projects that have been mooted, talked about before, are on the horizon, perhaps are in a planning phase etc.
Please click here forthe questionnaire.
AUSTRALIA’S MOST UNIQUE OPERA EVENT OF THE YEAR
Undara Experience is excited to bring for the first time to Tropical North Queensland, the sensational 10 SOPRANOS for this year’s OPERA IN THE OUTBACK. They will be performing for two distinct performances on FRIDAY 10TH AND SATURDAY 11TH OCTOBER.
Please click here for more information.
QUEENSLAND ON TOUR
In 2008, the QLD on Tour will take us to Copenhagen, London, Dublin, Manchester and Glasgow from 4 December to 12 December 2008. We expect to meet around 400 people from the UK, Ireland and Nordic tourism industry: targeting travel agents, product managers and reservation staff as well as selected travel trade journalists and consumer media journalists. Please send your registration form ASAP to Anne Miller at Tourism QLD head office in Brisbane, as we only have 20 slots available. Click here for your QLD on Tour UK 2008 Prospectus
http://www.tq.com.au/tqcorp_06/marketing/international-marketing/international-opportunities/queensland-on-tour/queensland-on-tour_home.cfm
Deadline for expressions of interest: 31st July 2008 first payments will be required by the Friday the 08 August 2008.
Contact: anne.miller@tq.com.au
RESEARCH RESULTS - MTSRF FUNDED RESEARCH BY JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY (TOURISM BAROMETERS)
James Cook University, through funding from the Commonwealth MTSRF program, have released their Annual Reports for 2007 and the 1st quarter reports for 2008 on their exit survey at the Cairns Domestic Terminal and on Rainforest Tourism. Click here to view the annual and quarterly reports and click here to view previous reports and to access other MTSRF research results http://www.rrrc.org.au/publications/tourism_barometers.html
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ON THE MOVE
- Wildlife Tropical North Queensland is pleased to advise the appointment of Kosuke Morinaga as the new Japan and Easter Markets representative for the group.
- Cairns Tropical Zoo is delighted to welcome its colony of five Madagascan Ring Tailed Lemurs.
- Thank you to WHK Greenwoods, who have come onboard as a Corporate Seminar partner & will begin providing presentations for our members later in the year.
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- TTNQ is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Healy to its Board of Directors. Michael has been involved in the TNQ tourism industry for 20-plus years and is currently the Director of Sales and Marketing of the Quicksilver Group of Companies. Michael replaces Rod Punshon on the Board.
SEEN IN THE MEDIA
- a story by Danny Gocs which appears in the current Australian Jewish News (circulation 5226) dated 30 May 2008.
- a story by Don Fuchs which appeared in the R.M. William's Outback Magazine Issue 57 (national circulation 80,000).
- a story by Liz Johnstone, Freelance travel writer, which appeared in the Sunday Mail Brisbane (circulation 592,440) on 22 June 2008.
- a story by Cathy Finch which appeared in the Sunday Mail (circulation 592,440) on 22 June 2008.
- a story by Nicolette Casella which appeared in the Daily Telegraph (circulation 392,000) on 3 July 2008
Here are the first results from our Team Cairns press famil in May 2008:
- The freelance Karsten Thilo Raab published two articles on “Snorkelling in the GBR” in two German daily papers: MITTELDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG and DIE GLOCKE. He writes about the colourful reef, sailing and snorkelling. The journalist also included Calypso Reef Charters.
Circ. in total: 350,000 PR Value: 73,800 AUD
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GOOD NEWS STORIES
In our eight-week tour of Queensland , Passions of Paradise was the most enjoyable, best organised and best value for money of any trip we did.
I would like you to copy this to the Queensland Tourist Board, but I can\'t find their website.
Thank you from Scotland
Gil Dippie
Dear Lisa and Niihori-san,
Thank you for organizing networking dinner on Monday.
Famil members enjoyed the function very much and I am sure they are all commit to sell Cairns when they go home.
And I am impressed again with your ‘team Cairns’ strong relationship and support to us.
Thanks again.
Junko
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Junko Kingsley-Smith
Operations Manager - Packge Tours
KIntetsu International Express PTY.LTD.
Tel:02-8251-3395(Direct)/Fax:02-8251-3366
Email: junko@kintetsu.com.au
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Kimberley Busteed, Former Miss Australia Universe travelled on Quicksilver to Agincourt Reef during her visit to Port Douglas.
Megan Bell, Director of Marketing said "It was wonderful to have Kimberley on Quicksilver and showcase the Great Barrier Reef. Kimberley has never been to Port Douglas and along with an introductory dive she had a wonderful time in the region".
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMM
A global survey of over 4,000 hoteliers by Expedia has found the Japanese are
considered the best tourists in the world. They were closely followed by German and British tourists, just ahead of the Canadians and the Swiss. Americans were considered the noisiest tourists, and they also came in last in terms of fashion sense. Expedia’s Karyn Thale said she hopes the survey results convince Americans to “leave the white tennis shoes and fanny packsat home”. The Germans were voted the world's tidiest tourists.
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If you have a good news story or have achieved a recent success please send your information to Karen Doane.
Brought to you by TTNQ's Corporate Sponsors.
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.