2 June 08

NEWS - EVENTS - TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES - TTNQ APPLAUDS ACHEIVEMENTS - ON THE MOVE - SEEN IN THE MEDIA - GOOD NEWS STORIES

NEWS

CHANGES AT TTNQ

Rob Giason, TTNQ’s CEO has made the following announcement:

“With several recent TTNQ staff changes, I’ve taken the opportunity to investigate improvements that TTNQ can make to its organisational structure. My aim is to better manage our business by maximising the effectiveness of our existing skills base. With the Board's approval last week of the 08/09 budget and business plan, I am now in a position to strengthen our marketing core to deliver more effective outcomes, and improve return on investment for TTNQ's members.

“I have tailored a more traditional marketing structure for TTNQ, since members' response to our recent stakeholder survey demonstrated that you would prefer to interact with this type of structure. It will give greater clarity by establishing a defined marketing reference point.

“As a result, David Rose has been promoted to the new role of Group Director Marketing, responsible for the Eastern, Western, Domestic/NZ markets, as well as overseeing the organisation's marketing support services.

“Additionally, he will continue to oversee the aviation portfolio, so providing continuity in pursuit of an integrated marketing/aviation strategy which we've developed over the past 18 months.

“As before, David will act as TTNQ's CEO during my absence.

“A new appointment will be made for a Western Markets manager shortly following the departure of Sharyn Brydon, who leaves TTNQ for a new role within the industry in June.”

KOREA COMMITTED TO TNQ

Last week, seven TTNQ Members joined TTNQ in Seoul, Korea for the 2nd Korea Sales Mission this year. This trip is part of the extensive marketing activities that are being conducted for the forthcoming Korean Air charters (due to commence 18 July 2008). These charters provide our destination with direct services Seoul-Cairns twice a week for six 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 are prone to including TNQ in their clients itineraries. Ranging from Honeymoon packages, youth adventure and family holidays. Korean’s only receive 15 days annual leave a year, and they look to Australia as a long-haul destination and two cities should be visited due to their limited annual leave.

These charters provide TNQ as a short-haul destination (flying time just under 7.5hours direct) and will visit TNQ only during their time in Australia.

With our partners TQ, Cairns Ports, TA and supporting members our marketing activities have commenced, including SMS blasts, bus back advertising and much media coverage in either trade, newspaper or high-gloss publications.

The trip ended with participation in the Hana Tour Convention, a trade expo organized by the biggest wholesaler – Hana Tour. Delegates attending this trade expo where from all over Korea and travel agents/frontline staff of HANA Tour. We updated the travel agents on the myriad products available, plus conducted lecture sessions for the Korean Air charter program.

Plus we had the added incentive of the Rainforestation Nature Park – Pamagirri Aboriginal Dancers at our stand and performing four (4) times a day. Received with much enthusiasm by the Korean agents and many photo’s taken with enthusiastic audience participation during the performance and didgeridoo lessons.

KoreaSalesMission

Click here for more photos!

QANTAS COMMITMENT TO TNQ
Last week theQantas Group indicated it would significantly reduce its capacity in the domestic Australian market. Together, Jetstar and Qantas will cancel some five per cent of current available seat kilometers – the equivalent of grounding six aircraft.

It is likely the seat capacity into Cairns is likely to reduce as a consequence.

The move is in response to the recent dramatic increase in fuel costs - estimated to represent around 35 per cent of the company’s total expenditure.

Specifically, Qantas Group will:

retire one B737 aircraft;
ground two B767 aircraft and one Jetstar A320 aircraft;
cancel the delivery of one Jetstar A321 aircraft;
accelerate the retirement of its four B747-300 aircraft, currently operating trans-continental services to Perth, by December; and
adjust the flying patterns of other aircraft, including reducing the utilisation of the B747-400 fleet.

What this means domestically?

Qantas will exit its Gold Coast-Sydney and Ayers Rock-Melbourne routes and reduce Ayers Rock-Sydney services from August;
Jetstar would exit its Sydney-Whitsunday Coast, Adelaide-Sunshine Coast, and Brisbane-Hobart routes from July; and
Jetstar would reduce services on some Adelaide, Avalon and Cairns routes by August. We will have a better idea tomorrow what specific reductions are being proposed for Cairns services.

Qantas Group confirmed that only Jetstar’s Brisbane flights to Cairns will be impacted. From 1st June we go to four flights per day or 28 per week and from 1st July it will revert back to 24 flights per week. This is still three more flights per week than we have today so we seem to have been saved from the worst of the decision for now. Not so for some other destinations.

At the moment, no changes have been indicated to the Cairns - Tokyo services, although Qantas was finalising details of its international network restructure, including capacity adjustments and market exits, and will announce these within the next week.

TTNQ will be working closely with Qantas and Jetstar to minimise the reduction of capacity on Cairns routes.

CI EVENTS IN TNQ
The CI Events Famil held 16 – 18 May, was a tremendous success with many members hosting this important corporate meeting and incentive planners visit to the region. Coordinated by the CRCB team and with flights sponsored by Qantas, the CI Events staff from the Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane offices were hosted to a 2.5 day tailor-made itinerary that included Cairns, Palm Cove and Port Douglas and offered site inspections of accommodation, attractions, off-site venues and the Cairns Convention Centre.
“Thank you for all of your time and effort to coordinate the exclusive famil for our CiEvents team over the weekend,” said Katrina O’Neill, CI Events National Sales Leader. “The CI Events’ participating team members are now collating their product information to share with the rest of us. We look forward to sending plenty of business your way soon.”
Rachel Reading, Event Director echoed these sentiments noting, “Thanks for making such a great experience possible for us. Being able to experience first-hand the fantastic venues and places that the region has to offer makes it so much easier to on-sell the destination to clients.”

CI-Events08

NOMINATIONS DUE FOR TOURISM AWARDS & DONT MISS THE UPCOMING SUBMISSION SEMINARS!
All those wishing to enter the 2008 Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards must complete and return the nomination form by Friday 13th June. Please ensure this form is accompanied by a cheque or credit card details for the nomination fee, made payable to Tourism Tropical North Queensland. A receipt will be forwarded to you on receipt of the nomination payment. Nomination forms are available on our corporate website. www.tropicalaustralia.com.au/corporate/tourism_awards.

TTNQ held a successfull Submission Seminar a couple of weeks ago in Cairns. Dates for Submission Seminars in Mission Beach, Port Douglas and Tablelands have been confirmed. Please click here to view the invitation and reserve your seat today! RSVP's are essential.

For further information contact Joanna at joannap@alistevents.com.au

SURVEY OF TOURIST ACCOMMODATION

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released the latest Survey of Tourist Accommodation results for the year ended December 2007.
Accommodation Trends Snapshot

IN MEMORY OF WILMA “NANA” WALKER, NGADIJINA

Wilma “Nana” Walker, Ngadijina, honoured elder of the Kuku Yalanji rainforest Aboriginal people, has passed away.

Born in a grass hut in her Aboriginal camp, situated in the Daintree Rainforest, her early life was in harmony with the environment in her tribal community.

Nana’s life’s pathway was affected by Government policies and procedures imposed on her, her family and her people. Throughout her life, respect and love have been paramount. Nana’s life is a part of Australian history and all she knew were touched by her love.

A funeral service is to be held at St Augustine’s Church, Mossman, Friday June 5th 2008.

OVERSEAS ARRIVALS AND AUSTRALIAN DEPARTURES

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released the latest Overseas Arrivals and Australian Departures results for the year ended March 2008.
Overseas Arrivals and Australian Departures Snapshot

Both are available at www.tq.com.au/research.
For more information, contact the Research Department.

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EVENTS

SELL TNQ LUNCH

CRCB is currently organizing a Sell TNQ Lunch to be held Friday 13 June in Sydney as a follow up with hosted buyers attending the highly successful Sell TNQ 2006 + 2007.

DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL FOR SICHUAN EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

A fundraising dinner will be held to aid the victims of the Sichuan, China Earthquake disaster on Friday 6 June at 7 pm at China Palace Restaurant, 69 Abbott St.

Cost: $35 pp ($20 for children under 12)

China Palace & CADCAI will be donating 100% of the dinner proceeds and all monies raised will be donated to the quake victims through the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Brisbane.

For Bookings: Contact David Ni on Ph. 4051 9188 / 4051 5151;
Fax: 4031 9288 or email: res.chinapalace@yahoo.com.au

“EBUSINESS SOLUTIONS - MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU”

If you are a home-based business, an independent professional or a small business owner/operator wanting to learn more about how to use the Web to enhance your business then this seminar is for you. The seminars are designed to give your business a leading edge in an increasingly competitive environment. The day will provide you with heaps of tips on how to make your business more efficient and effective online. Online Technology is one thing, knowing how to use it to enable your business is another. The speakers will offer a mixture of presentation and
interactive sessions, so don’t miss this opportunity to learn how. Click here for more information.

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OPPORTUNITIES

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.

QUEENSLAND DISCOVERIES CONSUMER NEWSPAPER SUPPLEMENT 2008
Over 300,000 copies of the full colour TQ Queensland Discoveries Consumer Supplement will be distributed 2 & 3 August 2008.

This 24 page, full colour supplement is the last of six Queensland titles that have been distributed across New Zealand since February 08, with this issue to cover the whole of Queensland.

It will be distributed to specifically targeted areas across New Zealand and is inserted into the New Zealand Herald (150,000 copies) and Sunday Star Times (150,000 copies) and will also be featured as an e-brochure under the hot deals section of www.queenslandholidays.co.nz

Advertising costs start for as little as AUD$850 for a 1/8 page, AUD$1,600 for 1/4 page, AUD$3,200 for a 1/2 page and AUD$6,000 for a full page. Production costs are included in this price – all you need to do is supply copy and image(s) depending on size of ad booked. Material is due 13 June 08.
Space is limited. For a copy of the Consumer Newspaper Supplement prospectus, email: samantha.cameron@tq.com.au to lock in your participation.

LET 50,000 US AND UK TRAVELERS TO AUSTRALIA KNOW ABOUT YOUR DEALS

International Travel Communications (ITC), approved supplier of the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse will run a new business to consumer destination marketing program in the second half of 2008. The program is called SEEYOUINAUSTRALIA and will introduce travel products deals from all Australian regions to more than 50,000 pre-qualified US and UK consumers that want to travel to Australia in 2008 and that want to deal directly with local suppliers.

This is a true opportunity to generate additional bookings and revenue for 2008. The program will be supported by a website where operators can display their special deals for our consumers for as little as $50. The site will also display our new online publication, the 2008 Australia Travel Planner where suppliers can display advertisements to introduce their company.

Our office will support the program by providing promotional materials about our region for the display on the Travel Planner.

Please click on the link below to receive detailed information on this exciting business to consumer program and to register for this great opportunity.

http://www.itcgo.com/preview/australia/emailer/index.html

Any further inquiries can be made directly to the ITC Program Director Rick Buhs, either via phone on +64-9-424 4173 or by e-mail rbuhs@itcgo.com

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TTNQ APPLAUDS ACHIEVEMENTS

Congratulations to:

The Northern Greenhouse Hostel, located in Cairns, recently received a certificate from the international Hostelbookers.com for being the “Cleanest” hostel in April 2008. As part of the Greenhouse Backpacker Group, the Northern Greenhouse Hostel was secretly visited by a judge for this category and is delighted to receive such a fantastic award.

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ON THE MOVE

Louise Knol has taken the job of Tourism Coordinator for the Tablelands Regional Council in their Malanda office. She can be contacted on 07 4096 7608 or louisek@trc.gov.au
Sharyn Brydon, is leaving TTNQ as General Manager of Western Markets to take a position with Livingston Travel as the General Manager – Sales & Marketing.
Rachel Casey has been appointed Domestic Sales Executive for the CaPTA Group.
Marina Musumeci has resigned as Director of Sales and Marketing from Livingston Tourism Marketing and will be joining her partner Andrew Travers in a double act at Musket Cove Island Resort in Fiji. Andrew will take on the role of General Manager and Marina will be the Director of Sales and Marketing.
Michelle Behsman has taken on the role of International & Domestic Sales and Marketing Manager -Thala Beach Lodge - Frankland Island Cruises - Cairns Seaplanes.

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SEEN IN THE MEDIA

Getaway’s 29 May episode featured interviews with the cast of the Sex and the City, with Chris Noth aka “Big” stating his favourite place in the world to visit is Port Douglas, Australia.
The Great Outdoors 31 May episode featured a ride from Brisbane to Cairns on the Sunlander; visits to Skyrail and Kuranda Scenic Train; a visit to Rainforestation; accommodation at The Lakes Resort and Spa; a trip on Franklin Island Cruises to Normanby Island; and a stoll through Palm Cove, with a stay at Peppers Beach Club and Spa.
An article about Tropical North Queensland, which was published and released last week in the Fairfax media publications like the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Age.

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GOOD NEWS STORIES

OUR VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRES ARE TOPS!
Bruce Wallace, Tourism Queensland's Director Publicity and Partnerships received great feedback from one of Australia's most experienced freelance travel writers, Roger Allnut. Roger has just returned from an extended drive trip in north Queensland and commented on the exceptional staff in the Visitor Information Centres.

‘Hi Bruce
I just returned from a great driving trip from Cairns out to Karumba, down to Cloncurry and back to Cairns via Charters Towers. It was a great trip.
One thing you could pass on with pride is the fantastic information centres at places along the way. At all of them the staff was friendly, enthusiastic, helpful and the range of material was top class. Especially good (but all were good) were at Georgetown, Croydon (an incredibly enthusiastic woman Eleanor), Normanton, Julia Creek, Richmond, Hughenden and Charters Towers.
Congratulations to them all.
Regards
Roger'