UnDiscover Australia campaign rolls out across South and South East Asia

Tourism Australia is hosting an event for media, trade and influencers in Singapore tonight as part of the roll-out of its UnDiscover Australia across South and South East Asia. The A$10 million campaign targeting high value travellers in India, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia is the single largest, targeted campaign Tourism Australia has run in the region and was launched last Saturday in Indonesia by Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham. Designed to challenge perceptions and stereotypes of what Australia offers as a holiday destination, UnDiscover Australia is being backed by Australia’s state and territory tourism organisations, airlines and a range of other key distribution partners.

Australian Tourism Exchange 2019

Applications are open until Friday 14 September for Australian tourism businesses to participate in the 40th annual Australian Tourism Exchange 2019 in Perth from 8 - 12 April. Around 1,500 Australian sellers from approximately 550 companies attend the event.

Aussie Specialists experience Australia as part of Corroboree Asia

Almost 300 qualified Aussie Specialist travel agents from Greater China, Japan, Korea, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore have been exploring the country this week on famils hosted by each State and Territory as part of Corroboree Asia 2018. The post-event famils give the agents the opportunity to strengthen their product knowledge and enhance their ability to sell holidays Down Under. Corroboree Asia is a trade event hosted every two-years by Tourism Australia for qualified Aussie Specialist travel sellers from key Asian markets and combines training workshops, business appointments and networking functions followed by familiarisation visits. See photos from the famils and trade show.

New Dundee campaign with Qantas takes off in the UK

Tourism Australia and Qantas have kicked off a new joint consumer and trade marketing campaign in the UK to further leverage the Dundee assets. Running until 31 October, the promotion aims to inspire Brits to choose Australia for their next holiday destination by showcasing on Australia.com two-week holiday itineraries using Qantas Explorer fares. A concurrent trade engagement campaign with Travel Weekly will also incentivise travel agents with weekly prizes and a grand prize draw of The Ultimate Aussie Adventure for any bookings made with Qantas to Australia. In 2017 the UK was Australia’s fourth largest inbound market for visitor arrivals, third largest market for total visitor spend and second largest for visitor nights.

American Society of Travel Advisors get inspired with Australian experiences

120 members of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) attended a Tourism Australia training session last month with information on the Signature Experiences of Australia program including the Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective. Dundee video content was also used to promote Australia’s food and wine, nature and wildlife, and aquatic and coastal experiences. The training took place at ASTA’s Global Convention in Washington DC. where an Australia booth provided 1,000 industry participants access to information on selling Australia and the tools and benefits of the Aussie Specialist Program. The Convention is the ‘event of the year’ for ASTA which is the world’s largest association of travel professionals. 

Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia welcome two new members

South Australia’s Gemtree Wines (McLaren Vale) and Queensland’s Sirromet (Mount Cotton) are the latest editions to the Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia (UWEA) collection. Gemtree boasts 306 acres of certified organic and biodynamic vineyards with Gemtree Biodrama Hut located at the cellar door offering visitors a deeper understanding of the biodynamic viticulture. Sirromet is a family owned and run winery and is Queensland’s first winery to join the UWEA collection. A short drive from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Sirromet offers casual lunch options at the Italian-inspired Tuscan Terrace or light-lunch at the cellar door; fine dining experiences at award winning Restaurant Lurleen’s; and luxury accommodation at Sanctuary by Sirromet, a collection of tented pavilions in the bushland with Moreton Bay views.

Tasmania’s Truffle Lodge re-opens in September

Tasmania’s glamping experience Truffle Lodge will re-open its doors in September featuring new additions and upgrades. Three new luxury style safari en-suite tents have been added. A private bush bath, a large open tented-shelter for outdoor activities and functions and a line-up of activities have also been implemented as part of the lodge enhancements. Truffle Lodge was once an abandoned space covered in wild blackberry vines before becoming a canvas hotel built on the concept of simplistic luxury.

Local talent celebrated at Entwined in the Valley

Located 25 minutes from Perth’s city centre, Entwined in the Valley is a celebration of local talent from across the Swan Valley region. Hosting more than 50 events the festival will showcase a variety of products and experiences suitable for adventurous foodies, wine-lovers, and families. Offering bespoke, private cellar tastings, country-style fairs, master-class experiences, Sculptures in the Valley and more, the four-day event will take place from 4-7 October. Tickets are now available to purchase.

St Regis Hotels and Resorts to debut in Melbourne in 2022

Melbourne will be added to the growing collection of iconic luxury hotel brand St. Regis Hotels and Resorts, set to make its Australian debut in 2022. Located in the luxury mixed-used precinct Flinders Bank in the heart of Melbourne (corner of Spencer and Flinders Street), the hotel will serve as a gateway to the city’s popular central business district. Housed across levels 2 to 11 of the existing 33-storey building, 168 luxurious appointed guestrooms will provide sweeping views of the Yarra River or city skyline and will be within walking distance of Collins Street, known for its historic Victorian architecture, prestigious boutiques and high-end retailers, as well as the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Greater China Showcase 2018

Applications are open until Friday 7 September for Australian industry to join Tourism Australia's major incentive showcase for the China market, the Business Events Australia Greater China Showcase. The event is designed to provide Australian industry with a platform on which to develop their relationships with incentive buyers from the China market, and to provide insights into market trends and customer behaviour. In 2018 the showcase will be in Melbourne, the first time it has been held in Australia, providing incentive buyers from the China market with an opportunity to experience Australia's offering first-hand and famil around the country.

Internationale Tourismus Börse 2019

Applications are open until Friday 21 September for Australian tourism businesses to join the Australia stand at the Internationale Tourismus Börse 2019 (ITB19) in Berlin from 6 to 10 March 2019. A wide range of participation options are available, such as sole and share booth options, and day passes for the trade days. ITB19 is a five-day event, open to trade and consumers. Wednesday 6 March to Friday 8 March are trade and press-only days. Saturday 9 March and Sunday 10 March are open to the general public. In 2018 ITB hosted 10,000 exhibitors and attracted 196,000 visitors of which 120,000 were trade.

The WA Government has announced a $30 million partnership between Tourism Western Australia and Perth Airport to attract new airline routes into Perth and grow its reputation as Australia's western gateway.

Destination NSW has released a new visitor profile snapshot on road trippers to NSW.

Tourism Research Australia (TRA) has launched a new version of its website, www.tra.gov.au, providing statistics and research on both international and domestic tourism as well as research and analysis on the economic value of tourism to the economy.

The NSW Government has launched a new Visitor Economy Industry Action Plan targeting $55 billion in overnight visitor expenditure for the State by 2030.

The NSW Government in partnership with the Hunter Valley Group has launched a new advertising campaign, Here’s to the Good Life, to drive more visitation from Australians and international visitors to the Hunter Valley region.

Destination NSW is holding Tourism Development Workshops in Dubbo, Yass Valley and Kingscliff in September.

Applications are open until Friday 7 September for Destination NSW's 2018 USA Roadshow which will visit New York, Chicago and Los Angeles from  11-17 November.

Applications are open until Friday 7 September for South Australia's best of wine tourism awards 2019.

Applications are open until Friday 7 September for the 2018 Whitsundays Tourism Exchange on 4–6 December.

Applications are open until Friday 14 September for the Australian Regional Tourism Emerging Tourism Professionals program, open to tourism professionals aged 30 and under who are working in the tourism industry in regional Australia or in a role that primarily focuses on regional tourism.

Applications are open until 21 September for the second round of funding from the NSW Regional Growth Environment and Tourism Fund.

Nominations are open until 24 September for the RACQ People's Choice Category at the 2018 Queensland Tourism Awards to be held on Friday 16 November at The Star Gold Coast.

Registration is open for the inaugural Australian Wine Industry Impact Conference to be held in Adelaide on Thursday 18 October at the Grand Chancellor Hotel.

Registration is open for the Australian Regional Tourism Convention (ARTC) 2018 to be held in the Tweed from 23-25 October.

Registration is open for the Ecotourism Australia one day Masterclass in Cairns on 11 September and the Global Eco Asia Pacific Tourism Conference in Townsville on 26-28 November.

Entries are open until Sunday 30 September for the first Destination Gold Coast Content Awards to celebrate the best of digital and social storytelling from the region. #DGCCA #WeAreGoldCoast

The next funding round of the Queensland Destination Events Program is open until Wednesday 10 October.

Registration is open for travel business and investment conference Travel IQ on Wednesday 24 October in Sydney.

Registration is open for the Bicycle Tourism and the Australian Walking and Cycling conferences from 26-30 October in Bendigo, Victoria.

Registration is open for the Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference to be held in Lorne, Victoria from 30 October to 1 November.

Registration is open for the Australian Event Symposium to be held on the Sunshine Coast from 19-21 November.

Registration is open for ATEC Meeting Place 2018 which will take place from 19-21 November in Darwin.

Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) has published profiles of the winners of the 2017 MEA Awards and has opened submissions for the 2018 MEA Awards.

Industry are invited to register their interest for the Destination Australia Conference 2019 to be held on Thursday 14 March in Brisbane.