Gold Coast welcomes Aussie Specialists to Corroboree Asia 2018

More than 100 Australian tourism businesses are on the Gold Coast this week meeting with close to 300 Aussie Specialist travel sellers from key Asian markets to strengthen their specific product knowledge and enhance their ability to promote and sell Australia. Hosted by Tourism Australia in partnership with Destination Gold Coast and Tourism and Events Queensland, the Corroboree Asia 2018 trade event combines training workshops, business appointments and networking functions exclusively for qualified Aussie Specialist agents from Greater China, Japan, Korea, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. Following the trade event from 28 to 30 August on the Gold Coast, 24 groups of Aussie Specialists will have the opportunity to experience Australia through five-day familiarisation visits in every State and Territory. The twitter hashtag for the event is #CA18GC and photos from the event are being posted throughout the week.

Greater China Showcase 2018

Applications are open until Friday 7 September for Australian industry to join Tourism Australia's major incentive showcase for the Greater China market, the Business Events Australia Greater China Showcase. For the first time the event will be held in Australia with more than 60 Greater China buyers and media expected to attend the event in Melbourne.

Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment

Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham has been appointed as Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment by new Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Senator Birmingham thanked the Prime Minister and acknowledged the outstanding achievements of his predecessor, Minister Steven Ciobo who has now been appointed as Minister for Defence Industry. “Having previously worked across Australia’s wine, tourism and hospitality industries I look forward to again supporting the hardworking Australians whose efforts in trade and tourism underpin so much of our national prosperity,” said Senator Birmingham. The Hon Mark Coulton MP will continue his role as the Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment.

Australian hotel investment pipeline interactive dashboard

Tourism Australia has published an interactive dashboard with the latest data on the Australian hotel investment pipeline, enabling users to look at room and project breakdowns by State and Territory. The dashboard, which is updated by content from market research firm STR Global, can also breakdown the number of rooms by project phase as well as by opening date. The dashboard is available on the Australian Government’s tourism investment website, www.tourisminvestment.com.au, and is one of the ways the Tourism Australia and Austrade partnership assists interested investors by providing them with information and insight on the Australian tourism opportunity.

Luxury accommodation pod opens in McLaren Vale

South Australian company Escapod have launched their first luxury accommodation pod at The Vineyard Retreat in McLaren Vale. The pod allows visitors to be immersed in the environment while enjoying all the creature comforts of a high-end hotel. The open plan layout includes a dining and lounge room with an open fire, fully functioning kitchen, king size bed, separate bathroom and storage room, and a small outdoor deck. The Vineyard Retreat’s Escapod will be available for bookings in September 2018. 

Wild Bush Luxury introduces a new Aboriginal guided experience for Arkaba

Wild Bush Luxury has introduced Arkaba Through Adnamatna Eyes, a new experience that takes guests on a rich and insightful journey through Arkaba in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges. The new, guided experience is told through the eyes of the Adnamatna people of South Australia, offering guests a richer connection and appreciation of the awe-inspiring wilderness that surrounds them.

The Star Gold Coast breaks ground for new $400 million hotel tower

Construction on a 53-storey mixed use tower set to house one of the Gold Coast’s largest luxury hotels has started on Broadbeach Island this week. The tower will deliver The Star Gold Coast a third hotel alongside The Star Grand and The Darling and will boast 316 rooms. The $400 million development at The Star Gold Coast will also herald Australia’s entry into the internationally-acclaimed Dorsett hotel brand. The Dorsett will be among an elite group of hotels on the coast with more than 300 rooms and be the second biggest in the Broadbeach region behind only The Star Grand. 

Cairns’ first five-star resort in over 20 years to open in November 2018

Australia’s newest five-star hotel brand Crystalbrook Collection is now taking bookings for its first resort Riley for stays from 6 November 2018. Located on Cairns’ Esplanade, Riley will be the first new five-star hotel for Cairns in over 20 years. The hotel has been designed on the concept of ‘living in the moment’ and ‘embracing the now’ and features high tech facilities and a focus on sustainability. 

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. Tourism Australia is working with Tourism Western Australia to deliver the event at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Around 1,500 Australian seller delegates from approximately 550 companies, 650 key buyer delegates from over 30 countries as well as over 80 international and Australian media attend this global event. The program will include a mix of business appointments and networking opportunities. This is the fourth time ATE has been hosted in Western Australia; it was first held in Perth in 2005, and again in 2008 and 2012.

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. 

Tourism WA has signed a two-year, $1.2 million co-operative marketing agreement with Jetstar to help increase awareness of WA as a holiday destination and stimulate interstate visitation. 

Rebecca Brown has been appointed as CEO of Tourism WA and Director General of the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation. 

Tourism WA has developed six new domestic market audience profiles to better target consumers. 

China Eastern Airlines will add a new seasonal service between Shanghai and Cairns, commencing mid-December with three flights per week.

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

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. 

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.

Registration is open for The Exchange to be held on Tuesday 11 September at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre. The Exchange is the new name for the Melbourne Tourism Industry Exchange and embraces the inclusion of Greater Melbourne and regional destinations and products.

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.

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 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.

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