G'Day USA 2019 program of events announced

Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, and Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, this week launched the G'Day USA 2019 program of events. Now entering its 16th year, G'Day USA, is Australia's annual public and economic diplomacy program promoting the best of Australian ideas, invention and talent to audiences across the United States. Commencing in January 2019 in Los Angeles, G'Day USA events will span foreign policy, defence and security, cyber, trade, tourism and investment, creative industries and education. G'Day USA will demonstrate the power of Australian ideas through a range of event including an expanded 'Australia House' showcase at the annual South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

Market update presentations

Tourism Australia has published recorded presentations from senior managers responsible for activities in the USA, the UK, Japan and India on the current state of each of the markets. The videos are supported by further market information on Tourism Australia’s corporate website.

Traveller Made welcomes Australia as a new preferred destination

One of the world’s leading travel networks focused on luxury, bespoke itineraries has welcomed Australia as a new preferred destination. Traveller Made has 365 Member Agencies dedicated to providing unique and exclusive journeys to wealthy travellers looking for different and original experiences and requiring skilled and knowledgeable advisors. “Partnering with Tourism Australia will help our entire community of expert travel designers focus more on this gem of a destination by bringing them more in-depth knowledge and reasons to promote very specific and hidden adventures,” said Quentin Desurmont, President of Traveller Made.

Tourism Australia announces new creative and digital agency partners

M&C Saatchi will provide Tourism Australia with global brand, advertising and production services, commencing work in January 2019. Tourism Australia Managing Director, John O’Sullivan, said the appointment followed a comprehensive and competitive selection process aimed at continuing its focus on delivering world class creativity aligned with its strategic marketing objectives. Tourism Australia also confirmed the appointment of Digitas, a subsidiary of the Publicis Groupe, to oversee its global digital and technology services requirements, commencing work in January 2019. Incumbent ASAP+ has also been retained for all digital services in China.

Australia’s business events capacity on show at IBTM World

Tourism Australia hosted five industry partners on the Australia stand at IBTM World in Barcelona last month. IBTM World is a key business events exhibition where international planners from the conference, convention and corporate events industries gather to do business. The three-day event attracts more than 15,000 industry professionals from over 141 countries around the world.

New Australian pearl experience at Broken Bay, NSW

Pearls of Australia, owner of Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, have launched a brand new experience at Broken Bay Pearl Farm on the NSW Central Coast. Located just one hour north of Sydney in Woy Woy, the tour invites guests to board a 10m catamaran where they will experience unprecedented access to the pearl farm including a special hands-on pearl grading session with the rare Australian Akoya Pearl.  Pearls of Australia in Broken Bay runs tours on Wednesdays and Saturdays and marks NSW’s first pearling tourism product.

Annual coral spawning seasons shows positive signs for the Great Barrier Reef

One of nature’s most magnificent events, the Great Barrier Reef’s annual coral spawning season has initiated the largest collaborative effort in history to regenerate a reef using millions of coral spawn. The Larval Restoration Project aims to repair the reproductive life cycles of corals and re-establish breeding populations on damaged reefs in the Vlasoff and Arlington area in Cairns. The successful spawning season is a sign that the reef is alive and flourishing and is an extraordinary time to visit the Great Barrier Reef.

Blend your own wine at Jacob’s Creek new and improved cellar door

Set in the heart of South Australia’s Barossa Valley, the iconic Jacob’s Creek Cellar Door has revealed its biggest refurbishment since opening in 2002. Major upgrades include developments to the Our Table restaurant, a new bespoke Blend Bar where guests can blend their own wine, upgrades to the front of house wine café and a new wine experience room dedicated to hosting unique food and wine experiences.

New ocean-to-plate seafood experience in Rottnest Island

A new ocean-to-plate boat cruise has sailed into WA’s Rottnest Island. Rottnest Cruises has released a unique experience showcasing Rottnest Island and the Western Rock Lobster (crayshish) in a luxury adventure sea-tour. The 2.5-hour cruise is the first-ever interactive seafood tour on Rottnest Island where guests catch and dine on an elaborate banquet of ocean-fresh delicacies, all cooked live in an open, on-board kitchen with perfect sea-views and free-flowing beverages.

Registrations are open until Friday 14 December for the Queensland on Tour India roadshow from 17 – 22 February 2019.

Tourism and Events Queensland has signed a deal with Ctrip, China’s largest online travel company, to promote Queensland as the perfect next holiday destination to more than 300 million members.

Tourism Australia has published presentations from its recent industry briefings held in Tasmania, South Australia and New South Wales.

Tourism and Events Queensland is inviting organisations to submit offers for Third-Party Representation in North America (Canada and the United States) by Monday 17 December.

Australia was one of five ‘Favourite Travel Destination in 2018’ at the Travel + Leisure China Awards his month as voted by the magazine’s readers and contributors as well as a professional panel.

Tourism and Events Queensland is currently seeking applicants for the agency's Regional Manager UK based in London.

Tourism Australia has published new consumer profile fact sheets for: USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, South Korea, Japan, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and New Zealand.

A recording of Tourism Australia’s accessible tourism webinar is now available to watch on demand. The webinar outlines the size of the market for travellers with accessibility needs as well as recent Australian research.