On behalf of the team at Destination Gippsland we hope you are having a successful summer season and wish you all the best for the coming year.  Our targeted marketing and industry development programs are designed to support Gippsland to remain an inspiring visitor destination. We encourage you to participate in these opportunities.

The development of the Gippsland Destination Management Plan has now commenced.  We will be seeking consultation from industry in the coming months and look forward to your contribution. 

Terry Robinson - CEO

Destination Gippsland has now opened applications for inclusion into the 2018 International partnership program. 

Our international program partners with Visit Victoria and Tourism Australia to promote Gippsland to the travel trade worldwide, focussing on existing and emerging markets.

New for Gippsland in 2018 will be representation at the International Media Marketplace, as well as our regular attendance at the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) in April.  For more information follow the link here or contact Alison Conroy at aconroy@destinationgippsland.com.au

Act now to be a part of the new Gippsland-wide Food & Drink Guide!

The Gippsland Food & Drink Guide has been met with unprecedented interest by food & drink vendors across Gippsland and advertising opportunities are now strictly limited. 

The final date for the inclusion of partnership advertising is Thursday 25 January 2018.   

If you are interested in learning more please contact Kelly McCarthy at kmccarthy@destinationgippsland.com.au or call 03 56682141 

Facebook is radically altering the formula that determines what bubbles to the top of people’s news feed, part of sweeping changes the giant social network has planned to address growing controversy over the role it plays in people’s lives and in society.

For further information please read Phoebe Honey's blog article here.

The marketing team at Destination Gippsland in partnership with Visit Victoria are finalising marketing activities for Autumn and Winter 2018.   

This provides a great opportunity for you to submit your stories, product, images or events that can be promoted in the coming shoulder and low season months. 

If you would like to be included, please speak with the team by contacting Alison Conroy at aconroy@destinationgippsland.com.au

Tuesday 27 March 2018
Tuesday 19 June 2018
Tuesday 11 September 2018

Business Case Studies 

If you have ideas or suggestions for business case studies you would like to hear presented, please contact Janine Hayes at jhayes@destinationgippsland.com.au

Please see an interesting article from Rezdy, about tour operators paying commission to agents.  Read article here.

Released in December 2017, Forest Fire Management Victoria’s More To Explore app aims to encourage users to enjoy state forests through an interactive map via a range of activities. These include camping, picnicking, walking, fishing, four-wheel driving, mountain biking and trail bike riding.

The app is only available for iPhones from the App Store,however an Android version of the app is planned for release in mid-2018. 

Click here or on the picture to view the video.

The Australian Government’s $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package is an exciting, one–off allocation, which aims to grow the Australian wine sector by showcasing the nation’s wine tourism offering and driving demand for Australian wine exports.

Wine Australia is responsible for delivering the Package in consultation with the Australian wine sector.

The Package comprises four programs which are focused on international marketing campaigns, Wine Export Grants, capability development workshops, state-based and competitive grants, and development of a brand strategy for the cider industry.

State wine associations, eligible consortia and entities can now apply for funding through the Australian Government’s International Wine Tourism State Grants and International Wine Tourism Competitive Grants.

The two grant programs each have $5 million in funding for exciting wine tourism experiences that will build a stronger pull for Australia’s food, wine and tourism and attract more international visitors to our regions.

Further information can be found here.

Round 3 - Expression of Interest opens 2 January -16 March. Applications close 30 March. Funding announced May 2018

Round 4 - Expression of Interest opens 2 April -15 June Applications close 29 June. Funding announced August 2018

FAQ's can be found here.

For further information visit the Regional Events Fund website here.

Other funding opportunities include the Regional Jobs Fund - Market Access Program Stream - Visitor Economy - information found HERE and the Regional Jobs Infrastructure fund. Visitor Economy - Information can be found HERE.

If you are a business that employs twenty or more people you may be eligible for a Small Business Victoria Boost your Business voucher . Find more information here

There is a specific program to help SME's identify and secure market development and export opportunities in Asia.  This is called the Asia Gateway funding stream. Applications for funding need to be submitted between 29 January - 2 March 2018.  Please see our blog post here

Tourism Australia is launching a new campaign in the UK called #24MillionMates and we’d like Australian industry to be a part of it.

Simply record a 4-5 second selfie-style video in landscape format on your phone, saying “Hi mate” or “G’day mate”. It’s as easy as that!

This could be done in a breath-taking location, during an activity like
surfing or snorkelling, and it can be filmed alone, or with others.

This is an opportunity to highlight Gippsland by sending in inspiring videos of the region.

Please email your video to casting@flarebbdo.com

Latrobe City Council is seeking interest from businesses and industry based in Gippsland who are looking to enter the lucrative Asian market.

Application close 5pm, Wednesday 31 January 2018.  Read further information at Latrobe City Council business delegation to China.

We love hearing about new businesses and events in the region.  

Contact Marketing and PR Executive Phoebe Honey Phoebe@destinationgippsland.com.au         

Remember to share your news with us on social media by using the tags #inspiredbygippsland and #visitgippsland

Steve Moneghetti will be a guest speaker in Gippsland on 6 March 2018 at a breakfast in the Bass Coast Shire and at a lunch in Latrobe City Council. Steve draws parallels between the demands of being an elite athlete and the corporate world.

To book follow the links.  Bass Coast Breakfast  or Latrobe City Lunch  

VTIC is hosting a range of webinars during 2018 from 10.30am to 1.30am on the third Wednesday of every month.  The first three webinars will cover the following topics.

• Workplace Relations Issues You Need to be Aware Of 
• PR for Tourism Businesses- Telling Your Stories
• Risk Management 101

Follow the links to the Webinar Series and Upcoming VTIC events

Now the year has begun, it is a good time to consider changes that you want to see in your business. Becoming Accredited through ATAP Victoria will get you there!

Thousands of Australian tourism businesses are already ATAP Accredited. Don’t get left behind - contact ATAP Victoria today and sharpen your competitive edge.

Destination Gippsland has a range of resources to assist your business prepare for potential risks.

Our Business Continuity kit can be found here.

Our Crisis website has a range of useful resources to assist you to plan, prepare and recover should you encounter circumstances that pose a risk to your business.  Please see here to access.

The Latrobe Valley Authority has a variety of services to assist business including business support services, worker transition service, community facilities fund and the home energy upgrade program.  For further information see here.

Visit Victoria has a new look website with range of resources for Tourism operators. http://corporate.visitvictoria.com/industry

Some valuable business resources can be found here

From Visit Victoria's media page, here are 10 reasons for visitors and locals to emerge themselves in Gippsland.  Gippsland Gold 10 Reasons to Visit 

A new online resource to assist Gippsland to become digitally capable is now available.  For further information visit www.gippsland.digital.

- Tourism Australia’s Insight files provide some great bite size comments on consumer trends in travel.  Visit Tourism Australia’s Insight Files here.

- Tourism Australia Newsletter - for all the Essentials on the big picture.

- Visit Victoria - media hub,corporate website and resources.

- Tourism Tribe for all things social media and digital.

- All you need to know regarding  Grant Information

- The Australian Government is providing assistance for employers through the Job Active program.

- Destination Gippsland videos and webinars have useful tips and ideas that you can watch in your own time.

- We post a range of articles to help your business Destination Gippsland Blog page.

Gippsland has many events - follow the local guides from across the region to see what's on in your area.

Bass Coast
Baw Baw 
East Gippsland
Latrobe Ciity
South Gippsland
Wellington
 

• Baw Baw Shire 
• Bass Coast Shire
• East Gippsland Shire
• Latrobe City 
• South Gippsland Shire 
• Wellington Shire Council 

Visit Destination Gippsland for a list of industry links to local and regional tourism associations and local government.  Industry Links.

The Gippsland Visitor Economy generates an estimated $1.2b in Gross Regional Product (11% of the total Gippsland economy). It supports 12,400 jobs (12% of all Gippsland employment) in over 3,000 businesses across every community in Gippsland. Tourism in Gippsland is everyone’s business.

Find out more about our Board of Directors here

Contact our team here