Talking Tourism

Issue #550, April 18, 2019


Hello

Talking Tourism is Tourism Western Australia's e-newsletter detailing the latest news, events, products and other information of interest to you in the WA tourism industry.

ATE wrap-up from Tourism WA’s Managing Director

On behalf of Tourism WA, I want to say a sincere thank you for your support and contribution to ATE. I’ve had a lot of great feedback from across the industry with the overwhelming majority saying it was one of the best ATEs ever and we couldn’t have achieved that without you. This was my first ATE and I was blown away. Not only was the weather perfect, every event went off without a hitch – or if there was one, nobody noticed. The international media and buyers who were here were all impressed with what WA has to offer and hopefully we’ll start to see this come through with press coverage and deals. Whether you helped us with accommodation, transport or supported our extensive famils program, we truly appreciate your support. We showed the world how much Perth and WA has changed and I’m confident this will have benefits for tourism businesses across the State for many years to come. I think you’d all agree that my team from Tourism WA and the sellers on the floor did us proud. Not only did we have the best stand, I reckon we had the best coffee, food and definitely the best atmosphere. Of course, I have to mention our magnificent volunteers. Around 60 tourism students from South and North Metropolitan TAFEs put their hands up to help out and gain some value work experience for their CVs. They were highly professional and helped everything run smoothly. The big focus for the Tourism WA international markets team was negotiating the best possible deals for the recently announced $12 million marketing boost.  We hope to be in a position to give you more details about those discussions in coming weeks. I hope you all have a safe and Happy Easter and I look forward to what the rest of 2019 brings. For a brief overview of the event, take a look at our ATE wrap-up video here

 

International visitor numbers to WA's regions bounce back

Visitor numbers across WA’s regional areas for 2018 have shown signs of improvement after a difficult 2017, according to the latest International Visitor Survey data. Released recently by Tourism Research Australia, the 2018 figures show each of the four regional WA tourism areas recorded growth in the number of international visitors compared to the previous year. Australia’s Golden Outback and Australia’s South West both received a record number of international visitors in 2018, attracting 60,100 and 195,100 international visitors respectively. International visitation to Australia’s North West and Australia’s Coral Coast was also strong in 2018, attracting 62,900 and 86,700 visitors respectively. A third of international visitors to WA (32 per cent, or 311,000) spent at least one night in regional WA in 2018. These visitors spent more than 5 million nights and $368 million in regional WA. As a whole, the State achieved the strongest growth rate of international holiday visitors in the nation. It was also the highest ever number of international holiday visitors to WA. For more information, visit our corporate website.

 

Perth chosen to host national event industry awards

Following competitive bids from capital cities and regions across Australia, Perth has successfully won the right to host the Australian Event Awards and Symposium in September this year. The Australian Event Awards and Symposium, to be held at Optus Stadium from September 16 to 18, is the national awards program and conference for the Australian events industry. This will be the first time the event has been hosted in Western Australia, following a proposal put forward by the State Government, through Tourism Western Australia, in partnership with Optus Stadium operators VenuesLive, the Perth Convention Bureau and the Events Industry Association of Western Australia. The awards program is an opportunity for Australian event professionals to compete directly across the nation, and across all facets of the industry, to establish Australia's best events and event-related goods, services and innovations. It is expected the event will attract about 400 attendees. For more information, visit our corporate website.

 

Tourism WA's 'Our Story' narrative explained

Tourism WA is currently working on developing a 'WA Tourism – Our Story' narrative. This story is a narrative owned across the tourism industry in WA, which will help us make sure our marketing stands out in a competitive marketplace. The involvement of industry is a vital part of this process. Guy Taylor, the tourism ‘story guy’, recently visited the stunning Kings Park and Botanic Garden where he recorded a video to explain more about our project in WA. Take a look here.

 

Transitional logo for Tourism WA brand identity

As part of the ‘Our Story’ narrative project, Tourism WA has developed an interim brand identity for consumer-facing marketing and communications. This interim Western Australia logo was first seen at ATE last week and will be included in consumer advertising moving forward. It will assist with the transition from the current Experience Extraordinary and Western Australia branding, which has been in place since 2010, into a new brand platform and identity that will be established in early 2020. 

 

Nominations open for 2019 Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards

Tourism businesses are invited to nominate for the 2019 Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards. Supported by Tourism WA, the award program is designed to reward and promote excellence within the Western Australian tourism industry. With more than 30 business and individual categories to choose from, there are opportunities for all business types and sizes to participate. Nominations are now open. Visit the website for details.

 

Australian Tourism Accreditation Program to re-brand

Following more than 20 successful years of recognising high-quality tourism businesses, the Australian Tourism Accreditation Program will be re-branded to better promote your business. The new Quality Tourism Framework will combine multiple tourism accreditation, business development and awards programs into a single, user-friendly online tool to develop your business and grow your market, paired with new, modern branding to promote your status as a Quality Tourism Accredited Business. To find out more, visit the website.

 

WA Visitor Centre closed for renovations

The Western Australia Visitor Centre (WAVC) located at 55 William Street, Perth will be closed for refurbishment from 5pm Monday, May 6 until 9am Friday, May 10.  During this time, the WAVC team can still be contacted for normal business inquiries by calling 1800 812 808 or sending an email. If you have any queries regarding the closure, please call WAVC Manager Troy De Souza on 9483 1111.

 

INDUSTRY EVENTS

Visit Tourism WA’s corporate website for a comprehensive list of workshops, conferences and other events that may be of interest to WA’s tourism industry. To list or update your industry event, email media@westernaustralia.com.

 

Tourism Council workshop schedule for 2019

Tourism Council WA will be delivering a range of industry-relevant and updated tourism training workshops in Perth, Margaret River and Denmark over the next few months. Topics include digital marketing and social media; China Ready; customer service; and strategic marketing for tourism businesses. For the full schedule, visit the website.

 

WA State History and Heritage Conference registrations open

April 29-30: The WA State History and Heritage Conference (WASHHC), 'Handle with Care', is being held at The Westin Perth in April. The conference, supported by Tourism WA, will explore how places, stories and collections face many threats, including the environment, time, misuse, neglect and misguided good intent. WASHHC will also explore other elements of heritage, history and collections that may need to be ‘handled with care’.  For a full program, registration fees and accommodation information, visit the conference website.

 

WA Hospitality Supplier and Legends Awards

May 13: The 2019 Bankwest WA Hospitality Supplier and Legends Awards showcase outstanding suppliers, promotions, products and services provided to WA’s hospitality sector. The Awards will be held at Crown Perth and mark the official opening of the 2019 Hospitality Expo; WA’s largest annual hospitality conference and expo. Each supplier award category is voted on by customers from WA’s hotel and hospitality industry including accommodation properties, hotels, taverns, bottle-shops, small bars, restaurants and tourism venues. For more information or to register, please click here.

 

AHA Hospitality Expo and Conference

May 14-15: Hospitality Expo is WA’s largest industry-only tradeshow showcasing a comprehensive collection of the latest products and services on offer to the hospitality industry. Exhibitors travel from all over the country for the opportunity to align their brand with this event, and present to thousands of potential clients over two days. This two-day event showcases cutting-edge technologies, the latest in beverages, fresh produce and high-quality venue equipment. The expo will feature numerous interactive displays and demonstrations of products from more than 100 industry suppliers. For further information or to register your attendance, please click here.

 

Perth Hotel and Venue Development Breakfast

May 16: Registrations are now open for the 2019 Perth Hotel and Venue Development Breakfast, which will be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Presented jointly by Tourism Council WA and Property Council of Australia (WA), this event will reveal the latest insights on hotel, venue and precinct development in Perth. Speakers at the event will include Tourism WA Managing Director Brodie Carr, Western Australian Museum Principal Project Officer Renae Woodhams, and Lucid Economics Director Michael Campbell. For more information and to register, click here.

 

Workshops highlight WA’s unique native flora

May 22: FACET is hosting a workshop to explore opportunities in the development of tourism product to take advantage of WA’s unique native flora. Highlighting our beautiful wildflowers through tourism has untapped potential, with Western Australia boasting the largest collection of wildflowers on Earth. Twelve thousand species have been found in WA and over 60 per cent are unique to the State. For more information or to register visit the website.

 

Registrations for Denmark’s Tourism Connect now open

June 12: Tourism Council WA is hosting a Tourism Connect industry networking function in Denmark. Registrations for this industry sundowner are now open, so don’t miss your chance to network with key tourism players, meet the Tourism Council WA team, and hear about industry news. For more information and to register, visit the website.

 

ATEC presents wine conference in South Australia

June 18-20: The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC), in partnership with Wine Australia and the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC), is proud to present the ‘National Wine Tourism Conference: Beyond the Barrel’ as part of the Federal Government’s $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package. This three-day conference, being held in South Australia, will feature business meetings, conference sessions and networking events and opportunities. For more information contact the ATEC team or register here.

 

Register now for Australia Marketplace India 2019

August: Tourism Australia’s India flagship trade event, Australia Marketplace India 2019 will take place in Kochi, Kerala, India from August 8 to 11. This will be followed by a networking dinner in Mumbai on August 12. The program includes pre-scheduled meetings between buyers and sellers, as well as networking opportunities. The event is an opportunity for WA tourism operators to establish business relationships with up to 100 key qualified travel agencies and tour operators from India. For more information, click here. Applications close on Monday, April 29.

 

Register now for North American Australia Marketplace 2019

August 26-29: Registrations are now open for the North American Australia Marketplace 2019, being held in Los Angeles from August 26 to 29. This annual event brings together more than 100 North American buyers and 100 Australian tourism products and experiences. The program begins with an industry update and reception on August 26, followed by three days of appointments and networking opportunities. Visit the website to register. Tourism WA will also conduct a Show Me The WAy workshop to key distribution partners on America’s east coast from August 18 – 23, so save the date. More details on this workshop will be circulated after the Australian Tourism Exchange.

 

WA Tourism Conference heading to Karratha

September 16-18: The 2019 WA Tourism Conference, supported by Tourism WA, will be held in Karratha from September 16 to 18. Following a competitive tender process, the City of Karratha was awarded the event in recognition of its significant commitment to growing the region’s tourism capacity and offering. To assist tourism businesses from across WA to attend the event, the City of Karratha is offering a subsidy for those who will be flying or driving long distances. More details on the event will be announced soon. Tourism Council WA is now seeking submissions of papers and topics from potential speakers on regional tourism, Aboriginal tourism, ecotourism and geotourism. Submissions close 5pm WST April 30. For more information and submission requirements, click here.

 

Wine exports and tourism workshops on offer

Wine Australia's Growing Wine Exports and Growing Wine Tourism is holding workshops and webinars in Perth, Swan Valley, Margaret River and Albany until July. These are practical, hands-on, wine-specific and packed full of case studies, market insights and tools to help businesses grow their exports and develop their wine tourism products and services for the inbound tourism market. Register now for a national webinar or a workshop in your region.

 
 

 

For upcoming Tourism WA sponsored events head to the Tourism WA corporate website.