Dear Members & Friends,
Autumn is just around the corner, and despite the leaves falling to the ground, Ballarat will be in full bloom with a jam-packed calendar of events, and we encourage tourism and hospitality businesses to get involved.
Exciting event announcements have been coming in hot, including that Ballarat will host the first regional Victorian Le Dîner en Blanc at a mystery location, Smashing Pumpkins and the Boardwalk Country Music Festival at Kryal Castle, and the return of the Red Series, this year over two days..
Tips for getting involved:
- Repost event or festival social media activity
- Adjust your opening hours to maximise business
- Create promotions or experiences/events that align with the event or holiday
- Working with neighbouring & like-minded business to develop packages
Summer Trading and Sentiment Survey (takes 2-minutes)
Last chance to have your say. We are seeking feedback from tourism and hospitality businesses in order to help strengthen visitation over the summer period, as well as to identify areas of industry development support that may benefit your business over the next 12-months.
Looking to grow your team? Check out the variety workforce development opportunities below, including how to turn casual jobs into careers with free TAFE in 2023 and Regional Hospitality Traineeship Program facilitated by WestVic staffing solutions.
We are heading to the VTIC 2023 Vision Summit on March 2nd to ensure we stay informed on the shifts and changes within the industry, as we look to the future and plan how we ensure our region is a destination of choice. You can find out more and register here, and please let us know if you’re coming along. Otherwise, we’ll be sure to share our key learnings following the event. As always, if you have any questions, or need support, please reach out. We look forward to hearing from you!
Best wishes
Sarah Myers | Chief Executive Officer
E: ceo@brt.org.au
M: 0417 156 695
Julia Antonetti | Project Officer
E: info@brt.org.au
M: 0400 742 319
LE DINER EN BLANC
Sat, 1 April, 7.30pm
THE RED SERIES
Fri 28 - Sat, 29 July
View events taking place over the next 12 months to help plan ahead & make the most of visitation to the region.
Last updated on 17 January 2022
FREE Digital Training
Booking Platforms: Choosing the Right One
Mon, 20 February, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM AEDT
Build a Website in a Weekend
Mon, 20 March, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM AEDT
Managing Tourism Reviews & Ratings
Mon, 17 April, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM AEDT
The Australian Tourism Industry Group (ATIG) is offering free online training designed to help Australian tourism operators optimise their digital marketing and generate a greater return for their digital efforts. Register here >
Grant and Tender Writing Workshop
Tue, 21 February, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM AEDT
Location: Commerce Ballarat Office 119 Lydiard Street North Ballarat Central
Grant and Tender Writing can be an intimidating process, and an expensive task to outsource. Commerce Ballarat has an upcoming session facilitated by Simon Coutts from Grantus which has been curated to give practical tips and information to anyone writing tenders, submissions or grant applications. Register here >
Australian Tourism Data Warehouse Training
Thu, 2 March, 11:00 AM- 12:00 PM AEDT
Fri, 14 April, 10:00 AM- 11:00 AM AEDT
Do you need some help creating or renewing your ATDW profile? Register for a free webinar hosted by the team at Visit Victoria. The live session will cover:
- The benefits of having an ATDW profile, and how to create or renew an ATDW profile
- Advice for writing a product description choosing images, links for more info, tips + more. Register here >
Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) Information Session in Ballarat
Wed, 1 March, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM AEDT
Wed, 1 March, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM AEDT
Location: to be announced
Commerce Ballarat is partnering with the Victorian Government’s Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR), and the City of Ballarat to host a session on state nominated Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491). Businesses interested in retaining or recruiting migrant employees are invited to attend the session. Register here >
Tourism & hospitality businesses invited to get involved!
Labour Day long weekend, Sat 11 - Mon 13 March, 10am - 5pm.
The City of Ballarat events team is calling for businesses to get involved in the 2023 Begonia Festival. If your business has an idea, or you'd like to find out more, please email the events team at events@ballarat.vic.gov.au.
VTIC 2023 Vision Summit
Thu 2 March, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. Join VTIC to explore the shifts and changes that have emerged as our industry has rediscovered its mojo and what Victoria can do to ensure we stay ahead of the pack in our resurgence to global positioning as a destination of choice.
Register now >
Free ATDW listings extended to 30 June 2023
Visit Victoria will re-introduce fees for ATDW business listings from 1 July 2023. Events will remain free to list. Visit Victoria has supported free ATDW listings since May 2020 in response to bushfires and the pandemic. Business listings that were due to expire in the first half of 2023 will be extended at no cost, to a date within July to October 2023. Those creating a new listing have until 30 June 2023 to access a free listing coupon. Find out more >
Foodservice Australia - The leading food industry event
30 April - 2 May 2023, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Jam-packed three days, discover over 450 exhibitors showcasing the latest food, drink and equipment, as well as special events: Chef of the Year, National Restaurant Conference, Café School, The Sweet Spot and so much more! This is a must-attend event for restauranteurs, caterers, bakers, hoteliers and café operators. Find out more >
Calling specialty producers - EOI now open
The Specialty Producers Pavilion is an exciting addition to the Foodservice Australia industry exhibition event. It showcases boutique food, drink and ingredient suppliers from all over Australia. The Specialty Producers Pavilion gives small-scale producers the chance to meet thousands of genuine buyers from the hospitality sector. Spaces are limited. Find out more >
Commerce Ballarat Business Day Out 2023 - 'GET COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE' PANEL Wed 31 May, The Goods Shed, 200 Lydiard St N. Find out more >
Regional Hospitality Traineeship Program
Jobs Victoria, in partnership with Westvic Staffing Solutions, are supporting businesses to take on trainees for up to 12 months. Those that employ staff for 3+ months can access incentives of up to $5,000. To register your interest in recruiting hospitality or tourism staff, please click the link below. Once registered, the WestVic team will be in contact to discuss your recruitment needs. Find out more>
Looking for staff?
The Jobs Victoria online hub is a free service connecting employers with people looking for work. You can post job vacancies, review applications and contact candidates. Once registered, Jobs Victoria will contact you to help set up your account and show you how the online hub can best meet your recruitment needs. Find out more >
Digital Jobs Program
The Digital Jobs Program gives you access to talented, mid-career workers ready to grow your business’s digital capability. Get a $5,000 subsidy for each 12-week work placement or job you offer. Register for the next business information session. Find out more >
FUNDING PROGRAMS & GRANTS
Creative Victoria Creators Fund now open
Are you a creative looking to develop new ideas or concepts? Applications are now open for grants of $20,000 to $50,000 with Creative Victoria. The Creators Fund provides financial support for up to six months for creatives to undertake research and development, and experimentation. Find out more >
Digital Solutions Program
Looking for advice for your business to better use digital platforms and products? The Digital Solutions program works with you to adopt digital tools that can save you time and money and help grow your business. Digital Solutions is a 7-hour packaged service that offers 3 hours of one-on-one tailored support as well as group workshops or webinars. Applications close Friday 31 March 2023. Find out more >
GST & Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) provides a financial incentive for households and businesses to install eligible small-scale renewable energy systems (systems). Examples include solar panel systems, small-scale wind systems, small-scale hydro systems, solar water heaters and air source heat pumps. Find out more >
Tourism Events Grant Program (TEGP)
The Tourism Events Grant Program (TEGP) aims to support a balanced calendar of events which provide exciting reasons to visit Ballarat and increase the vibrancy of the city and region for visitors and residents. Applicants may apply for funding amounts between $500 and $20,000 (GST exclusive).
Who can apply? For profit organisations and businesses with a commitment to work collaboratively where possible with other groups and businesses. Find out more >
Distillery Support – Infrastructure and Boosting Visitor Economy (NEW)
Grants of up to $20,000 are available to increase business capability and efficiency, and up to $70,000 to establish, enhance, or promote a distillery door, increasing visitation. Applications close 7 Apr 2023 Find out more >
The Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program Energy prices are on the rise, and with COGS also increasing, it's important to consider other ways your business can cut costs, whilst also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The VEU program gives businesses discounts on a wide range of energy-efficient products. Find out more >
Ballarat Regional Tourism acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land we live and work on, the Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung People, and recognises their continuing connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
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