Simon O’Callaghan, Yarra Ranges Tourism

Faced with the dilemma of running two Visitor Information Centres that were progressively unable to sustain volunteers coupled with declining patronage, Yarra Ranges Tourism embarked on a bold journey to re-invent its visitor servicing strategy.

See Simon’s presentation here.

Bruce Billson, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman

Insurance of all forms, and particularly public liability, has become increasingly expensive and difficult to access for businesses in the tourism sector including amusement and adventure. This session delves into these difficulties and will highlight innovative…

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Tom Leslie, Quantum Market Research

This session will bring a particular focus to the trends which are influencing domestic tourism in 2022/23. Tom will guide us to consider what this means to our own customers, and how it might shape elements of our marketing mix to effectively convert them to travel, dispersion and spend.

See Tom’s presentation here.

Sarah Pilgrim, Ballarat City Council

Balancing liveability with visitor appeal, how visiting friends and visiting relatives provides an opportunity to bridge the gap between civic pride and visitor perception. Hear about how locals acting as hosts can create unique visitor experiences.

See Sarah’s presentation here.

Marketing isn’t enough – why capability building matters in delivering a stronger visitor economy
Giovanna Lever and Naomi Farrelly, Sparrowly

Explore the balance between demand and supply in destination management. Unpack why building a deep capability – supply side, is integral to the success of destinations and the long term viability of…

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Kate Shilling, Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia

Local government areas are the biggest investors in regional tourism but at times can also be the biggest barriers. Learn how to support people new to the industry and take a more coordinated and commercial approach.

See Kate’s presentation here.

Michael Crosby, Airbnb Australia & New Zealand

The world has changed, and in 2022 people are traveling differently than they ever have before. Because of remote work, people are spreading out to thousands of towns and cities. In today’s world, people are demonstrating increased flexibility about where and when they travel and regional communities…

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Melissa Ritchie, Wisdom

The tourism industry is still in recovery mode. With the influx of the Visiting Friends and Relatives market in regional areas, we look at how you can build local pride with your own residents, building an army of local ambassadors to feed your local economy from inside of the fence.

See Melissa’s presentation here.

Hannah Statham, Media Mortar

Across this presentation Hannah will share how you can use stories to create an emotional connection with customers and drive long-lasting action. This presentation breaks down what’s normally an esoteric topic into simple steps to build into your marketing plan.

See Hannah’s presentation here.

Stuart Toplis, Tourism, Events & Visitor Economy Victoria

Every disaster or crisis will attract unwelcome attention of varying degrees, with the potential to impact negatively on visitors’ perceptions. This session will provide practical tips about preparing for when things go pear shaped.

See Stuart’s presentation here.