Industry - Newsletter

Tourism Talk Edition 247

ATE 2008 TAKES TASMANIA TO THE WORLD
Tasmanian booth at ATE 2008 Tasmania’s tourism regions and experience have been promoted to the world’s major buyers at Australia’s premier tourism trade event, the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) in Perth, Western Australia, last week.

ATE is the largest international travel trade show in the Southern Hemisphere, bringing together Australian tourism businesses, airlines, tourism wholesalers and retailers from around the world.

Tourism Tasmania CEO, Felicia Mariani was at ATE and said Tasmania had worked hard to stand out from the thousands of other delegates.

“It was great to see a number of operators grouping together this year to collectively market their products and experiences as a complete regional package,” Ms Mariani said.

Dewayne performing at ATE Operators from Tasmania’s Far South and Circular Head Tourism Association have shown that there is strength in numbers and that many international buyers are looking for a combination of regional experiences and offerings to sell to their clients.

Tourism Tasmania hosted a number of networking functions aimed at introducing Tasmanian operators and their products to buyers and developing relationships with potential and existing trade partners.

The key theme for ATE 2008 was Indigenous Australia, and Indigenous Tasmanian Dewayne Everettsmith was a star performer for both Tourism Australia and Tourism Tasmania.

Each year ATE is held in two modules: the eastern module was held from 14-16 June and was attended by tourism buyers from Japan, Asia and the Gulf Countries. The western module ran from 17 June and concluded on 20 June, attended by buyers from UK, Europe, the Americas, Africa, NZ and the South Pacific.

Ten Tasmanian operators took part in the eastern module with 25 participating in the western module.

The Tasmanian delegation was among 1700 Australian delegates at ATE, from 630 companies, all competing for the attention of around 600 international buyers from 40 countries.

JOIN THE 2008 DISCOVER TASMANIA ROADSHOW
You’re invited to participate in the 2008 Discover Tasmania Roadshow, Tourism Tasmania’s annual interstate showcase to the retail travel network.

The 2008 Roadshow program runs from 25 August to 17 September with a series of trade events over the five Australian states that will educate travel agents about Tasmania the destination and the products and experiences it offers.

The face-to-face workshops give you the tourism operator the opportunity to meet the travel agents, share market intelligence and build strong working relationships.

Tourism Tasmania’s new Zone Marketing Program will be a feature of the Roadshows, with a focus on building domestic marketing opportunities for operators in Tasmania’s five Zone regions.

The Roadshow program is expected to reach nearly 800 travel agents in Tasmania’s major interstate markets – NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Adelaide and Perth.

If you’re interested in being a part of the 2008 Discover Tasmania Roadshow program, please contact Tourism Tasmania’s Coordinator Industry Development, Terry Ranson on (03) 62 633 144 or terry.ranson@tourism.tas.gov.au.

AAT KINGS INTERNATIONAL SELLERS IN HOBART
AAT Kings logo The leading escorted holiday tour operator in Australia and New Zealand, AAT Kings, has brought over 60 of its international sales team to Tasmania for the company’s annual World Conference.

In the lead-up to the four-day conference, the AAT Kings sales representatives from the United Kingdom, Germany, the USA, Canada and New Zealand, took part in a familiarisation tour of the State.

The conference and familiarisation have been timed to follow the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) in Perth, Western Australia, and have been supported by Tourism Tasmania’s International Marketing and Partnership and Event Marketing Units.

Tourism Tasmania has been involved in a number of cooperative initiatives with AAT Kings in key international markets, working with AAT Kings to actively promote Tasmania to the Aussie Specialist agent network at events such as Oztalk and Corroboree.

Tourism Tasmania Chief Executive Officer, Felicia Mariani, will address delegates at the conference gala dinner on Tuesday night, which is being preceded by a cocktail function at the TMAG’s Islands to Ice Exhibition.

TASSIE FAIRYTALE FOR US COUPLE
Tourism Tasmania has given American couple Jessica Ihry and Matthew Linback a fairytale ending to the wedding that captured the hearts of romantics around the world.

When Jessica walked down the aisle last Friday 13 June to marry her fiancé in Fargo, North Dakota USA, she did so to the sounds of Tasmanian musician Cameron Tapp.

Jessica and Matthew had sacrificed their honeymoon and consolidated their student loans to fund Tapp’s flights and accommodation to have him play his band’s hit song ‘The Guide’ at their wedding.

Tourism Tasmania recognised Jessica and Matthew’s commitment to their perfect day and offered the couple the opportunity to complete their fairytale with the ultimate wedding gift – a romantic honeymoon package to Tasmania.

The romantic gesture struck right at the hearts of the bride and groom – and captured the attention of the US media.

The Tasmanian honeymoon is being talked about on websites, radio and television networks and in newspapers across Australia and the United States – giving Tasmania the sort of publicity money couldn’t buy.

And with the United States a key international visitor market for Tasmania, the honeymoon initiative looks set to boost the State’s profile as a holiday destination.

To see some of the national and international coverage of the honeymoon gift, follow the links below:

SPA AND WELLNESS PROMOTIONS
The Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre in Hobart is getting behind next month’s Australasian Spa Association (ASpa) national conference.

The conference is being held in Hobart from 25-28 July and in the lead-up the Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre is running a number of promotions to raise awareness of Tasmania’s spa and wellness experiences.

From Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 July, the Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre will feature displays and information about spa retreats and day spas around the State, as well as giving visitors to the centre a chance to sample treatments and enjoy a complimentary mini-massage daily between 10am and 12pm.

It’s hoped the promotions will also encourage locals to escape from the pressures of their busy lives and book a Tasmanian spa and wellness break this winter.

If your business fits into this niche market and you would like to be a part of this spa and wellness promotion, please contact the Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre:
Anne – 03 6230 8389 or Jenna – 03 6230 8155

You can find out more information on the ASpa national conference by visiting the ASpa website. DiscoverTasmania also features a "draw through" for consumers to find out about a selection of Tasmanian Spa and Wellness products.

SPARKLING SUCCESS FOR TASMANIAN WINES
Three Tasmanian wine labels have bubbled to the surface as stand-outs in a recent test of international sparkling wines undertaken by Choice, the largest independent consumer association in Australia.

In yet another coup for Tasmania’s outstanding wine industry, an independent panel of national wine industry experts rated the Bay of Fires Tigress NV Pinot Noir Chardonnay and Ninth Island Chardonnay Pinot Noir Pinot Meunier as the world’s best sparkling wines in the $20 to $40 group.

The Tasmanian Arras 2001 received the dual accolade of being rated alongside the French Louis Roederer as the best wine in the more than $40 category, and the best wine in the test.

Intriguingly, the panel couldn’t agree on the two highest-priced champagnes in the test – the Moët & Chandon Dom Pérignon 1999 ($260) and the Bollinger La Grande Année 1997 ($180) – with both failing to convince all the tasters.

AWARDS FOR TOP TASSIE EXPERIENCES
Tasmania’s multi-award winning tourism industry has again achieved international recognition, this time by Australia’s foremost inbound travel magazine, Travelling in Australia, as part of their 20 Best Experiences Awards 2008.

Tourism Tasmania congratulates the following operators and attractions, selected by an international panel of industry professionals as Australia’s best:

Cradle Mountain Huts
Winner, Best Trek Experience

Roaring 40°s Kayaking
Winner, Best Paddle Experience

Cradle Mountain
Winner, Best Snow Experience

Port Arthur Historic Site
Winner, Best Cultural Historic Experience

Cradle Mountain Lodge
Runner-up, Bush Palace Experience

Waldheim Alpine Spa, Cradle Mountain Lodge
Runner-up, Best Spa Health Retreat Experience

Hollybank Treetops Adventure
Runner-up, Best Adventure Experience

Dismal Swamp
Joint Runner-up, Best Eco Experience

Travelling in Australia magazine’s international reach extends to over 15,000 retail travel agents, wholesalers, and professional conference organisers in the key markets of North America, Canada, the UK, Europe, South Africa and New Zealand.

The magazine also reaches some of the world's wealthiest and most influential decision makers with some 30,000 noting they travel to Australia on a regular basis.

Nationally, Travelling in Australia is enjoyed by more than 1200 trade readers as well as the CEOs of Australia's top 500 companies.

http://www.travellinginaustralia.com.au

RESTRICTED ACCESS TO MARIA ISLAND
Public access to Maria Island National Park will be restricted temporarily for a period of two weeks for a wildlife management program.

Access to the island will be restricted from the last ferry on Sunday 29 June 2008 to Friday 11 July 2008.

The ferry service will resume on Sunday 20 July 2008.

For enquiries, contact Maria Island National Park on (03) 6257 1420.

TIGERTOUR UPDATE
Here are the latest additions to the TigerTOUR database.

Accommodation:

Paradise Place B&B, Hawley Beach
D’Entrecasteaux, Howden
Hargate Guesthouse, Launceston
Shetland Rest, Glaziers Bay
York Cove and Cove Bar and Restaurant, George Town

Hire:

Paradise Motorhome Hire, Hawley Beach

Tour:

Bay of Fires Sailing Cruises, St Helens

Attraction:

Old Maypole Collectables & Antiques, New Norfolk

Tourism Tasmania’s TigerTOUR database feeds information about tourism product directly into the consumer website discovertasmania.com.

Tourism Tasmania’s Product Consultants can assist you updating your business details, email: TigerTOUR@tourism.tas.gov.au or phone: (03) 6230 8229.