( Ross Hatton & Will Flamsteed)
Hi and welcome to the February Grampians Tourism Enews. I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself and look forward to working with you all to promote and progress the Grampians as a destination and sustainable industry.
For those of you that don’t know, I have worked in the tourism industry for the past 16 years on a number of levels – as a small business owner and operator (restaurants and wineries), as a regional tourism manager (the High Country) and from a destination perspective (Falls Creek). I have worked with industry through two bushfires and also enjoyed seeing a destination grow post such events.
2012 will be an exciting year for the Grampians tourism region. To start, I want to invite you all to join us at the inaugural Grampians Tourism Industry Conference in late March, where amongst a range of speakers, we will also launch the 2012-13 Industry Prospectus.
Over the next month I will be out and about exploring the region. I’ll do my best to meet you and experience you products and destinations. If you are in Halls Gap, please feel free to drop in for a chat.
So here’s to an exciting year of growth and development.
Regards
Will Flamsteed
Industry Development calendar
A variety of Industry Development workshops and mentoring opportunities are being offered to businesses between February and July 2012. All workshops and mentoring opportunities are now open for registrations.
Workshop topics include:
- Turning customers into ambassadors for your business
- Attracting new customers to your business through packaging
- Selling online for your business
- International marketing
Following on from our successful social media workshops in 2011, some social media mentoring sessions are also available for businesses.
Click here to see the industry development calendar and to register.
Grampians Tourism Industry Leadership Program
The 2012 Grampians Tourism Industry Leadership Program is now open for applications. The 2012 leadership program has been expanded on the successful inaugural 2011 program to provide a great variety of new topics and quality speakers. The program will commence on 23 April and continue until 20 November with 6 full day workshops and two overnight residential (2 day) workshops.
Our vision is to develop tourism leaders from across the region; enhance individual leadership skills; encourage understanding, cooperation and partnerships between industry and government; provide practical learning opportunities for industry leaders and grow awareness and passion for tourism across the region.
Click here to find out more information and apply for the program.
Grampians Tourism Conference – save the date!
Hear from a variety of relevant tourism industry leaders and network with your tourism industry. Final conference program will be forwarded to industry by mid-February.
Wednesday 21 March 2012
The Great Hall, Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre, Ararat
Victorian Tourism Awards
“Entering the awards has helped us identify our strengths and understand our goals more clearly. It made us strive to be on top of our game both internally and in the market place. Being recognised in this way has contributed to over 22% increase in our business after our first award. I highly recommend it!”
George Josevski, Managing Director – Bunyip Tours
The RACV Victorian Tourism Awards 2012 program will launch in the week commencing Monday 20 February. Tourism operators will have just over 5 months to complete a submission and upload a submission to an E-Awards website by 10 August 2012. If you would like to find out more information about the awards process or are interested in applying in 2012, please visit the Tourism Awards website at www.victoriantourismawards.com.au or contact Matt Jones on mjones@grampianstourism.com.au or 5361 4060.
Grampians Tourism will be offering workshops and mentoring opportunities to assist industry with their applications in 2012.
New halls Gap Video
Many thanks to the locals who helped out with modelling for the filming of a new high quaility Halls Gap/Grampians video (see who you can spot!) The video is available for you to use on your own sites and please send out thru your own networks as the more people who view, the better.
Consumer Shows:
Grampians will be well represented at the upcoming Caravan & Camping Shows in Melbourne & Adelaide. With expected attendance of over (Leah can you fill in) visitors, having a presence at these shows is a great way to influence holiday plans for this growing sector. Our Holiday Planner and Official Touring Map are the main pieces of collateral distributed as well as the “Grampians Hot deals” flyer which will be used as a teaser to all potential visitors. Contact Kylie for more information.
Media Links
- Jetstar Inflight Magazine, Click here
Great Southern Touring Route (GSTR)
- GSTR is the marketing force Grampians Tourism is part of that tackles the international markets. By partnering with our neighbouring regions of Great Ocean Road and Ballarat, GSTR present an enticing itinerary that has been a tourism market leader for over 20 years. Businesses are invited annually to participate in the program. The program has been designed for small businesses to be able to leverage off each other and the bigger players such as Sovereign Hill for example.
News you can use….
Informing travellers about bushfire safety
FREE Half Day Accessible Tourism Workshop Thursday 29 March 2012
