Whitsundays man appointed to Tourism Queensland board

 For local man Adrian Bram, an appointment to the board of Tourism Queensland (TQ) marks the realisation of a 20-year dream.

 “It’s been an ambition of mine to be on the board of TQ for over two decades, having previously held some senior positions with the WA tourism commission including media and industry affairs manager, regional director Asia (based in Singapore) and regional director Europe (based in London),” Mr Bram said.

 Mr Bram originally sailed into the Whitsundays and has called the region home since 1996.

 “I decided that I really didn’t need to go too much further on the planet,” he said, detailing the commencement of a colourful career locally, including the role of international sales manager with the previous incarnation of TW, and involvement at management levels in the crewed and now bareboat charter industries.

 Mr Bram said he felt it was important for the Whitsundays to have representation on the board of TQ.

 “For a place like the Whitsundays, which is primarily dependant on tourism for employment it’s critical to have a voice on that table.

 “In these trying times it’s (also) critical that the state’s peak tourism body, which manages millions of dollars of taxpayer funds, channels that investment into the right areas. It’s an enormous privilege to have the opportunity to participate in that process,” he said.

 Minister for Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business Jan Jarratt welcomed Mr Bram as one of two new appointments to the TQ Board.

 “As the General Manager of Cumberland Charter Yachts, Adrian has an acute understanding of the needs of regional tourism operators and has a long history of working with government,” Ms Jarratt said.    

Tourism Queensland talks one-on-one with Whitsunday industry

 Whitsunday operators were able to draw on the full resources of Tourism Queensland last week, with specialists from across many of its divisions available for what has been dubbed a “conversation with TQ”. The event, which was held at the Coral Sea Resort on Wednesday, saw various TQ executives sharing knowledge, announcing plans for the year ahead (and in fact beyond) and engaging in two-way dialogue with industry stakeholders at grass-roots level.

 TQ’s Executive Director Destinations Leanne Coddington said this ‘conversation’ process was “invaluable”.

 “We really need this to make sure we’re connected to the industry and to understand its needs and challenges,” she said.

 Ms Coddington said one of the clear messages coming out of this region was that the aviation sector is key.

 “It’s crucial that we get that access right. We all need to get the message to those airlines that this is where they need to be.”

 Ms Coddington commented favourably on council’s recent appointment of airport business development manager Scott Waters.

 “To have someone who really understands tourism and aviation working on business development for the airport is fantastic news. We’ll be working very closely with him,” she said.

 As for advice to individual operators, Ms Coddington said the Whitsundays was very much about the brand.

 “It’s about everybody working together – getting the brand message out there – what is the Whitsundays? We all need to live the brand,” she said.

 Local resident Corrie Gardner who operates the Whitsundays-based PR business Telltale Communications said she had very much enjoyed attending the event.

 “TQ is a wonderful resource for the industry and it’s a fantastic opportunity to have so many professionals in town to share their knowledge,” Ms Gardner said.

Whitsundays gets digital media's top tips

 On Thursday night at Peppers Coral Coast Resort, speakers from Google, Facebook, U-Tube and Trip Advisor addressed an eager crowd. The representatives were on hand to answer individual questions after presentations about their respective tools.

 Mark Cowan of Facebook spoke about the power of word-of-mouth. “Friends influence each other. Facebook is the engagement centre for your brand,” he said.

 Darren Keppie from Google told the audience: “Be found, be relevant, be engaging, and be accountable”. Mr Keppie didn’t delve into the realms of search-engine-optimisation but he did say, “the more relevant you are, the more likely you are to go to the top when people search for you”.

 Bianca Bailey from U-Tube said currently one third of all internet traffic was video-based. “By 2013 it will be 90 per cent,” she said.

 “This is not just your Gen-Y kids uploading skateboard videos. People are turning to U-Tube to learn and be educated.”

 Jim Brody from Trip Advisor gave tourism operators tips on how to deal with a bad review.

 “Respond,” he said. “And do it in the way you would if they were standing in the middle of your business.”

 The digital media forum was an initiative of Tourism Queensland, which Whitsunday Region Director Racheal Klitscher said was extremely well received.

 “We initially aimed to attract 60-80 people and had 125 RSVP. The feedback about our speakers & their content has been exceptional with guests raving about the value they got from the event,” Ms Klitscher said.

 Director of Whitsunday marketing company Telltale Communications Corrie Gardner said the forum was very timely and “exactly what we all need”.

 “I thought it was absolutely fantastic and a great thing TQ and TW can do for their membership base. As individuals we couldn’t get access to those kinds of people. When times are touch it’s paramount that people focus on their marketing,” Ms Gardner said.

 Internet consultant from eCentral and ChannelWhitsunday.com John Nayler said, "Having presentations from Facebook, Google, Youtube and Tripadvisor has removed some of the guess work from web strategy."

 Mr Nayler’s one criticism of these social media ‘tools’ was about TripAdvisor’s anonymity.

 “Google and Facebook are well accounted for their insistence on real names. Transparency is very much the vogue for social networks," he said.

Tourism Queensland brings business building workshops to Whitsundays

 Tourism Queensland is the driving force behind a recent series of business building workshops aimed at helping local operators with access to domestic and international markets and the use of technology to generate new business leads.

 Forums held in Airlie Beach have included tourism marketing (July 11), web optimisation (July 13), profitable online marketing (July 13) and most recently, the ‘deciphering the cruise market’ workshop (July 19).

 Local businesswoman Stacy Harvey said she attended the “packaging and building” workshop, which she found helpful from the perspective of teaming up with other attractions and activities to benefit from joint marketing.

 “We need all the help we can get right now to get an edge over other destinations. These forums are highly educational in terms of providing tools for business operators that they might not have been using in the past, such as social media,” Ms Harvey said.

 Whitsunday regional TQ director Racheal Klitscher said TQ was very happy with the local business’ response.

 “Our latest session (the cruise ship forum) was particularly well attended, with over 30 people turning up,” Ms Klitscher said.

 “All the forecasts indicate that cruising is going to continue to grow over the next ten years. It’s a very positive outlook, so it’s great to see there’s an interest locally in this growing market,” she said.

 Ms Klitscher said this latest forum resulted in some valuable feedback about the Whitsundays as a cruise destination.

 “We rate competitively compared to other South Pacific destinations. In fact we’re probably top of the list. That comes down to the warm welcome and the personalised experiences the cruise guests are given here and this is in part due to the volunteer ambassador program. This program is unique – we’re not aware of any other destination in Australia that offers this type of welcome,” she said.

 TQ forums still to come include a grants workshop (July 26) and a ‘Q Talks’ online forum on August 4. For more information about ongoing industry education opportunities contact Racheal Klitscher at racheal.klitscher@tq.com.au 

Whitsunday adventure for Best Job Ben

 For British adventurer Ben Southall, the past two weeks have been anything but dull, with an action-packed Whitsunday itinerary forming part of the ‘Best Expedition in the World’.

 After an eventful arrival in Airlie Beach, Ben hosted a welcome party at the YHA followed by a day of ocean rafting accompanied by travel blogger ‘Tim the Traveller’. Then came a visit to Daydream Island coinciding with the launch of a new educational package, the ‘living reef’.

 “The Living Reef is a great example of how education and entertainment can be combined to provide a unique tourism experience for everybody, from island guests to day trippers and school groups,” Ben said.

 Ben also caught up with Tourism Minister Jan Jarratt at the opening of Art Whitsunday’s annual exhibition, proving, in a mock arm wrestle, he has the muscle-power to kayak the distance ahead.

 Ms Jarratt welcomed Ben back to the Whitsundays. “We thank him for his ongoing efforts to promote Queensland,” she said.

 Following a series of reef monitoring exercises and a rare weekend off, Ben hosted a ‘boys adventure camping and kayaking tour’ with journalists Damien Stannard (Courier Mail) and Tim Spicer (Men’s Fitness magazine) in tow.

 Damien Stannard described the adventure as an “awesome” trip.

 “It was just like the postcards – stunning,” he said.

 After two days on a Hobie kayak, Tim Spicer confirmed Ben’s expedition was “not nearly as easy as it looks”.

 “It’s very challenging actually. Ben’s a fit guy. I don’t know how he’s doing it for 1,600 kms,” he said.

 Last but by no means least, Ben joined forces with solo sailor Jessica Watson in a Whitsunday ‘adventurers challenge’.

 Jessica and Ben were originally scheduled to race separate Hobie kayaks around the south coast of Whitsunday Island, but mere metres into the race Ben’s rudder broke, calling for a sudden change of plan.

 “Ben got a bit scared. It was a bit wet, a bit windy – so he decided he’d come with me instead,” Jessica said.

 “There are two sides to this story… and we’ll go with yours!” Ben said.

 The energetic pair joined took one kayak from Whitehaven Beach to Hamilton Island’s qualia resort in under two hours.

 Jessica described the experience as “great fun”.

 “It’s nice to come up here and do this with Ben. It’s a great expedition he’s on,” she said.  

  Today Ben leaves the Whitsundays with Cooktown firmly in his sights. To follow his progress visit www.islandreefjob.com.

China Workshops for Whitsunday tourism operators

 A series of China workshops held last week was aimed at educating local businesses on catering to this rapidly emerging market.

 Managing Directors of the international tourism development and consultancy firm TravConsult Trevor Lee and Lilly Choi-Lee spoke at three separate forums dealing with market intelligence, business etiquette and providing customer service to Chinese tourists.

 Lilly Choi-Lee said tourism operators needed to understand the market in order to be able to service it.

 “The one-child policy has produced a generation of travellers with very specific needs. They’re knowledgeable, internet and social media savvy, and they don’t have siblings so they want to connect,” Ms Choi-Lee said.

 “They’re not necessarily an easy market but if you understand them you connect and then you’ve got a relationship. They can see the dollar signs in your eyes if that’s how you approach them,” she said.

 Trevor Lee compared the Whitsundays to the Maldives as a destination that would be popular with the Chinese for its “beautiful beaches, ocean islands, reef and a tropical climate”.

 “This destination is suitable for the families, small corporate groups and definitely honeymooners, but not the mass groups wanting cheap products and accommodation. There is an emerging Chinese backpacker already travelling, probably under the radar at this stage, but this is one we need to keep our eyes out for,” he said.

 Tourism Whitsundays International Tourism Manager Lachlan Rentell said it was important for local businesses to recognise the significance of the China market and the benefits it could bring to the region.

 “The China market to Queensland grew 23 percent last year. That’s an incredible amount of growth and it’s only going to climb,” Mr Rentell said.

A 'Best Expedition' for the Southall Seniors

 Backpackers aren’t the only tourists with a reason to come to the Whitsundays and Ben Southall’s parents are here to tell the world why.

 Margaret and Duncan Southall are having their very own ‘best expedition’ – in an Apollo motorhome. The senior Southalls have been travelling in ‘grey nomad’ style enjoying a week in the Whitsundays incorporating the croc safari, Localvore tour, visits to Cedar Creek Falls, Conway and Wilsons Beaches and the Proserpine museum.

 “Not everyone comes here and wants to do things on the water so activities like the Localvore tour are good ones for people who don’t want to go sailing or swimming or snorkelling,” they said.

 Margaret said being a “foodie” she absolutely loved the localvore concept.

 “It was a great tour and then to go back and sit and chat to everybody was great. The food at Capers was fantastic,” she said.

 The Southalls visited the Proserpine museum on their ‘day off’.

 “We thought we’d be there for an hour or two but there was so much variety we stayed for most of the morning,” they said.

 Like Ben, the Southalls are beaming their experiences to prospective travellers all over the globe, using technology Margaret maintains the older generations have now embraced.

 “I would always research things on the internet. Blogs and forums tell you quite a lot, especially about accommodation,” she said.

 The Southalls will soon be leaving the Whitsundays for adventures in Bowen and beyond. 

Ben Southall brings Best Expedition to Airlie Beach

 Tourism ambassador and global adventurer Ben Southall held a Hobie kayak clinic for the guests of BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday, in spite of yesterday’s rain.

 Ben is currently paddling, pedalling and sailing his way up the Great Barrier Reef and arrived in the Whitsundays yesterday (see Page 2).

 “I’m feeling pretty fit, but it’s still a long way to go. Cooktown is still a very distant dot on the map,” he said.

 Ben’s kayak clinic kicked off the BIG4 Adventure Whitsundays winter sports carnival, providing children with plenty of outdoor activities during the school holidays.

 “This is about not sitting in front of the TV all the time. So much can be done outdoors and places like BIG4 are perfect for that. Kids want to learn and they love trying new things. Putting smiles on their faces is such a great thing to do,” Ben said.

 Owner of BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Naomi McKinnon said Ben was a great role model for kids.

 “We’ve tried to create that whole concept of getting kids outside and active and Ben’s really the epitome of that,” she said.

 The Hobie Kayak was chosen as the vessel of choice for the ‘best expedition in the world’ after Ben saw one in action at Hervey Bay.

 “This is not meant to be about endurance and if I was to bust my shoulder in the first week, that would be it. When I saw the Hobie kayak I thought it looked like a really accessible means of doing the adventure. It’s really very simple to learn the art of sailing in. By the end of it, hopefully I’ll be an accomplished sailor,” he said.

 Whilst in the Whitsundays Ben will participate in a ‘boys adventure’ camping and kayaking tour. He will also pit his skills against teen solo sailor Jessica Watson, in a Hobie kayak race from Whitehaven Beach to Hamilton Island.

 “She knows much more about sailing than I do,” he joked.

 To follow Ben’s adventures visit www.islandreefjob.com

Tom O'Toole inspires Whitsunday businesses

 Think John Cleese in a baker’s hat with an Australian accent and you’ve pretty much got Tom O’Toole.

 This inspirational speaker shared the secrets of his real-life rags-to-riches story at a free workshop hosted by Peppers Coral Coast Resort on Monday night. The workshop was a joint venture by Tourism Queensland, Tourism Whitsundays and Enterprise Whitsundays as part of the Smile campaign.

 “We realise this destination is doing it tough but this is one of many initiatives to help people work on their businesses and be positive for the future,” said Tourism Queensland’s Racheal Klitscher.

 Tom O’Toole told the Guardian he hoped business operators in the Whitsundays realised they had a world-class product.

 “You live in regional rural Australia. You’re going to get another cyclone. The dollar’s going to go up and down. Petrol’s going to go up and down, but nothing’s forever. Don’t wait until the economic storm has passed. Learn to dance in the rain,” he said.

 “Keep looking at your business and your life through fresh eyes. We become blind to the opportunities that are right here.”

 “That return phone call, that smile, that thankyou – it’s the little things that make the difference but we’re all out there looking for the big fix.”

 “Business is simple. It’s mostly about people and leadership. Dare to lead. When you’re placed in charge, take charge. And it’s about teamwork. When we all work together we win together.”

 “Life is like a bike. The harder you pedal the further you’ll go.”

Get the million dollar memo

First came the best job in the world and now there's the million dollar memo - a chance for companies or workplaces around the globe to vie for the opportunity to win $1million worth of unique travel experiences here in Queensland.
Yesterday tourism Queensland announced a further $50,000 reconnaissance incentive for contenders who submit their entires by April 17.
To read more on this and other news stories pick up a copy of the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now at leading newsagencies, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.