Industry Development

In April 2023 Townsville Enterprise will release a self guided Industry Development Toolkit which will inspire and support the development of new and existing sustainable tourism experiences.

The toolkit will cover key topics to ensure businesses are following best practice for the industry and acting on all growth opportunities available to them.

Key Topics:

• Business Essentials (Business Plans, Insurance, Risk Management) 

• Tourism Industry and Consumer Trends  

• Listing on the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse 

• Best of Queensland Experiences Program / Transformational Experiences Mentoring Program 

• Social Media and Digital Presence 

• Online Bookings and Packaging 

• Quality and Excellence (Reviews, Accreditation, Awards) 

• How to Leverage Brands and Marketing 

• Being Trade Ready and Distribution Channels 

• Sustainability 

• Accessibility and Inclusive Tourism 

VIEW THE TOOLKIT HERE

Townsville North Queensland tourism operators are invited to apply for the 2023 Pathway to Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) Mentoring Program.

This is a FREE initiative that will prepare and develop your business to be internationally ready and help your staff to best sell your product to global markets!

With ATE being hosted on the Gold Coast in May 2023, Queensland has a strategic opportunity to showcase the State’s tourism industry to over 2,000 international buyers over the duration of the event. Through collaboration amongst the 13 Regional Tourism Organisations and Tourism and Events Queensland, this program is designed to build international product readiness, support industry capacity development, and showcase Queensland as it continues to refresh, reinvigorate and reimagine its tourism offering.

Learn more about ATE here:  https://events.tourism.australia.com/ate23. 

What’s Involved in the mentoring program?

Expert mentors will be delivering the program across the State, providing each eligible business the opportunity to have one-on-one tailored mentoring in the lead up to, during, and post ATE. The program has been developed to ensure that businesses can attend ATE with the best trade strategy and are able leverage the opportunities from the event. This could include:

• Assistance in preparing marketing materials and rate sheets

• Assistance and advice in establishing your ATE appointment schedule

• Support in developing a famil strategy

• Networking assistance and introductions

• Development of a follow-up action plan

• Understanding of the changes required to your trade strategy post COVID-19 and with changing consumer behaviour

Each region will have a group education/trade refresher workshop at the beginning of the program.

Who is eligible?

All tourism businesses who apply must have intention of attending or being represented at ATE2023. 

All operators are invited to apply for the program, however limited spaces apply so preference will be given to operators who can demonstrate they are:

• Newly operating accommodation, tours or attractions willing to work in international markets

• Best of Queensland (BOQ) Status

• Have undertaken or are willing to undertake entry-level trade training - Capability Development Program coaching in 2020/21/22 or ATEC’s Tourism Trade Ready program

• Commissionable tourism product

Costs

There is no cost for the mentoring program, however operators must be willing to cover their own costs for attendance at ATE.

Key Dates

• Applications: CLOSED
  
• Close of Applications: 21 November 2022
• Announcement of successful operators and program commencement: 9 December 2022
• ATE2023: 30 April to 4 May 2023
• Project Completion: 30 June 2023

The Townsville North Queensland Product and Experience Development Plan sets the strategic direction and priorities for the Townsville North Queensland tourism industry for the next five years (2019-2024). The Townsville North Queensland Product and Experience Development Plan identifies key infrastructure and enabler projects and provides a strategic direction for product development and marketing to the Free and Independent Traveller (FIT).

VIEW THE Product and Experience Development Plan

Tourism and Events Queensland, in consultation with the state's Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council has recently launched the Best of Queensland Experiences Program to identify those experiences that best bring the Queensland story to life and consistently deliver a high-quality visitor experience.

The program is based on a robust and independent set of criteria that are determined by online customer reviews, responding to contemporary consumer expectations and reflecting industry best practice. This means that the program is largely driven by customer sentiment and expectations which will not only provide a clear focus for our marketing activities but also set measurable benchmarks for our tourism industry on what constitutes a high-quality visitor experience.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM HERE

The Transformational Experiences Mentoring Program (TEMP) is held twice per year in conjunction with Tourism and Events Queensland. The program was created to support operators in interpreting the Transformational Experiences Guide and becoming champions of transformational experiences.

Townsville North Queensland has participated in 3 cohorts since the pilot program began in 2021 with over 15 operators completing the program. All of which have gained valuable insights about their business and ways in which they can create transformational experiences for their guests.

Townsville Enterprise are currently taking Expressions of Interest for operators who would like to join the next cohort in May to June 2023. To be eligible for the Program you need to currently have the Best of Queensland status for your business.

If you are interested in joining the program please email megan.hawke@tel.com.au 

The Townsville North Queensland Tourism Futures Forum and Networking Function provides operators with the opportunity to hear from a number of inspiring speakers who will provide learnings that they can apply within their own business or workplace.

The Forum is held annually in March and more information can be found on our Upcoming Events page.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Townsville North Queensland Tourism and Events Awards has been established to recognise and foster excellence in the Townsville North Queensland’s tourism industry. The celebrations allow the industry to recognise those people, places, organisations and events that have gone above and beyond to offer superior tourism experiences to visitors in the Townsville North Queensland region. 

The Awards Ceremony are held annually in October with nominations and voting open from August. For more information about the Awards once dates are announced please check out our Upcoming Events page.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Townsville Enterprise, in partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland International Offices, Tourism Australia, airlines and Queensland industry partners conduct various familiarisation (famil) tours to the region.