New research conducted by leading Oxford Economics has established that for every dollar invested in business travel, businesses experience an average $12.50 in increased revenue and $3.80 in new profits.

The study shows that face-to-face meetings and incentive awards to top performers are among the smartest investments companies can make.

Tourism NSW is aiming to position NSW as the premier surfing destination in Australia through an initiative that will target a number of key surfing markets including families, backpackers, international students and working holiday makers.

The campaign will include a designated website as well as advertising and promotions in a number of surfing and tourism publications.

Tourism NSW has partnered with Surfing NSW and 32 designated surfing schools to encourage visitors to embrace one of Australia’s favourite pastimes.

Further information:
http://www.visitnsw.com/Surfing_in_NSW_p3251.aspx

POLICY & PLANNING

Victoria has announced a $14 million boost to secure the long-term future of the international education industry through the release of an Action Plan.

Highlights of the plan include $9.8 million for a new International Education Long Term Growth package and $1.4 million for the Quality in International Education package.

The government has also allocated $2.7 million for the International Students Connections package to build on existing support services including a new student buddy system and information kits.

The Australian Rainforest Foundation, in partnership with Tourism Tropical North Queensland, has launched a world wide competition to win the best holiday in the world in-order to raise funds to save the cassowary.

These majestic, flightless giants of the Rainforest can defend themselves when they or their young are threatened. They sport dagger-like claws which can cause harm but increasingly, they find themselves powerless under the constant attack of habitat destruction. It is now believed there are less than 1500 birds remaining in Australia and the bird is regarded as endangered/

Northern Queensland has one of the fastest growing human populations in Australia, resulting in pressure for more land for urbanisation, farming and associated service infrastructure. This continued development increases the mortality rate from motor vehicle incidents and dog attack – two of the major threats to the cassowary as well as habitat destruction.
In short “we are killing the bird we love”.

The ambitious plan of Operation Rainforest Big Bird is to establish a continuous habitat corridor along the coast of North Queensland linking together private land and existing habitat enclaves, Queensland Parks and the World Heritage Listed National Park.

Each prize is worth approximately $15000.00 and there will be three winners. The holiday includes five star accommodation, dining experiences, travel, tours and airfares from anywhere in the world to Cairns and is fully supported by the region’s tourist operators allowing the winners to choose from a wide selection of activities and experiences to suit their interests.

Just $10 per ticket will get you an entry into the competition.

For more information and to enter go to: www.winthebestholiday.com

ACCOMMODATION

The ultra-luxury $125 million Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa has been opened just west of the NSW Blue Mountains by his Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group.

The resort actively protects its surrounding habitat and indigenous wildlife species while delivering the first-class standards and quality.

Further information: http://www.emirateshotelsresorts.com/wolgan-valley/en/

Hilton Hotels Corporation has relaunched as Hilton Worldwide with a new logo and relocation of its global headquarters from Beverly Hills in California to McLean in Virginia.

The company’s portfolio of 10 brands comprises more than 3300 hotels in 77 countries, with more than 300 properties opening this year.

Further information:
http://www.hiltonworldwide.com/

CERTIFICATION

It examines company performance in strategy, governance, engagement, value chain and innovation. Assessments are based on company public disclosures and the five years experience with the predecessor rating.

Further information: http://www.tomorrowsvaluerating.com/Page/
About%20the%20Tomorrow's%20Value%20Rating

A new report has found that when travelling through major international airports, more passengers are choosing the self-service check-in option instead of lining up and waiting for an available check-in counter.

The 4th annual SITA/Air Transport World Passenger Self-Service Survey is an in-depth look at the attitudes and habits of a representative sample of the 232 million passengers using six international airports hubs.

The data is extracted at the departure gates from interviews with 2,193 passengers flying on more than 100 different airlines and representing over 80 different nationalities.

The new Jumpstart Guide for tourism businesses is an interactive guide that provides you with the tools and information to start a new tourism venture.

Subjects covered include business planning, marketing, licensing, type of tourism businesses, and industry contacts.

Further information: http://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/jumpstartguide/

More than 35 per cent of tickets have been purchased from interstate or overseas and more than $1 million worth of event packages have been sold through the official event travel office. The event aims to boost tourism, create jobs and generate up to $19 million for the Victorian economy.

Further information: http://www.australianmasters.com.au/

The U.S. Travel Association, in partnership with American Express, has created www.travelgreen.org as a one-stop shop for information on sustainable travel.

The site features research and case studies on “green” programs from destinations and travel suppliers.

Further information: http://www.travelgreen.org/

INFRASTRUCTURE & INVESTMENT

Resorts Sold

Delaware North Companies Australia has acquired five of the Voyages resorts including Lizard Island, Kings Canyon, Wilson Island, El Questro Homestead, Station and Emma Gorge, and Heron Island.

Established for more than 20 years, Delaware North Companies Australia has interests in sports stadiums, entertainment venues and hospitality and is part of the world’s largest providers of hospitality and food service employing 50,000 employees throughout North and South America, United Kingdom and New Zealand. The company will acquire the resorts from the GPT Group in late October.

Further information:
http://www.delawarenorth.com.au/australia-new-zealand/

The free online tool has been used in a pilot phase on selected websites, which have generated in excess of 10,000 flight searches.

Further information:
http://www.sustainabilityintelligence.com/CarbonResponsible/flysmart.php

RESEARCH

The Quest Serviced Apartments Business Travel Survey polled 1000 regular Australian business travellers and found that both genders agreed a good pillow was the number favourite home comfort when travelling for business.

Quest Serviced Apartments is the largest service apartment group in Australasia with over 120 locations in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.

Further information: http://www.questapartments.com.au

Consumer Sentiment Survey

An NRMA Travel consumer sentiment survey of 1,300 NRMA Members has revealed the swine flu pandemic has failed to dent people’s travel plans but the global financial crisis (GFC) has had an impact on both business and leisure travel.

Further information: http://www.mynrma.com.au/cps/
rde/xchg/mynrma/hs.xsl/9599.htm

Ecotourism Australia’s premier conference on ecotourism, sustainability and climate change response, Global Eco, will be held 9-11 November in Alice Springs.

Global Eco features seven highly interactive Theme Streams where delegates, themselves experts in their field, will contribute to debate along with the impressive array of national and international expert speakers.  

EcoDesign;
Sustainability and Climate Change;
Indigenous Tourism Development;
EcoMarketing;
Tourism and Protection Through Partnerships;
Tourism in Protected Areas; and
Technology

The industry is increasingly aware of the role it can play contributing to communities; cultural, natural and heritage site conservation, and the Global Eco Indigenous Business Development Theme Stream will focus on providing highly applied examples for building vital Indigenous business opportunities.

Meeting in Alice Springs there is no better setting for delegates to experience innovative best practice case studies and to network with leading industry identities.

Both researchers and practitioners alike get the opportunity to explore the buzzwords in today’s tourism industry by attending the Sustainability and Climate Change Theme Stream. Focus will be on cutting-edge research, such as the perspective of the sustainable traveller and delegates get the chance to be brought up to date on the latest global trends and case studies in this Theme Stream.

This is a conference not to miss.

Ministers’ Summit

The 3rd annual Ministers’ Summit will be held in partnership with the World Travel Market on 10 November in London, UK.

The Summit will bring together ministers and leading tourism experts to determine the best course of action for the tourism industry, as well as its positioning in the transformation to the Green Economy.

Discussions will centre on how the travel and tourism industry is implementing a new, greener and cleaner framework to stimulate the global economy.

Further information: http://www.UNWTO.org/wtm.php?lang=E

The second annual Green Lodging and Hospitality Conference will be held from December 9 to 11, 2009 in Orlando, Florida.

The conference theme - Greener Roads Ahead, acknowledges the continuing need for the industry to increase profitability by both reducing costs and boosting property revenues, while minimizing their environmental impacts.

This conference will help hoteliers and others that accommodate guests take the mystery out of going green and promises to make the business case that helping save the environment will also boost the bottom line.

Further information: www.treeo.ufl.edu/Conferences/GreenLodging

The SEGRA Steering Committee has received high praise for the outstanding speakers participating at this month's SEGRA Conference.

Keynote speakers include:

The Hon Brendon Grylls
Minister for Regional Development | Leader of the Nationals WA

The Hon Fred Chaney AO
Chair | Desert Knowledge Australia
"Revitalising Remote Australia: the need for reform in the governance and administration of remote regions of Australia"

Professor Peter Newman
Board of Infrastructure Australia
Prof of Sustainability | Curtin University
"Infrastructure Australia and Smart Sustainable Regions"

Geoff Carmody
Co-founder of Access Economics, Director | Geoff Carmody & Associates
"Emissions Trading: giving up our activity and jobs for no global emissions reduction?"

Kaely Woods
Deputy General Manager Business Support | Indigenous Business Australia
"Delivering and Supporting Indigenous Participation in Regional Development"