Armed Travel
A new charity that provides holidays for recovering armed forces personnel and their families is inviting individuals or companies across the UK and beyond to register properties on its website including second homes, holiday homes and timeshares. Set up in partnership with Afghan Heroes the new initiative called Give Us Time aims to provide families of those recovering from the trauma of combat including those who have lost loved ones and those who have suffered physical or mental injury.

Further information: https://www.giveustime.org.uk
 
 

ASTRO TOURISM
International Dark Sky Reserve
The Mackenzie Basin in NZ has been designated an International Dark Sky Reserve and is expected to bring stargazers from around the world to the region and significantly boost tourism in the area. Covering 4300sq km over Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park and the neighbouring Mackenzie Basin, the reserve joins a select group of just seventeen International Dark Sky Places worldwide. The new reserve also hopes to place New Zealand on the astronomy and astro-tourism map.

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

 

 

 


INVESTMENT & ATTRACTION
Hotel Incentives Package
The Western Australian Government is calling for Registrations of Interest from investors and developers for two Perth city sites suitable for hotel development. The new hotel incentives package includes provision of Crown land at reduced market rates, flexible floor space bonuses and infrastructure grants. The 7,300 square metre development site consist of three lots including FESA House in Hay Street and the Perth Chest Clinic on Murray Street.

Further information: http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/
Results.aspx?ItemID=150127

12 Month Key Action Plan for Queensland Tourism
This week, over 300 industry leaders and operators, together with key ministers, councils and senior officials came together in Cairns to agree on a 12 month action plan to revive the struggling tourism industry in Queensland. The Action Plan, which targets red tape, attracting and retaining skilled workers, marketing strategies and access to National Parks, is designed to reinvigorate the tourism industry after what has been a very difficult period.

A landmark partnership was signed between the Queensland Government and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) to assist in achieving the goal of doubleing visitor spending to $30 billion by 2020.

The DestinationQ Forum will be held again in 2013, when industry and government will tick off on the progress that has been made and consider a 20 year plan for the industry.

Tony Charters and Associates was appointed the professional conference organiser for the Forum and Tony Charters was the Program Director of this landmark event.

The full details and timeline of the 12 month Key Action Plan is available on the DestinationQ website www.destq.com.au


DESTINATION MARKETING
Holiday Volunteers
The Greek tourist office and enterprises have developed an online interactive platform for both consumers and trade to share their travel experiences in an attempt to counter concerns about the country's economic difficulties and political unrest. The website will provide travel-related content including interviews with opinion leaders in the travel industry, testimonials, videos, photos, tips and informative articles on by social-media savvy volunteers.

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

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Industry Leaders to Gather in Melbourne in July

Over 300 representatives from the tourism and events industry across Australia and the global will gather in Melbourne in two weeks time for the National Tourism & Events Excellence Conference, 16-17 July 2012.

The Conference presents a compelling line up of dynamic and innovative speakers who define excellence in their fields and will show delegates how they can achieve excellence in their own tourism and events organisations.

 

 

KEYNOTE PROGRAM

International

  • Taleb Rifai, Secretary General, United Nations World Tourism Organisation (SPAIN)
  • Greg Moore, President and CEO, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (USA)
  • Kyle Kimball, Chief Financial Officer, New York City Economic Development Corporation (USA)
  • Prof. Dimitrios Buhalis, President, International Federation for Information Technologies in Travel and Tourism (IFITT) and Bournemouth University (UK)

National

  • Andrew McEvoy, Managing Director, Tourism Australia
  • The Hon. Louise Asher MP, Minister for Tourism and Major Events
  • Russel Howcroft, Chief Executive Officer, Y&R Brands Australia and New Zealand
  • Michele Levine, Chief Executive Officer, Roy Morgan Research
  • Lachlan Smirl, Deloitte
  • Mark Peters, Chief Executive, Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation
  • Mark Wilsdon, Business Manager, MONA
  • Gillian Minervini, Creative Director/Producer - Events, City of Sydney
  • John Harnden, CEO, Cricket World Cup
  • Bob East, CEO, Mantra Group
  • Justin Giddings, CEO, Avalon Airport
  • Kim Mckay, Director, Klick Communications
  • Jared Baker, Executive General Manager, Scoopon

Further information: www.teeconference.com

ECOTOURISM
Queensland Government Commits to Support and Grow Ecotourism
Ecotourism Australia has welcomed the Queensland Government's commitment to support and grow Ecotourism at the DestinationQ Forum in Cairns this week.

The 12 month Key Action Plan agreed to by government and industry included the development of a new Queensland Ecotourism plan which would include a review the Nature Conservation Act to ensure that 'presentation' was recognised along with the important conservation values enshrined in the Act.
 
"We are very pleased to see the Queensland Government committing to some important actions that will build and support Ecotourism in Queensland, " Chief Executive of Ecotourism Australia, Kym Cheatham said. "We welcome the Premier's comments that Ecotourism is key to kickstarting Queensland's tourism industry again."

For information on the 12 month Key Action Plan and the DestinationQ Outcomes go to: www.destq.com.au


 


 

 

BUSINESS EVENTS
Beyond Convention
Tourism New Zealand has announced a new marketing plan for the international business events sector. The new campaign will provide an umbrella theme for all Tourism New Zealand's destination marketing material. The 'Beyond Convention' theme will be applied across the sector for meeting and conferences, conference relates to the event. Tourism New Zealand's involvement in the business events sector is part of its overall strategic objective to increase the economic contribution of international visitors by attracting more high value visitors and getting them to stay longer.

Further information: http://www.conventionsnz.co.nz/

RESEARCH
Global Youth Travel Survey
The World Youth Student & Educational Travel Confederation is launching a global youth travel survey to measure customer preferences, marketing, product development, and industry trends. The survey will target not-for-profit and for-profit youth travel organisations, institutions, providers, suppliers, and agencies in all major industry sectors, including language travel, higher education, exchange/work experience, volunteer travel, adventure travel, and youth travel accommodation. The survey closes 16 July 2012.

Further information: http://wysetcresearch.org/?p=802

 

 

 

 

Socially Conscious Consumer
According to the latest 2012 Nielsen Global Corporate Citizenship Survey nearly half of global consumers are willing to pay extra for products and services from companies that show a commitment to social responsibility through their campaigns and programs. The online survey polled more than 28,000 consumers in 56 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and North America.

Further information: http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/reports-downloads/2012/the-global--socially-conscious-consumer.html
 










INDIGENOUS TOURISM
Joint Venture Resort
A joint venture between Indigenous Business Australia and the Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association will see the purchase of the Wilpena Pound Resort in the Flinders Ranges region of South Australia. The 60 room resort and campground located about 4.5 hours drive from Adelaide was originally built by the Rasheed family and provides the only accommodation in the Flinders Ranges National Park. Through the relationship with Adnyamathanha, there are plans to further develop indigenous tourism programs to enhance the guest experience.

Further information:http://www.wilpenapound.com.au/resort/

CLIMATE CHANGE
Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative
The International Tourism Partnership and the World Travel & Tourism Council in collaboration with 23 leading global hospitality companies have agreed upon a common methodology for calculating and communicating the carbon footprint of hotels. The Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative was first developed in 2011 and has since been tested in hotels of various styles and sizes in different geographical locations and refined through a stakeholder engagement process with input from consultants KPMG and the World Resources Institute.

Further information: http://www.wttc.org/activities/environment/hotel-carbon-measurement-initiative/


PROTECTED AREAS
NSW Parks Engaging Children in Nature
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services has launched a new program that will encourage children aged five to eight to develop a love of nature and nature-based activities. The program incorporates an interactive website, a free iPad app and a range of dedicated WilderQuest Discovery games-based activities available during the NSW school holidays. The WilderQuest program aims to encourage children and their families to spend time and become comfortable with nature.

Further information: http://www.wilderquest.nsw.gov.au/
Airline Conservation
A new three year partnership between Air New Zealand and the Department of Conservation will support conservation programs and promote New Zealand to domestic and international tourists. The agreement worth $1 million annually is also an expansion of the airline's environment strategy including the transportation of threatened birds, reptiles and invertebrates to safe new breeding sites around the country.

Further information: http://www.doc.govt.nz/about-doc/news/media-releases/air-new-zealand-and-doc-announce-new-partnership

POLICY & PLANNING
National Travel and Tourism Strategy
The U.S. Government has released a new National Travel and Tourism Strategy during National Travel and Tourism Week. The strategy mandates the creation of a National Travel and Tourism Office within the Commerce Department and sets an ambitious goal of attracting 100 million foreign visitors annually by 2021, up from just over 60 million in 2011. It also encompasses steps to ease entry for foreign visitors, better coordination of federal programs that affect tourism and government support of travel-related research.

Further information: http://www.doi.gov/news/doinews/National-Travel-and-Tourism-Strategy-Sets-Goal-to-Draw-100-million-International-Visitors-to-US.cfm
 

FUNDING
Sustainable Bank
The Triodos Bank is actively seeking tourism business to support more sustainable tourism initiatives that contribute to the quality of life of local communities, assist economic prosperity and minimise damage to the environment. Triodos works in partnership with the Green Tourism Business Scheme to ensure the enterprises they lend to in the tourism sector have sustainability at their core.

Further information: http://www.triodos.com/en/about-triodos-bank/

 

TRANSPORT
Airport Ecosystems
Amadeus has released a new study called 'Reinventing the Airport Ecosystem' which reveals how airports could adopt mini-city, walkway, bus station and shopping mall operating models to meet consumer demands and drive non-aviation revenue. The study was developed through primary field research and supplemented with over 70 qualitative interviews with industry experts from airports, airlines, technology providers and airport designers. These were tested using a global passenger survey of 838 respondents from across Europe, North America and Asia.

Further information: http://www.amadeus.com/airportecosystem
 

ACCOMMODATION
Divorce Hotels
A Dutch entrepreneur plans to extend his chain of six high-end divorce hotels in the Netherlands into the United States, Britain, Italy and Germany. Divorcing couples stay in separate rooms, while a suite is used for mediation talks with lawyers, who take care of the paperwork while the divorcees relax around the pool or have a final meal together.

Further information: http://www.divorcehotel.com/en/
 


 

 



CONSERVATION
Devil of a Partnership
A small group tour operator in Tasmania is establishing a long-term partnership with Tasmania Zoo to support the survival of endangered Tasmanian Devils against the devastating Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Inspiring Journeys is funding an enclosure dedicated to holding and breeding of the species at Tasmania Zoo, Launceston. Tasmania Zoo credits itself as having one of the largest and most successful devil breeding programs in Tasmania with more than 50 devils on site.

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

TECHNOLOGY
Expert Flyer
A website which has traditionally been used by business travellers and other frequent flyers now allows casual travellers to set up an email alert for any aisle, window or seat. ExpertFlyer monitors more than 120 airlines worldwide and travellers can set up additional alerts for less than a dollar. The number of travellers who have used the free seat alerts is already in the tens of thousands and the success rate of finding an alternative seat is nearly 80 percent.

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


AWARDS
Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards
Developed in 2006, the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards are open to accommodation businesses across Asia of all shapes and sizes, budgets and locations. The awards are based on international standards allowing winners to showcase their achievements of environmental best practice and support for local communities. Online applications close 30 July 2012.

Further information: http://www.wildasia.org/main.cfm/RT_Awards
 

CONFERENCE & EVENTS
Global Eco Conference
Registration for Ecotourism Australia's twentieth annual conference the Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism Conference has now opened. Global Eco 2012 will be held 15-17 October 2012 in Cairns, Queensland, Australia and will attract 350+ industry leaders from Australia and overseas.
The 2012 program features a cutting-edge lineup of international and Australian keynote speakers, in-depth forums addressing current issues, a host of educational field trips, valuable networking opportunities and so much more.

Further information: http://www.globaleco.com.au/
 
Cruise Down Under Conference
The Cruise Down Under Conference will be held in Hobart, Tasmania from 29 to 31 August 2012. Sponsored by Tourism Tasmania, Hobart City Council, Tasports, Port Arthur and Burnie City Council the conference will include key international speakers, plenary sessions and workshops. Areas of discussion will include itineraries, shore excursion programs, pre and post cruise opportunities, infrastructure and economic benefits.

Further information: http://www.cruisedownunder.com/conferences
Adventure Travel World Summit
The 9th Adventure Travel World Summit will be held in Lucerne, Switzerland from 8 to 11 October 2012. Keynote speakers will address topics relating to the interplay between conservation and tourism, consumer behaviour, mobile technology and the web. Presented by the Adventure Travel Trade Association and sponsored by Switzerland Tourism and Lucerne Tourism the summit is expected to attract more than 600 industry executives representing more than 50 nations.

Further information: http://www.adventuretravel.biz/atws2012