Australian Regional Tourism Ltd (ART)

Regenerative tourism. A marketer’s take on what it is, and how you should evolve your RTO’s strategy for the future of tourism. At the 2024 ART Convention in Mackay, Dave Hockly, Director, Data Story, will take attendees through what regenerative tourism is and how your locals, culture, environment and economy can all benefit from evolving toward regenerative tourism. Using the example of Destination Queenstown, New Zealand and the journey they're on, this talk will challenge and engage. Find out more about Dave and the rest of the program here - https://lnkd.in/gJshTcch

Over the last three decades, WISDOM Creative Marketing Agency has developed a niche market in destination marketing. We service all aspects of marketing and creative implementation, priding ourselves on delivering a tailored service to each project we undertake. WISDOM’s Chief Information Officer Michael Gutierrez leads a team of experts experienced in developing bespoke websites and online solutions. The team stay current with the latest trends, products, and software developments, ensuring that their knowledge and skills remain at the forefront of the tourism industry. This ARTC, come and chat to Michael about your website requirements. He'll craft a solution around your brief and budget. https://www.wisdom.com.au/ (This post is part of our Partner showcase leading up to the ART Convention in Mackay from 9-11 October.)

Convention Panel Spotlight... Riding the Wave: Mackay’s Strategic Journey to Becoming a Mountain Biking Mecca Take a look at Mackay Regional Council's brave, game-changing move. They didn’t just see the rising demand for mountain biking, they seized it! They turned their region into a mountain biking hotspot, creating a brand that stands out in an increasingly crowded marketplace. From the spark of an idea, to securing funding, launching the brand, and opening the trails, they’ve been on an incredible journey. And it doesn’t stop there. The region is now reaping the rewards with ongoing opportunities for local businesses while also attracting new investment. This isn’t just a success story, it’s a testament to strategic planning. It shows how a well-thought-out approach to creating an experiential brand can make waves in a competitive market. At its heart, it recognised that significant capital investment should be coupled from the get-go with a distinctive brand and a truly customer-centric approach to marketing to activate the trails by standing out from the crowd. So, ready to change your destination’s game? Let’s ride. Charlotte Prouse Ben Andrews Teona Cousin You can find out more about Convention here https://lnkd.in/gYTCSt9v

🔔 Call for ART Board Director Nominations 🔔 The ART Board encourages all financial members to consider nominating to join the board. To nominate for a board position, please ensure that you are a financial member of ART.  Nominations must be submitted by close of business (AEST) Thursday 12 September, 2024. https://lnkd.in/gtctrrYd

🤍 THE HIPSCOTCH STORY 🤍   Amidst the demands of a bustling tourism CEO role, Founder Cara George embarked on a transformative quest in 2021. Her burning desire? To revolutionise support offered to busy Australian tourism professionals. Recognising the work/life imbalance that often plagues the industry, an epiphany struck. The constraints of time within tourism roles can lead to missed opportunities, which presented an opportunity. And so, the idea of Hipscotch was born. As an innovative force in the industry, Hipscotch brings a wealth of senior level experience to the table. Hipscotch is here to infuse joy into your busy professional life by seamlessly integrating with your team and becoming a trusted partner, when needed. We’re excited to meet you at this year’s 2024 ART Convention! If you would like to connect beforehand, or schedule a time to meet at the convention, click below 👇🏻   https://lnkd.in/gz-QXqAs (We will be showcasing some of our wonderful partners in the lead up to the Convention this year. A huge thanks to Hipscotch for starting us off!)

Whether it’s food and shopping, sunrise with the wallabies at Cape Hillsborough or an art deco walking tour – there are three unique Mackay experiences for Convention delegates this year. We encourage delegates to start their convention experience early with a famil as part of our Convention on the Move program on Wednesday 9 October in Mackay Regional Council You can find out more about each tour here https://lnkd.in/gRv7Cnbj

Guidelines released for Round 2 of Growing Regions Program The Australian Government has committed $600 million over three years, commencing in 2023-24 for the Growing Regions Program to deliver investment in infrastructure across Australia’s regional, rural and remote areas. The program provides funding of between $500,000 and $15 million to local government entities and incorporated not-for-profit organisations for capital works projects that will enhance liveability, bolster social cohesion and support local amenity throughout Australia’s regions. The program is an open competitive program with funding awarded on a merit basis. https://lnkd.in/gsZrmGv4

Collaboration is key to any successful partnership and we thank Mayor Greg Williamson and the entire team at Mackay Regional Council for their ongoing support in ensuring the 2024 ART Convention will be one to remember. The Sarina Sugar Shed is at the top of our list to visit (and of course sample!). You can find out more about the Convention and Mackay here https://lnkd.in/gYTCSt9v

THE AGRITOURISM FORUM. A COLLECTIVE PERSPECTIVE. BROUGHT TO YOU BY TOURISM AUSTRALIA We’re excited to announce the Tourism Australia Agritourism Forum program has been released. The Forum will be held on Wednesday, 9 October from 1pm – 5.30pm, at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC) (the same venue as Convention). The purpose of the Forum is to showcase the role the different people in our agritourism world play. We’re going from grass-roots development through to a range of distributors, each speaking about what’s important from their differing perspectives. You can download the program here https://lnkd.in/gJshTcch.

A sneak peak at the Welcome Reception venue for the 2024 Convention...we're getting closer! A huge thanks to ART Board Director Ian Mason for these videos...the best person for the job!