2022 TNQ TOURISM CONFERENCE

The 2022 TNQ Tourism Conference focused on International recovery for the region, leveraging our strengths in eco-conscious and event travellers. It inspired delegates to leverage the eco-conscious global traveller and explored how they can position the sustainability attributes and offering of our destination to maximise visitation from both the leisure and event visitors. The event was full of ideas, discussions, and stories delivered by speakers with extensive backgrounds in tourism, events, government, airlines, inbound, wholesale, and beyond.

The event was proudly sponsored by My Queensland, which is part of the award-winning Ignite Travel Group.

INTERNATIONAL MARKET UPDATE:  Insights from both a destination marketing and a trade marketing perspective.
Rob Dougan – Strategy & Research, Tourism Australia
Michael Branagh – Global Marketing, Tourism and Events Queensland
Louis Arul – Southwest Pacific & Singapore Airlines
Neale Herridge – ATS Pacific
Jason Brererton – H.I.S Australia
Daniel Finch – Expedia Australia & Wotif
Ryan Thomas – My Queensland & Ignite Travel Group

TELLING OUR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM STORY: Offering sustainable travel experiences will provide a competitive edge to our international market recovery. We explored “what is sustainable travel and what are customers’ expectations”.
Simon Pugh – EssenceMediacom
Penny Rafferty – Head of Sustainability, Tourism Australia
Craig Wickham – Exceptional Kangaroo Island

BUILDING AN INTERNATIONAL PROFILE THROUGH EVENTS: Events contribute to year-round visitation, and with the award-winning convention centre expansion less than 12 months away from completion, and international events such as Ironman and Crankworx embedded into our calendar, this session will explore how business and major events will play a part in our regional recovery.
Rod Lockwood – Definitive Events
Geoff Meyer – IRONMAN
Rosie Douglas – Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Previous conferences and speakers

2021

Matt Jones, Four Pillars Distillery
IN CRAFT WE TRUST: Matt Jones is one of Australia’s leading strategists and storytellers. One of three co-founders, and the brand brains behind Four Pillars, Matt connects the dots between brand and purpose.

Katie Iles, Hello Clarity
EMBRACING THE NEW LOOK POST-MILLENIAL; CASHLESS & INTEGRATED: Katie Iles is a communications strategist, specialising in generational change and business growth. Katie will explore how our region can embrace the “new look millennial”. Millennials are fast moving into the young family category, so what does a millennial look like in 2021 and what does this mean for the purchasing experience if they are cashless and integrated?

Oliver Vickers-Price, NewsCorp
TRAVEL REIMAGINED: Oliver will outline what a year of consumer research and spend tracking taught us, along with an exclusive, market-first look at the preliminary findings of a landmark study.

Daniel Finch from Wotif Group, Geoff York from Crystalbrook Collection, and Ryan Thomas from Ignite Travel Group
Daniel, Geoff, and Ryan will discuss booking trends from their perspective. Topics for the panel session will include what impact COVID-19 has had on who their customers are, their booking lead times and patterns, and what techniques are working well and why.

Chloe Knight-Gregson, Tourism Australia & Eleni Kozionas, Tourism & Events Queensland
FROM VISITOR TO STORYTELLER TO AMBASSADOR: Chloe and Eleni will explore strategies they utilise to not just create content, but to inspire ambassadors and advocates for each region through their storytelling. Eleni also manages the Queensland Creators program; learn how you could host the Creators and have them become brand advocates!

Shane Purss, Jersey Road
IGNITING YOUR UGC: Jersey Road specialises in project and event management, they understand the business of events and activations and the importance of driving brand ROI and commercial returns. Operating a tourism business is like running a mini-activation every day – learn how can you create fanatical supporters for your business and benefit from their UGC.

2019

Robert Pennicott, Founder, Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, Tasmania
A JOURNEY TO SUCCESS: Robert Pennicott and his family have been operating Pennicott Wilderness Journeys since 1999. They have won many state, national and international awards including 12 Australian Tourism Awards and 26 Tasmanian Tourism Awards.

Nick Pritchard, Creative Strategist, Nick Did This
ENGAGING WITH THE TNQ BRAND: Nick Did This is the advertising and marketing partner of TTNQ. With offices in both Cairns and Brisbane, Nick Did This is instrumental in the messaging for our region. Nick will explore the multitude of avenues of how you can share in the brand journey.

Julian Croft, Director of Marketing Platforms, Media & PartnershipsTourism and Events Queensland
TEQ’s DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM: Julian leads the development of digital platforms, media strategy and partnerships at Tourism and Events Queensland to inspire the world to experience the best address on Earth. Hear how TEQ will be transforming their marketing platforms.

Ben Vadasz, Co-Founder and Partner, Destination Think!
UNLEASH THE POWER: Destination Think! is what happens when a group of leading, international, destination marketers create the ideal agency. They unleash the power of word-of-mouth to create passionate advocates for local experiences and tourism businesses. As a co-founder of Destination Think!, Ben brought this company to life and delivers innovative proposals to his clients. Find out how.

Mark Evans, Owner, Paronella Park
JOURNEY TO SUCCESS: Historic attraction Paronella Park located in Mena Creek, now welcomes 100,000 visitors annually. Mark and Judy Evans, the careful custodians of the award-winning park, also own Mena Creek Hotel and Mamu Tropical Skywalk, working alongside 80 employees. They have battled cyclones and floods and flourished on the other side of them. Hear their journey to success.

Daniel Finch, Managing Director, Wotif Group
DIGITAL DISRUPTION AND THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL: The Wotif Group (Wotif, Lastminute and Travel websites in Australia and New Zealand) launched in 2000. Daniel took the helm in 2015 after 5 years with Wotif. His 18+ years experience in the hotel industry includes roles in sales, revenue, business development, and event management.