My Queensland TNQ Tourism Conference
Pullman Cairns International | 16 JUNE 2022
International recovery for the region, leveraging our strengths in eco-conscious and event travellers
Join us for a full day of future-focused ideas, discussions and stories delivered by speakers with extensive backgrounds in tourism, events, government, airlines, inbound, wholesale and beyond.
We’ll inspire you to leverage the eco-conscious global traveller. Let’s explore how we can position the sustainability attributes and offering of our destination to maximise visitation from both the leisure and event visitor. There will be discussions on sustainable expectations for the region and what it means for our region along with major and business event opportunities.
At the My Queensland TNQ Tourism Conference you’ll be among industry from across the region. Connect with peers, local suppliers, talk with our speakers and the members of the TTNQ team. When the presentations are done, we’ll help you break the ice with our tourism happy hour. Leave feeling connected and inspired to take your businesses marketing efforts to the next level.
Session 1 & 2: International Destination and Trade Marketing
In this session, we will hear insights from both a destination marketing and a trade marketing perspective. Speakers include representatives from Tourism Australia, Tourism and Events Queensland, Singapore Airlines, along with inbound agents, online travel agents and wholesale businesses.
Session 3: Sustainability
Offering sustainable travel experiences will provide a competitive edge to our international market recovery. This session will explore “what is sustainable travel and what are customers’ expectations”. Speakers include experts from Tourism Australia and award-winning tourism businesses.
Session 4: 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.
Networking: Happy hour
Compare notes with your industry colleagues during the networking session at the end of the conference.
EVENT SPONSOR
My Queensland is part of the award-winning Ignite Travel Group, Australia’s leading travel distribution platform. They compliment supplier distribution channels by delivering experience-rich packages that both inspire customers and create new volumes for their partners. Their selection of Queensland holidays is perfectly packaged with exclusive bonus value inclusions that customers can’t get anywhere else, like room upgrades, resort credits, dining, local experiences and so much more. Since its establishment in 2005, My Queensland has sent over 500,000 passengers to Queensland, a result achieved through their intimate knowledge of the industry and unrivalled distribution network.
Speaker announcements! More to come…
Robert Dougan
Executive General Manager, Strategy & Research – Tourism Australia
Rob penned Tourism Australia’s brand vision in 2013 and led the strategy on the Restaurant Australia, Aquatic and Coastal, Undiscover, and Aussie News Today campaigns. In his 15 year career in advertising Rob has worked across a large range businesses including several travel brands such as easyJet, Helloworld, Virgin, Qantas and Tourism Tasmania.
Michael Branagh
Group Executive, Global Marketing – Tourism and Events Queensland
Michael is one of Australia’s top advertising, media and marketing leaders with over 25 years’ industry experience. In his current role, Michael is responsible for the global marketing of the iconic Queensland brand.
Louis Arul
Regional Vice President Southwest Pacific – Singapore Airlines
Louis joined Singapore Airlines in 1994 and rose through the ranks holding positions across a range of portfolios in the Airlines Head Office in Singapore, including Cabin Crew, Marketing, Partnerships and International Relations.
Neale Herridge
General Manager – ATS Pacific
Neale has been in the travel industry for 40 years with positions in Amex, Ansett Australia, Accor and most recently ATS Pacific. Neale has a wide range of experience serving as a National ATEC Board member and most recently on Helloworld’s Senior Management Team.
Jason Brereton
Managing Director, Oceania Region – H.I.S. Australia
Jason is an accomplished professional with over 30 years of experience working in the leisure, travel & tourism industry. H.I.S. is one of Japan’s leading travel organisations with branches in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast and Cairns.
Daniel Finch
Wotif Group Managing Director – Expedia Australia
Overseeing Wotif.com, lastminute.com.au and Expedia in Australia and New Zealand,
Daniel has more than 20 years industry experience working in online travel and in the hotel industry in some of the world’s and Australia’s largest chains.
Ryan Thomas
Chief Executive Officer – Ignite Travel Group
Ryan oversees the operations in Australia and New Zealand for the Ignite Travel Group. Ignite work with travel and tourism partners to create new distribution networks with vast consumer appeal that grow both supplier channels and revenue streams through its dedicated leisure brand, such as My Queensland.
Craig Wickham
Managing Director – Exceptional Kangaroo Island
Craig Wickham is the owner and Managing Director of Exceptional Kangaroo Island, situated just off the South Australian coast. As Ecotourism leaders, Exceptional Kangaroo Island has been consistently recognised as one of Australia’s leading eco-certified tour operators for over 20 years.
Penny Rafferty
Head of Sustainability – Tourism Australia
Penny Rafferty leads Tourism Australia’s Sustainability strategy – the aim of which is to advocate and educate, and elevate the many sustainability legacy stories of Australian tourism, meeting and growing consumer demand, and encouraging industry capability. Penny is also Executive Chair of Luxury Lodges of Australia and has led the organisation since it formed in 2010.
Simon Pugh
Managing Director – Essence
Simon is an industry thought leader, focused on finding innovative ways to help clients grow through marketing transformation and digital innovation. Simon has 25 years’ experience in Marketing and Media having worked in New York, Sydney and San Francisco for some of the worlds most iconic brands including Coca-Cola, Disney, Diageo and P&G. He is currently the Chief Client Officer at EssenceMediacom, TEQ’s strategic media partner.
Rod Lockwood
Managing Director – DE Group
Rod has over 30 years’ experience in the Australian and International events industry and has developed a reputation as an event entrepreneur building an enviable portfolio of successful events. The DE Group is one of Australia’s most innovative privately-owned event companies an impressive history of launching and sustaining new events. DE Group has now produced over 300 events globally.
Geoff Meyer
Managing Director Oceania – IRONMAN
Geoff brings a significant wealth of experience and knowledge through his 20 years in the mass participation sports industry working in every facet from operations, race directing, marketing, finance, and sponsorships. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Oceania business unit for The IRONMAN Group.
Local Corporate Supporters of Tourism
During breaks visit and connect with our local providers.
Program
Pullman Cairns International | 16 June 2022
9:00 | Arrival, registration and refreshments
9:30 | Welcome & Session 1 & 2 – International Destination and Trade Marketing speakers, including panel discussions and morning tea
Lunch
2:00 | Session 3 – Sustainability speakers, including a panel discussion
Afternoon Tea
3:30 | Session 4 – Events speakers, including Q&A and networking
5:00 | Conclusion
[please note the program is subject to change]
Cost
Members $80 per person*
Non-Members $140 per person*
Students $40 per person*
*Includes morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and networking drinks
Champion of Tourism Members receive 2 complimentary tickets. A promo code has been sent to your organisation to access the complimentary tickets.