8-10 AUGUST

PERTH CONVENTION

AND EXHIBITION CENTRE

Presented in partnership by

Visit

or Centres Western Australia

DELEGATE PROSPECTUS

Visit

or Centres Western Australia

Evan Hall, Tourism Council WA CEO

“ With tourism emerging as a significant growth industry for WA, this

conference will be an excellent opportunity for the industry

to hear from leading speakers discussing the

critical issues facing tourism in this State.”

Simon Glossop, Caravan Industry Association WA CEO

“This event is a highlight of the industry calendar and focuses on

the development of the sector as well as individual caravan

parks in WA.”

Matt Norton, Visitor Centres WA Chair

“The WA Tourism Conference is a fantastic opportunity for Visitor Centre representatives to network and learn

how to improve their visitor

servicing offering.”

Ross Dowling OAM, Forum Advocating Cultural and Eco Tourism (FACET) Former Chair

“FACET is delighted to be a part of the WA

Tourism Conference this year and invites those in

the tourism industry to join us to hear the latest in the eco and cultural tourism sectors.”

The conference will feature more than 50 speakers and panellists from across Australia, including Government Ministers, industry leaders and tourism experts. For full list of speakers and panellists visit watourismconference.com.au

SPEAKERS AND PANELLISTS

Hon. Colin Barnett MLA Premier; Tourism Minister

Hon. Mark McGowan MLA Leader of the Opposition

Lisa Ronson Tourism Australia, Chief Marketing Officer

Tom O’Toole The Beechworth Baker, Keynote Speaker

Robert Pennicott Pennicott Wilderness Journeys

Rachel Argaman TFE Hotels, Chief Executive Officer

Howard Cearns Alex Hotel and Shadow Wine Bar,Hippocampus Distillery,Braincells

Professor Ross Dowling OAM Edith Cowan University, Foundation Professor of Tourism

Deidre Willmott Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, CEO

Jurek Leon Terrific Trading, Director of Curiosity

Jim Sharp Department of Parks and Wildlife, Director General

Pip Close Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association, CEO

Sam McDonagh Airbnb, General Manager Australia & NZ

Griffin Longley Nature Play WA, Chief Executive Officer

Sam Davis Shire of Katanning, Executive Manager – Strategic Projects

Tracey Cooper Mornington Peninsula, CEO

*Subject to change

^Not included in conference registrations ~Limited spaces available

DAY 1 MONDAY, AUGUST 8

Pre-conference eventsMaximise your conference experience by attending additional training workshops prior to the main event.

Workshops8.30am – 5.00pm Social Media Workshops^~ Topics include: · Emerging social media trends · Facebook Insights · Twitter, Instagram, Hashtags & More

8.30am – 12.30pm China Ready^~

1.00pm – 4.30pm Good Governance & Business Planning^~

1.00pm – 5.00pm Bookeasy Workshops~ For operators and Visitor Centres

Touring options1.00pm – 2.30pm Segway Tours WA East Tour^~

2.15pm – 5.00pm Captain Cook Cruises Swan River Scenic Cruise^~

3.00pm – 4.00pm Segway Tours WA Riverside Tour^~

Welcome Cocktail Function

6.00pm – 8.00pm Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre Official welcome by Governor of Western Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Kerry Sanderson AO

DAY 2 TUESDAY, AUGUST 9

7.15am VCWA Breakfast^ Visitor Centres WA members are invited to attend this breakfast for the presentation of the GWN7 Top Tourism Town Category Awards and an update on VCWA activities.

8.00am Registrations commence

9.00am Introduction by Master of Ceremonies Trevor Cochrane, Guru Productions Managing Director

9.05am Launch of Tourism Works Campaign Evan Hall, Tourism Council WA Chief Executive Officer

9.15am Opening address Hon. Colin Barnett MLA, Premier; Minister for Tourism

9.30am Address by Leader of the Opposition Hon Mark McGowan MLA

9.45am Robert Pennicott, Pennicott Wilderness Adventures

10.30am Morning tea break

11.00am Tourism Australia Update Lisa Ronson, Tourism Australia Chief Marketing Officer

11.20am Tourism Western Australia Update

11.40am Marketing Destination Experiences Panel The latest research, insights and advice on destination marketing from a range of perspectives, including successful interstate and local destinations.

12.30pm Lunch

1.30pm Keynote Speaker Tom O’Toole, The Beechworth Baker

2.15pm Key Speaker 2: Social Media Update Kim Barrett, Your Social Voice

2.45pm Sharing Economy Panel With the sharing economy growing in popularity, hear from panellists on the latest research, policy and the impact the technology is having on the tourism industry.

3.30pm Afternoon tea break

4.00pm Key Speaker 3 Deidre Willmott, Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA Chief Executive Officer

5.00pm Day One concludes

Touring options6.00pm -8.00pm

Little Ferry Co. Twilight Cruise on the Swan River^~

6.00pm -9.00pm

Two Feet & a Heartbeat Small Bar Tour^~

CONFERENCE PROGRAM*

DAY 2 TUESDAY, AUGUST 9

7.15am VCWA Breakfast^ Visitor Centres WA members are invited to attend this breakfast for the presentation of the GWN7 Top Tourism Town Category Awards and an update on VCWA activities.

8.00am Registrations commence

9.00am Introduction by Master of Ceremonies Trevor Cochrane, Guru Productions Managing Director

9.05am Launch of Tourism Works Campaign Evan Hall, Tourism Council WA Chief Executive Officer

9.15am Opening address Hon. Colin Barnett MLA, Premier; Minister for Tourism

9.30am Address by Leader of the Opposition Hon Mark McGowan MLA

9.45am Robert Pennicott, Pennicott Wilderness Adventures

10.30am Morning tea break

11.00am Tourism Australia Update Lisa Ronson, Tourism Australia Chief Marketing Officer

11.20am Tourism Western Australia Update

11.40am Marketing Destination Experiences Panel The latest research, insights and advice on destination marketing from a range of perspectives, including successful interstate and local destinations.

12.30pm Lunch

1.30pm Keynote Speaker Tom O’Toole, The Beechworth Baker

2.15pm Key Speaker 2: Social Media Update Kim Barrett, Your Social Voice

2.45pm Sharing Economy Panel With the sharing economy growing in popularity, hear from panellists on the latest research, policy and the impact the technology is having on the tourism industry.

3.30pm Afternoon tea break

4.00pm Key Speaker 3 Deidre Willmott, Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA Chief Executive Officer

5.00pm Day One concludes

Touring options6.00pm -8.00pm

Little Ferry Co. Twilight Cruise on the Swan River^~

6.00pm -9.00pm

Two Feet & a Heartbeat Small Bar Tour^~

DAY 3 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10

MARKETING & ACCESS EXPERIENCES & PLACES INDUSTRY SECTORS

8.00am VC Regional Grant Funding Case StudiesShare your ideas on what worked and what didn’t work when applying for your network grant.

9.00am Social Media and Digital Marketing Panel Insights into the latest in social media and digital marketing.

Setting the Scene: The value of tourism, natural and cultural experiences Professor Ross Dowling OAM

How to grow sales and build a sustainable Visitor Centre Jurek Leon’s presentation will give tips on how to use customer focussed selling tools to help build a sustainable visitor centre.9.45am Online Distribution Panel

Learn from an expert panel how to best promote your product and reach millions of potential customers through online booking platforms.

Case Studies: Exciting New Experiences Speakers representing ecotourism, food and wine, cultural and heritage experiences.

10.30am Morning tea

11.00am How to make ‘Just Another Day in WA’ relevant for your businessThis session will look at the recent evolution of the Experience Extraordinary brand, outline how the ‘Just Another Day in WA’ campaign is being rolled out and how you can get involved.

Nature Based Tourism I: Camping, Glamping and Caravan Parks Includes State Overview by Department of Parks and Wildlife Director General Jim Sharp.

Katanning SuperTown Heritage Centre ProjectKatanning is undertaking an ambitious $19 million development project to enhance both access and the visitor experience for people travelling to the region.

11.45am Great staff, great service Rachel Argaman, TFE Hotels Chief Executive Officer

Nature Based Tourism II: Destinations Speaker Griffin Longley on Nature Play and the Parks Foundation.

Engaging Your Membership How to attract and engage members and promote the value of tourism.

12.30pm Lunch

1.30pm Aviation Panel A panel of industry heavyweights discuss the developments and future of the industry in WA.

Adding Value: Guided Experiences Tour Guides Association and FACET Golden Guide winners provide insight on guided experiences.

The Future of Caravan Parks With many Park purchases by corporations, what do you need to do to sell?Franchise Branding What does it mean to be in a marketing chain and how does it affect your business?Best Practice Caravan Park Case Study Listen to a park operator on how they grew their business by developing their park.

2.15pm Engaging the Media and Influencers Panel Hear from those in the media about how to work with them to gain exposure.

Indigenous Tourism: Where to from here? Robert Taylor, WAITOC Chief Executive Officer

3.00pm Afternoon tea

3.30pm Branding Session Industry experts explain the importance of branding and give lessons on building a brand.

Indigenous Art: Connecting to country Speakers include Dale Tilbrook from Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery and Marilyn Morgan from Kambarang Services.

Caravan Industry Update Hear the direction and what work the Association is undertaking on behalf of members.

4.15pm Close Food and wine experiences Speakers include Claire Savage from Savagely Creative and Pip Close from Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association.

Close

5.00pm Close

6.15pm PRE-DINNER DRINKS COMMENCE7.00pm CONFERENCE DINNER

Featuring dinner speaker Mick Colliss. Includes presentation of the GWN7 Top Tourism Town Awards.

Welcome Cocktail Function

Join fellow delegates, invited guests and sponsors for a welcome function featuring an address from Governor of Western Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Kerry Sanderson AO.

Date: Monday, August 8Time: 6.00pm – 8.00pmLocation: Perth Convention

and Exhibition CentreDress: Smart casual/business

Complimentary for conference delegates.

Conference Dinner

Hosted by Master of Ceremonies and GWN7 News presenter Noel Brunning, the conference dinner will bring together delegates in a more relaxed setting for a chance to network and finish the conference off with an enjoyable evening.Dinner proceedings include entertainment from author, poet and sports commentator Mick Colliss. The conference dinner includes the presentation of the GWN7 Top Tourism Town Awards.

Date: Wednesday, August 10Time: 6.15pm for pre-dinner drinksLocation: Perth Convention

and Exhibition CentreDress: Business Formal

Optional Touring Activities

For the first time, delegates to the 2016 WA Tourism Conference have the option of selecting additional discounted activities for Monday afternoon (August 8) and Tuesday evening (August 9). These tours include:Segway Tours WA East Tour or Riverside Tour

Captain Cook Cruises Swan River Scenic Cruise

Two Feet & a Heartbeat Small Bar Tour

Little Ferry Co. Twilight Cruise on the Swan River

Delegates will be able to book these optional activities when registering for the conference.Please note, these activities incur an additional cost and spaces are limited.

SOCIAL EVENTS

SPONSORS For more about our sponsors, visit watourismconference.com.au

Platinum Sponsor

The Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre (PCEC) welcomes the world’s top thinkers, researchers, business professionals and entertainers and provides a magnificent setting for conferences, exhibitions, meetings, functions, community events, performances and celebrations.

Officially opened in 2004, and boasting spacious foyers with natural light and breathtaking views of the Swan River, PCEC is attractively located in the heart of the central business district within convenient walking distance of a variety of hotels, shopping and entertainment precincts.

Platinum Sponsor

Each week, 1.5 million people nationally engage with content from The Sunday Times and PerthNow, making us a trusted media choice for both readers and advertisers alike.

For thousands of families in WA, The Sunday Times keeps them in touch with what’s happening in news, sport, finance, real estate, fashion, entertainment, health, lifestyle and much more. On average, our readers spend 83 minutes engaging with The Sunday Times. PerthNow reaches an audience who snack on their media across multiple screens every day of the week.

Gold Sponsors

The Commonwealth Bank is Australia’s leading provider of integrated financial services including retail banking, business banking, institutional banking, funds management, superannuation, insurance and investment products.

Perth Convention Bureau (PCB) is responsible for marketing Western Australia as a business events destination embracing conventions, exhibitions and incentive travel groups.

Vanguard Press supplies a diverse range of print services and solutions. We complement our core business of print by offering mailing, distribution, design and web solutions.

GWN7 is Regional Western Australia’s highest rating and most successful television network. The network is now in its 50th year providing the very best local and international entertainment, live news, and major sporting events to over 500,000 residents.

GWN7’s broadcast footprint is one of the largest in the world, servicing the entire state from Kununurra in the North to Esperance in the South.

Design by Scamper Design www.scamperdesign.com

Principal Sponsor

Tourism Western Australia (Tourism WA) is the State Government agency responsible for promoting Western Australia (WA) as an extraordinary holiday and business event destination.

It is an economic development agency responsible for getting the conditions right so the tourism industry in WA can thrive.

The agency also works in partnership with the private sector and government to develop WA’s iconic tourism experiences and promote them locally, nationally and internationally.

Tourism WA has three core functions – marketing the State; developing, attracting and promoting major sports, arts, cultural and culinary events; and promoting the development of significant tourism infrastructure.

The agency is responsible for delivering innovative marketing campaigns to raise local, national and international awareness of WA’s extraordinary destinations and experiences.

Silver Sponsors

REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN!

Visit watourismconference.com.au

Conference Pricing

MEMBER RATE*

NON-MEMBER RATE

2 Day Conference (including cocktail function)

$385 $575

Conference Dinner only $155 $235

Full conference (including cocktail function and conference dinner)

$495 $795

* Must be a current member of TCWA, CIAWA, VCWA or was a financial member of FACET before 31 May 2016

Conference AccommodationConference delegates can access special discounted room rates.

RATEPARMELIA HILTON PERTHTwin room* (inc. breakfast and Wi-Fi) $200

Queen room* (inc. breakfast and Wi-Fi) $240

King Room* (inc. breakfast and Wi-Fi) $260

* Please note there are limited rooms available at this rate.