Tourism Talk March 2010Please select a story from the list below or scroll down to view all.
> News from Tourism
Farewell Libby Bain
After three and a half years as the Tourism Marketing Officer for the Alpine Shire, Libby Bain is leaving us for a sea change. Libby's last day was Friday. We wish to thank her for her dedication to promoting the region and for all of the extra work she has put in to ensure our festivals and events have been successful.
We would like to wish Libby and her husband all the best in their new adventure.
Until the position of Tourism Marketing Officer has been filled, please contact Sara Bailey, Tourism Marketing Assistant, on sarab@alpineshire.vic.gov.au or phone 03 5755 0550.
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Autumn Calendar of Events
The Autumn Calendar of Events has been printed and is available to collect from the Visitor Information Centres in Bright, Mount Beauty, Myrtleford and Dinner Plain. Highlights include the 50th anniversary of the Myrtleford Festival, the Mount Beauty Music Festival, the Bright Autumn Festival and the special celebrations for the Mount Buffalo Chalet's 100th birthday. Please refer to our Festivals and Events web page for more information on these events and additional listings.
To view the Calendar of Events brochure in pdf form, click here
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Dinner Plain Village news
For information about what's on in Dinner Plain Village click here or call 1300 734 365
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Mount Buffalo Chalet Tours
Parks Victoria will continue to run Historic Tours of the Mount Buffalo Chalet throughout March. Guided 45-minute tours will be held each Thursday at 1pm as well as the during the Labour Day long weekend. Tours are free but bookings are essential.
To download a copy of the flyer, please click here.
To book or for more information about the tours, call the Mount Buffalo Entrance Station on 03 5756 2328 or Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or to visit the website, click here.
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Mount Buffalo and Alpine National Park news
Bents Lookout on Mount Buffalo will be commencing upgrades in March. There will also be some works starting on the Pulpit Lookout to improve hang gliding. Access to these lookouts may be restricted at times during these upgrades however Parks will endeavour to keep them open as much as possible.
The Alpine National park has enjoyed an increase in the number of people visiting over the summer holiday period, largely due to improved access through the sealing of the Bogong High Plains Road.
Four new toilets have been installed at remote sites on the Bogong High Plains and Mount Bogong at Edmondson's Hut, Bivouac Hut, Fitzgerald's Hut and the Tawonga Huts.
Works have commenced on the upgrade of the walking track linking Cope Hut and Wallace Hut (the Wallace-Cope Heritage Trail). Much of the track work is complete and interpretive signage will be installed shortly.
The rebuild of Weston's Hut will begin on the March long weekend with the help of Parks Victoria staff, volunteers, local builders and members of the Weston family. The hut was destroyed by the 2006-2007 fires and after much planning, weighing of loads and coordination, many tonnes of building materials have been airlifted to the remote site on the edge of the Bogong High Plains. It is hoped that with the help of many volunteer hours and working bees the hut will be completed before winter.
For more information about the Alpine National Park, click here. For more information about Mount Buffalo National Park, click here.
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Autumn 2010 eNewsletter
The Autumn 2010 edition of the Great Alpine Valley's eNewsletter has just been sent out to our database of over 3,000 consumers. This edition promotes the upcoming events for Autumn as well as accommodation packages for the region. In addition to this we have also included a Specials and Deals section which includes details of a cellar door wine sale, free photos with any microlighting experience, a 10 per cent discount on a tour and various coupons to encourage retail spend. These additions hope to encourage visitors to have an experience, not just a holiday.
If you are interested in offering a special deal for inclusion in the next eNewsletter, please forward your details to Sara Bailey. To view the Autumn 2010 eNewsletter, please click here
.
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Have Your Say - Mount Buffalo Skyways project
Do you think a gondola on Mount Buffalo would be good for tourism? Here is your opportunity to give your feedback.
The Skyways Taskforce is seeking public opinion on the idea of a gondola, or cable car, on Mount Buffalo. Follow the link below to visit the website and view the project fact sheet before completing a short, 2-question survey to register your thoughts.
To view the Skyways website and have your say, please click here
.
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The Myrtleford Festival - Celebrating 50 Years
The Myrtleford Festival, previously known as the Tobacco, Hops and Timber Festival, this year celebrates it's 50th birthday. The fesitval has been held every year in Myrtleford since 1961 and has remained a community-run celebration of the town and its major industries. With the demise of the tobacco industry, it became known as The Myrtleford Festival and continues to support and rejoice in the agricultural, horticultural and industrial backbone of the region.
This year's festival will include all the favourites such as the Lions Club Festival Ball including the presentation of the Princesses and crowning of the Queen, the Saturday Market and the Rotary Street Parade followed by the ever-popular Street Party. Special additions in this year's Parade include past Festival Queens and an official Thank You to the volunteers of the 2009 bushfire effort.
To download a program or for more information on the event, please click here.
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3 Peaks Challenge
The 3 Peaks Challenge bike ride will be held for the first time this Sunday, March 7th. The one day event, run by Bicycle Victoria, challenges riders to conquer the loop beginning at Falls Creek and travelling through Bogong, Mount Beauty, the Tawonga Gap, Bright, Harrietville. Mount Hotham, Dinner Plain, Omeo and finally along the Bogong High Plains Road back to Falls Creek. This year's inaugural event has attracted over 3,000 entrants and it is hoped that it will become an annual fixture on the region's calendar of events.
There will be some road closures in place along the Tawonga Gap Road between Tawonga and Germantown and on the Bogong High Plains Road between Falls Creek and Mount Beauty during the event and some altered traffic conditions on other roads along the route. For full details, please click here.
For more information about the 3 Peaks Challenge, click here.
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Great Alpine Time Machine - Update
The Project Management Committee (PMC) are in the process of selecting a contractor to deliver the Great Alpine Time Machine project. The successful contractor will handle all aspects of the project from research and development of software to design and manufacturing of the touch screen "pods".
As part of the research into itineraries, the succcessful contractor will consult with a range of people including the general community and business owners to determine areas of interest and locations to be included. Once the contract has been awarded, the successful contractor will commence research immediately and make arrangements to consult with various stakeholders. If you are interested in being a part of this innovative project, please stay tuned for details of public meetings.
The project has been made possible by TQUAL Grants, which is an Australian Government funded initiative aimed to stimulate growth in the Australian tourism industry.
To learn more about TQUAL Grants, please click here.
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Advertising Opportunities
CARAVANNING AUSTRALIA MAGAZINE
Caravanning Australia magazine is running a special feature on the North East region in the upcoming Winter 2010 edition. There is an opportunity open to local businesses to book advertising in the magazine to coincide with this special feature.
Caravanning Australia is a free, quarterly magazine distributed through Australia's caravan and 4WD clubs, selected visitor information centres, caravan parks, subscriptions and it can be viewed online at www.caravanningoz.com.au. It is an A4 sized full-colour glossy magazine, generally around 180 pages.
If you are interested in advertising in the next edition of Caravanning Australia, please download the 2010 Media Kit, further information and contact details are supplied therein.
SUN-HERALD NEWSPAPER
NSW's Sun-Herald newspaper is preparing a snow feature in an upcoming edition. The feature will appear in the Travel section on Sunday, March 21, 2010.
Ski resorts from around the world and the best Australian resorts will feature along with travel deals and packages. The Sun-Herald are offering the opportunity to advertise in this special feature, which will have an estimated readership of nearly 1 million people.
Bookings close on March 16 so don't delay. For more information and contact details, click here.
Starting up in tourism - A workshop for new operators
If you’ve just started a tourism business, or you’re planning to and would like to know more about who to talk to, what steps to take and how to go about it, then this workshop is for you!
Tourism Alliance Victoria, Small Business Victoria, Tourism Victoria and the OAMPS Insurance Brokers, have combined their expertise and resources to develop this introduction to the tourism industry for new and potential businesses. The aim is to provide a strategic insight across a range of essential business practices and improve overall business acumen and planning. Workshop notes and a comprehensive resource kit, including industry publications will be provided, as well as relevant industry contacts and networking opportunities for you to follow-up.
The following topics will be covered in the three hour workshop:
- Licenses & insurance
- Health & Safety
- Risk management
- Business and marketing planning
- Tourism industry structure
- Research
- Networks and resources available to help you
Workshops this year will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6pm - 9pm in the Melbourne CBD on the following dates:
3 March 2010, 28 April 2010, 7 July 2010, 8 September 2010, 6 October 2010. You must be a member of Tourism Alliance to participate.
For more information and to register online, please click here.
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TOURISM VICTORIA NEWS
Click here to go to the Tourism Victoria Corporate site
Alpine Shire's Victorian Tourism Award winners compete for National honours
The National 2009 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards were held in Tasmania on Friday 26th February, 2010 at the Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart. Hosted by the National Tourism Alliance (NTA), the national awards are the industry’s biggest and most prestigious event of the year where finalists from every state and territory compete for the country’s top tourism honours in 27 categories.
Alpine Shire's Victorian Tourism Award winners - Bogong Horseback Adventures and Ovens Valley Motor Inn - both competed for national honours in their respective categories but unfortunately did not leave with the top award. It is a great reflection on the quality of tourism operators in the Alpine Shire to have two finalists at the awards and we hope to see many more winners in the years to come.
For the full list of winners from the National awards, please click here.
For information about nominations for the upcoming 2010 Victorian Tourism Awards, please click here.
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Victoria welcomes Commonwealth tourism funding
The Victorian Government has welcomed news of the Commonwealth Government’s $20 million investment to help attract more tourists to Australia.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Tim Holding said the funding, which was reported in the last edition of Tourism Talk, would help support tourism operators in Melbourne and regional Victoria, supplementing work already being done by Tourism Victoria.
The boost will also support tourism initiatives in a number of the state’s key international source markets – including New Zealand, China, Malaysia, Korea and Singapore – as well as the Victorian business events sector.
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Regional report card now available
Tourism Victoria's recently completed an Annual Report Card for the Regional Tourism Action Plan 2009-2012, which is now available online.
The Regional Tourism Action Plan outlines the direction for regional tourism over the next three years.
It has been over a year since the launch of the plan which developed in consultation with the regional tourism industry, Local Government and other State Government agencies.
The report card highlights the key outcomes of the plan for the year ending December 2009. To find out more, please click here.
If you have any queries regarding the Regional Tourism Action Plan please contact Natalie Duke, Strategic Planning Officer on 03 9653 9886 or email natalie.duke@tourism.vic.gov.au.
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Snowy outlook for 2010
Snowmaking power at Falls Creek and Hotham Alpine Resorts is set to increase this coming winter thanks to a $2.5 million investment.
At Hotham an additional 22 fan snow guns will be installed bringing the resort’s total network to 77.
Falls Creek is investing in 28 automatic snow guns with the majority being installed on Australia’s longest beginner run. The resort will have 49 fan guns, 50 automatic air water guns and 115 manual air water snow guns.
Snowmaking helps to develop a solid base for the season, top up high traffic areas and keep popular access trails and ski areas open for longer.
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Additional flights to the slopes
QantasLink’s Sydney to Hotham flights will be back this 2010 winter season with the airline announcing it will offer additional services and an extended flight schedule.
The direct Sydney to Hotham Airport flights will run four times a week during the peak season and continue until 12 September.
Hotham is the only alpine resort-based airport in the Southern Hemisphere.
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> News from Economic Development
Marketing for Growth workshop
Marketing Your Business More Effectively - Thursday 18 March 2010
If you’re a business owner and have a basic understanding of marketing but want to know more, this workshop is for you. You’ll learn how to launch new products successfully, how to conduct market research that reveals niches previously unknown, why knowing your customers better can aid your marketing efforts, and much more.
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
This workshop will help you to -
- discover how to launch new products successfully...the first time
- learn how to conduct effective market research that provids answers to the hard questions
- find out what makes your current customer happy and how to keep them coming back
- develop marketing strategies that generate sales and referrals to keep your business growing year after year
WHEN YOU ATTEND THIS WORKSHOP YOU'LL RECEIVE:
- a comprehensive workbook jam-packed with loads of references,resources and tips
- easy-to-use templates and worksheets to help you create a marketing plan, business plan, SWOT analysis and more
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This seminar is a valuable resource for any business owner, including those who have attended the "Marketing Basics" seminar or have a basic understanding of the principles of marketing but would like to know more.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
$30.00 per person (light supper provided). This seminar is subsidised by the Alpine Shire and DIIRD. All seminar material will be provided.
HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?
Simply log onto the Business Victoria website www.business.vic.gov.au/workshops to register and make payment. Alternatively you can register and pay at the Alpine Shire office, 2 Churchill Avenue (just off Great Alpine Road), Bright.
LOCATION: Myrtleford Council Chamber, Corner Standish Street & O'Donnell Avenue, Myrtleford
CONTACT NAME: Emma Warnock PHONE: 03 5755 0522
EMAIL: emmaw@alpineshire.vic.gov.au
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> News from Visitor Information Centres
Visitor Information Centre Prospectus 2010-2011
The Alpine Shire Visitor Information Prospectus for the financial year 2010-2011 is currently under development and is due to be completed in April. The prospectus details the benefits of becoming a member of the Visitor Information Centres which include exposure to over 100,000 visitors in the Centres as well as an online presence on the www.greatalpinevalleys.com.au website and the opportunity to have your business involved in marketing, promotional and by-in campaigns. Becoming a member also gives you access to industry communications and development to keep your business thriving.
For information about becoming a member or to view the current 2009-2010 Prospectus please click here or contact Jason Sharp at the Alpine Visitor Information Centre on 0407 514 105 for more information.
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