The 2018 WA Tourism Conference includes a range of social events, key speakers, panel sessions and networking opportunities across three days. Click here to download the delegate prospectus.
Monday, September 3
| 10.00am - 5.00pm | Workshops on Wheels Tour - Departs from Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre SOLD OUT In this optional activity exclusive for conference delegates, learn how destinations and businesses can take a dynamic approach to building tourism community, developing partnerships and building their business through enhanced tourism distribution channels |
| 5.30pm - 7.30pm | Welcome Cocktail Function - Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre Includes official welcome by the Honourable Kim Beazley AC, Governor of Western Australia Complimentary for all conference delegates. |
Tuesday, September 4
| 8.00am | Registrations and delegate networking Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre |
| 9.00am | Introduction by Master of Ceremonies Di Bortoletto, Pronto PR Founding Director |
| 9.10am | Opening Address Hon Mark McGowan MLA, Premier of Western Australia |
| 9.30am | Big data, tracking visitors and the Beyond 2020 tourism strategy Justin Marshall, Tourism Research Australia Senior Adviser |
| 9.55am | The Power of Film for Tourism Seph McKenna, Screenwest Chief Executive Officer |
| 10.30am | Morning tea break |
| 11.00am | Tourism Australia Update John O'Sullivan, Tourism Australia Managing Director |
| 11.25am | How Social is Transforming Australia's Travel & Hospitality Industry Rian Smith, Hootsuite Senior Key Accounts and Partner Manager, ANZ For today’s travel and hospitality brands, the shift to social media creates new opportunities to innovate for improved business outcomes. Roger will walk you through these opportunities and offer ways to make the most of them. Join Hootsuite and learn about How Social Media Is Shaping the Customer Experience for Australia’s Travel and Hospitality Brands. You’ll learn:
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| 12.10am | How to Use Instagram like a PRO Lauren Bath, Digital Influencer |
| 1.00pm | Lunch |
| 2.00pm | Keynote Speaker - Matt Hale, Mindhacking Happiness International “mind hacks” expert speaker and entertainer Matt Hale can show you how to use the way you think to get where you want, and set it on autopilot. In this session, Matt will share techniques you can implement to feel fantastic, form great habits, break bad ones and improve your life. |
| 2.45pm | Tourism WA Update Nathan Harding, Tourism WA Chairman |
| 3.10pm | Afternoon tea break |
| 3.40pm | Developing Aviation Capacity - New Routes & Regional Dispersal Facilitated by Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall Kevin Brown, Perth Airport Chief Executive Officer Michael McConachy, Kimberley Marketing Group Chair Jared Simcox, Scoot General Manager - Australia Claire Werkmeister, Tourism WA Director Aviation Development & Policy |
| 5.00pm | Closing Comments and Day One Concludes |
Optional additional touring activities are available for delegates on Tuesday evening, click here for more information.
Wednesday, September 5
Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre
An opening plenary session is followed by three streams, where delegates can choose the sessions most suited to their business.
| 9.00am | Opening Plenary: A Conversation with Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Shadow Federal Tourism Minister |
| Marketing & Access | Experiences & Places | Industry Sectors | |
| 9.45am | Tapping into the Chinese Market An update on the Chinese market plus strategies on marketing to the Chinese from experts and operators. Facilitated by Tourism Council WA Senior Industry Advisor Julia Tolj Rei Seah, Tourism WA Market Manager China, Indonesia & Emerging Markets Nick Henderson, Asialink Business Director, China Practice Myrianthe Riddy, Mandurah Cruises Owner | Nature-Based Tourism: Where to Next? The future of eco-tourism in WA from both a Government and private developer perspective. Jacinta Overman, Department of Biodiversity Conservation & Attractions Coordinator Tourism & Concessions Kristy Bailey, One Eighty Marketing Director Lisa Shreeve, Busselton Jetty CEO | Development and Management of a Successful Volunteer Program The considerations Visitor Centres should make in developing a volunteer program, including procedures, recruitment and training. Recommended for Visitor Centre delegates. Facilitated by Matt Norton, Visitor Centres WA Chair Tracy Barr, City of Fremantle Coordinator Service and Information Stephanie Leca, Carnarvon Visitor Centre Manager Larr Rose, Kings Park & Botanic Garden Volunteer Co-ordinator |
| 10.30am | Morning tea break | ||
| 11.00am | Collaboration in Tourism: Case Studies How tourism businesses can embrace partnerships to strengthen their product and brand. Facilitated by Tourism WA Partnership Manager Kym Francesconi Craig Kenyon, Caravan Industry Association WA CEO Robert Taylor, WAITOC CEO Rebecca Johnston, Gold Industry Group Executive Officer Sebastien Lepoittevin, Print Hall General Manager Ryan Mossny, Two Feet & a Heartbeat Director | Demand Drivers: Successful and Emerging Attractions The stories behind new and existing interstate and local attractions and how they can attract visitors. Facilitated by Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall Michelle Reynolds, Rottnest Island Authority Executive Director Luke Martin, Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Nigel Oakey, Dome Café Group Managing Director | Inexpensive Merchandising Ideas you can Adopt in Your Visitor Centre Focusing on the tools at your disposal to stimulate interest and increase retail sales in your Visitor Centre. Recommended for Visitor Centre delegates. Jurek Leon, Terrific Trading Director of Curiosity |
| 11.45am | Guy Taylor Bitten by a Tassie tiger: how embracing differentiation boomed the State's tourism | The Partnerships Driving Aboriginal Tourism WAITOC and Aboriginal tourism operators share their stories of collaboration with other businesses. Facilitated by WAITOC CEO Robert Taylor Anne Riley, Wuddi Aboriginal Cultural Tours Owner Dale Tilbrook, Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery Owner | Visitor Centre Success Stories A look at the ways Visitor Centres can increase profitability, and the challenges faced along the way. Recommended for Visitor Centre delegates. Facilitated by Jurek Leon, Terrific Trading Director of Curiosity Veronica Dobner, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Visitor Centre General Manager Rebecca Tuesley, Geraldton Visitor Centre Manager Hamish Fell, Albany Visitor Centre Project Leader Visitor Services |
| 12.30pm | Lunch | ||
| 1.30pm | Successful Events: What You Need to Know What are the factors behind successful events for destinations? Hear what the research shows, and what event coordinators have to say. Facilitated by Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall Tanya Forsyth Taylor, Business Wanganhaa Senior Consultant Claire Taylor, City of Mandurah Coordinator City Events, Community & Social Development Richard Campbell, CMS Events Director | Sustainable Tourism: A Contemporary Update Sustainable tourism as a term has been bandied around for many years, but what does it mean for today’s visitor and for those of us running businesses and building destinations? Claire explores some Australian examples of good management in this talk. Claire Ellis, Claire Ellis Consulting Director | Electric Vehicles and Self-Drive Tourism Industry update on the self-drive tourism market, plus a look at the future of the sector as electric vehicles hit the roads. Recommended for Caravan Park delegates. Alex Forrest, RAC Manager Vehicles and Sustainability Edward Kestel, Gemtek Automation Managing Director
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| 2.15pm | Luke Martin, Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO The rise of the Tasmanian tourism industry. | Trends in Nature-Based Tourism Facilitated by FACET Chair Ryan Mossny Martin Black, Margaret River Chocolate Company Co-Founder Right Reverend Abbot John Herbert, New Norcia Griffin Longley, WA Parks Foundation Director | State of the Industry with Caravan Industry Association WA An update on the direction and work being undertaken by CIAWA on behalf of members and the industry. Recommended for Caravan Park delegates. Craig Kenyon, Caravan Industry Association WA CEO Melissa Souter-Robertson, Caravan Industry Association WA Marketing Manager |
3.00pm Day Two Concludes
6.00pm Pre-Dinner Drinks and Networking Commence - Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre
7.00pm Conference Dinner
Featuring dinner entertainment from magician Pierre Ulric and music from Kelly Read.
Includes presentation of the GWN7 Top Tourism Town Awards and 2018 Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards Individual Excellence Awards. Dinner MC is GWN7 news presenter Noel Brunning.
To register for the 2018 WA Tourism Conference, click here.
Program and speakers subject to change.
