The 2016 WA Tourism Conference includes a range of social events, key speakers, panel sessions and networking opportunities across three days.
Monday, August 8
Optional additional workshops and touring activities are available for delegates on Monday, click here for more information.
| 6.00pm - 8.00pm | Welcome Cocktail Function Includes official welcome by Governor of Western Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Kerry Sanderson AO |
Tuesday, August 9
| 7.15am - 8.45am | VCWA Breakfast (Not included in conference registration - $50pp) 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. Please note the venue for this event is Parmelia Hilton Perth. |
| 8.00am | Registrations commence Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre |
| 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 Wilderson Adventures |
| 10.30am | Morning tea break |
| 11.00am | Tourism Australia Update Lisa Ronson, Tourism Australia Chief Marketing Officer |
| 11.20am | Tourism Western Australia Update Gwyn Dolphin, Tourism WA Acting CEO |
| 11.40am | Marketing Destination Experiences The latest research, insights and advice from a range of perspectives including successful interstate and local destinations. Panellists:
Facilitated by Karen Priest, MAPTO |
| 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.
Facilitated by Evan Hall, Tourism Council WA |
| 3.30pm | Afternoon tea break |
| 4.00pm | Key Speaker 3 Deidre Willmott, Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA CEO |
| 5.00pm | Day One Concludes |
Optional additional touring activities are available for delegates on Tuesday evening, click here for more information.
Wednesday, August 10
| Marketing & Access | Experiences & Places | Industry Sectors | |
| 8.00am | VC Regional Grant Funding Case Studies Share your ideas on what worked and what didn't when applying for your network grant. | ||
| 9.00am | Social Media & Digital Marketing Panel Insights into the latest in social media and digital marketing. Panellists:
Facilitated by Meg Coffey, Coffey & Tea | 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 Learn how to use customer focussed selling tools to help build a sustainable visitor centre.
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| 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. Panellists:
Facilitated by Lisa D'Souza, SightSeeing Pass Australia | Case Studies: Exciting New Experiences Speakers:
| Continued from above - How to grow sales and build a sustainble Visitor Centre |
| 10.30am | Morning tea break | ||
| 11.00am | How to make 'Just Another Day in WA' relevant for your business This 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. Presented by Tourism WA Acting CEO, Gwyn Dolphin. | Nature Based Tourism I: Camping, Glamping and Caravan Parks Speakers:
| Katanning SuperTown Project Katanning is undertaking an ambitious $19m development project to enhance both access and the visitor experience for people travelling to the region. Speakers:
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| 11.45am | Great staff, great service Rachel Argaman, TFE Hotels | 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. Panellists:
Facilitated by Evan Hall, Tourism Council WA | Adding Value: Guided Experiences Tour Guides Association and FACET Golden Guide winners provide insight on guided experiences. Speakers:
| 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. Panellists:
Facilitated by Emma Page, Tourism Council WA | Indigenous Tourism: Where to from here? Robert Taylor, WAITOC CEO | Continued from above. |
| 3.00pm | Afternoon tea break | ||
| 3.30pm | Branding Session Presentation from Howard Cearns, Alex Hotel & Shadow Wine Bar, Hippocampus Distillery, Boatrocker Brewery (VIC), Lost & Grounded Brewery (UK), Braincells | Indigenous Art: Connecting to Country
| Caravan Industry Update Hear the direction and what work the Association is undertaking on behalf of members.
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| 4.15pm | Close | Food and Wine Experiences
| Close |
| 5.00pm | Close | ||
| 6.15pm | Pre-Dinner drinks commence | ||
| 7.00pm | Conference Dinner Featuring dinner speaker Mick Colliss. Includes presentation of the GWN7 Top Tourism Town Awards. Dinner MC is GWN7 news presenter Noel Brunning. |
To register for the 2016 WA Tourism Conference, click here.
Program and speakers subject to change.
