The 2025 Perth Airport Tourism Conference will take place in Fremantle on May 26 - 28, 2025. More information is available here.
Program subject to change.
Monday, May 26
| 10.00am - 5.00pm | Visitor Centres WA Sessions Venue: Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges See Visitor Centre program below |
| 2.30pm - 4.30pm | Optional Distil Your Own Gin at Republic of Fremantle Additional fee applies. Click here to register, use code GSTCWA20.
Optional Dumpling Masterclass Additional fee applies. |
| 3.30pm - 5.00pm | Aboriginal Cultural Inclusion for Tourism Workshop Venue: Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges Free for all delegates, followed by networking |
| 5.00pm - 6.00pm | Visitors Centres WA networking |
Visitor Centres WA Sessions
Exclusive to Visitor Centre Representatives
Venue: Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges
| 10.00am | Registrations Commence |
| 10.30am | Visitor Centres Sessions Commence Visitor Centre Network Update Presenter: Evan Hall, Tourism Council WA Hear the latest on how Tourism Council WA and Visitor Centres WA are improving the Visitor Centre network on your behalf. Visitor Centre Discussion Session Facilitator: Mel Virgo, Visitor Centres WA This session allows Visitor Centres to collaborate with their peers from across the State, share ideas and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. |
| 12.45pm | Lunch |
| 1.45pm | Visitors Centre Innovation Panel Panellists: Chantelle King, Mandurah Visitor Centre Scott Fleming, Swan Valley Visitor Centre Viv McEvoy, Kununurra Visitor Centre Award-winning Visitor Centres will share their latest innovations and how they continue to evolve their operations to meet the changing expectations of visitors while promoting their destinations and local tourism operators. Membership, Programs & Awards Update Presenter: Leslee Ireland, Tourism Council WA Find out how to maximise your Visitor Centres WA and Tourism Council WA membership by engaging with complimentary programs, leveraging membership benefits and entering Awards programs. |
| 3.00pm | Comfort Break |
| 3.15pm | Discovering Your Impact: Embracing Your Unique Strengths Presenter: Olivia O'Connor, Liv by Design Sponsored by Tourism WA In Visitor Centres, every team member plays a crucial role in shaping memorable experiences. Leadership isn't confined to titles—it's about the everyday actions and attitudes that contribute to a thriving team and satisfied visitors. This interactive workshop is designed to help you:
Through engaging discussions and real-life scenarios, you'll leave with actionable strategies to make a meaningful impact, regardless of your position. Remember, leadership is about mindset and actions—not just titles. |
| 4.45pm | Visitor Centre Sessions Conclude |
| 5.00pm | Visitor Centre Networking Venue: Fremantle Visitor Centre Following the conclusion of the day’s sessions, take a short walk through the streets of Fremantle to join Visitor Centre colleagues for a networking hour at the Fremantle Visitor Centre. |
Tuesday, May 27
Venue: Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges
| 7.00am - 7.45am | Meditation session with Meditation HQ Additional fee applies |
| 9.00am | Registrations Commence & Exhibition Opens Venue: Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges Arrive in Fremantle and join industry colleagues at the conference venue for networking, grab a coffee and some morning tea, and check in with our exhibiting partners prior to formalities commencing. |
| 10.30am | Conference Sessions Commence Master of Ceremonies: Carmen Braidwood
Welcome to Country Whadjuk/Ballardong Elder Freda Ogilvie
Focus on Fremantle Presenter: Matt Hammond, City of Fremantle The City of Fremantle has played a key role in delivering tourism development and marketing outcomes for one of WA’s most visited metropolitan entertainment precincts. Having recently been inducted into the WA Tourism Awards Hall of Fame, hear from the City of Fremantle on the role Local Governments can play in driving tourism outcomes via destination marketing, development & activation, and the importance of industry partnerships in achieving this. Presenter: Sami Zouad, Fremantle Ports Fremantle Ports will share an inspiring vision for Victoria Quay, to transform the precinct into a vibrant waterfront destination that seamlessly blends tourism and trade. Key priorities include the revitalisation of the precinct’s historic buildings, enhancing the public spaces to provide a safer, more enjoyable visitor experience and exploring opportunities for future redevelopment to evolve the precinct into a vibrant hub of activity and innovation. The ambitious plan will breathe new life into the precinct, making it a cornerstone for Western Australia’s future.
Focus on Fremantle Panel Facilitated by Linda Wayman, City of Fremantle Destination Marketing Working Group Panellists: Jacqueline Comb, Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges Lawson Dixon, Leeuwin Ocean Foundation Luke Donegan, Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage Meng Wong, Blue Travel Panellists representing the diversity of Fremantle's vibrant tourism industry will cover issues including heritage representation, risk, marketing and more in this panel session focusing on the conference host town. |
| 12.15pm | Lunch Sponsored by Tourism WA |
| 1.15pm | The Value of Visitor Centres Presenters: Chris Galvin, Tourism WA Evan Hall, Tourism Council WA Visitor Centres injected $261 million in additional expenditure into the WA economy in 2023, encouraging visitors to stay longer and spend more in destinations. Find out more about the vital role Visitor Centres play in local tourism communities and the best ways to engage with them.
Tourism Australia Update Presenter: Pip Harrison, Tourism Australia
Tourism WA Update Presenter: Anneke Brown, Tourism WA
Destination Marketing - Turning Lemons into Lemonade Presenter: Chrissie Maus, Fremantle Chamber of Commerce and Destination Perth Join destination marketing expert Chrissie Maus to explore the secret potion that all stand-out marketing campaigns possess. Take a walk through some stand-out examples of guerilla destination marketing and gain invaluable insights that are key to being memorable. She will discuss the future of marketing and explore unique opportunities to help your campaigns catch-the-eye in such a cluttered and competitive environment. |
| 2.50pm | Afternoon Tea |
| 3.30pm | How Social Media is Winning the Workforce Shortage War Presenter: Hannah Statham, Media Mortar 200,000 - that's how many employees the Australian tourism and hospitality sector needs to fill its current vacancies. How are you going to get your recruitment ad in front of the right applicants? According to the WA Visitor Economy Strategy, it’s been identified that the sector must address the critical challenge of workforce shortages, particularly in the regions. The lasting impact of the pandemic, plus the seasonality and transitory nature of workers in tourism and hospitality has left businesses without the ability to either trade at capacity or deliver the level of services that are expected. You only have to open the newspaper to see businesses are closing their doors not for lack of customers, but simply because they don’t have enough staff to work the floor. There’s no doubt about it, we operate against heavy workforce headwinds, but there’s something social media can do about it. Closing Keynote - Beyond Limits: What Adversity Can Teach Us About Performance Presenter: Brant Garvey, Paratriathlete and Paralympian Brant Garvey doesn't speak about motivation. He speaks about reality. |
| 4.45pm | Closing Comments |
| 5.00pm - 7.00pm | Networking Function Venue: Little Creatures Tourism Council WA is excited to announce that Fremantle’s craft beer pioneers and longtime supporters, Little Creatures, will host the 2025 Conference networking function. Enjoy a night of Little Creatures charm in the Great Hall as we celebrate the past 25 years of this iconic part of Fremantle’s DNA and get sneak peak of the future vision. On the night, you'll get an exclusive preview of the redevelopment and hear from the Mayor of Fremantle about the importance of the Fishing Boat Harbour for Fremantle’s visitor economy. Hosted by the City of Fremantle |
Wednesday, May 28
Venue: Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges
| 8.00am | Registrations Commence & Exhibition Opens Venue: Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges |
| 9.00am | Conference Sessions Commence Master of Ceremonies: Carmen Braidwood
Ministerial Address Presenter: Hon Reece Whitby MLA, Minister for Tourism
International Keynote - Native Nations: Tracing Indigenous Footsteps Presenter: Nadine Toe Toe, Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours Explore this groundbreaking project which promotes cross-cultural understanding and sustainable tourism by taking Indigenous youth on transformative journeys through global Indigenous communities. Participants reconnect with their culture, heal, and gain leadership skills. Discover how industry partnerships support thematic indigenous tourism trails and the expansion of this impactful program. Be inspired by stories of youth empowerment and cultural exchange and learn about opportunities for collaboration and sustainable tourism practices.
Tourism Innovation Champions Showcase Presenters: Jen Bane, Albany's Historic Whaling Station Kate Gibson, The Hike Collective Frances Pollock, Wooleen Station Leigh Taylor, The House of Honey This session features case studies from tourism businesses that have successfully implemented innovative approaches. Business leaders will share how they overcame challenges and developed creative solutions that transformed their operations. Attendees will gain practical insights applicable to both established and emerging tourism ventures.
Closing Keynote - Adapt Presenter: Gus Balbontin Starting in the late 90's and continuing for over a decade, TV, music, movies, newspapers, magazines, books and other media industry players endured a level of disruption and change that had not been seen since the industrial revolution a few centuries earlier. It’s very likely that your industry and business is muscling through similar challenges right now. Gus will deliver a presentation focused on the adaptability required to chase an ever-changing customer. These are lessons learnt over decades of market disruption and business transformation in a variety of industries. His lessons are full of common sense and easy to implement immediately. His presentation is relevant to all size businesses from all industries, private and public as it focuses on simple yet powerful concepts of change, adaptability, transformation, technology and innovation and how we can easily forget the customer and focus our efforts on the business instead. Let Gus take you behind the scenes to understand what companies did right and wrong during these decades of unparalleled change. The lessons he shares can be applied to all modern business and individuals facing market shifts and the relentless pace of technology. |
| 12.00pm | Lunch |
| 1.00pm | Adapt Workshop with Gus Balbontin |
| 2.30pm - 4.45pm | Explore Fremantle with tours and activities Included for all delegates - limited places available Option 1 - Explore Truth-Telling in Walyalup Tour with In Culture (Full - Waitlist Only) Option 2 - Convicts, Culture and Street Art Tour with Two Feet & A Heartbeat (Full - Waitlist Only) More information available here Optional paid activities Distil Your Own Gin at Republic of Fremantle Click here to register, use code GSTCWA20. Dumpling Masterclass Additional fee applies.
Optional free activities Option 1 - Australia II with John Longley at the WA Maritime Museum Option 2 - Meet Maritime Archaeologist Corioli Souter at the WA Shipwrecks Museum |
| 6.00pm - 10.00 pm | Conference Dinner Includes presentation of the 7NEWS Top Tourism Town Awards and Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards for individual Excellence |
| 10.00pm - late | After Party Bus transfers available from dinner venue Venue: Sailing for Oranges |
