From the grass roots to the innovators of tomorrow, the Victorian Tourism Conference is designed to support and transform the tourism industry on all levels. We bring together the best minds in tourism, events and beyond for two dynamic days of dialogue, adventure, connection and knowledge sharing.
This year’s theme ‘through disruption, we find excellence’ challenged delegates to embrace opportunities created by the forces reshaping our industry. Along with local partners Tourism Greater Geelong & The Bellarine, Business Events Geelong and Higher Mark at GMHBA Stadium, this year we re-imagined our program to deliver an exciting and innovative experience of Geelong.
Who attended? Click here.
- All Events
- Day 1 – Registration
- Welcome from VTIC
- OPENING KEYNOTE:
- Morning Tea
- WORKSHOP: Your Guests are Controlling Your Marketing Message!
- WORKSHOP: Designing High-Value Experiences
- WORKSHOP: Attracting Visitors Beyond Capital Cities
- PREMIUM MEMBER SESSION: Brian Cook on Leadership
- WORKSHOP: The Hidden Costs of Direct Bookings – Getting the Most From Your Distribution Channels
- WORKSHOP: What Are Your Visitors Really Doing in Your Destination?
- Changeover
- WORKSHOPS: Repeated
- WORKSHOP: The Disruptive Demographic
- WORKSHOP: What do traditional Chinese medicine, an awe-inspiring English garden and Icelandic hot springs culture have to do with Victoria’s tourism future?
- WORKSHOP: Making the most of your partnerships with OTAs
- WORKSHOP: The Hidden Costs of Direct Bookings – Getting the Most From Your Distribution Channels
- WORKSHOP: What Are Your Visitors Really Doing in Your Destination?
- Changeover
- WORKSHOPS: Repeated
- Lunch
- CLOSING KEYNOTE: Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face!
- VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award
- Afternoon Tea
- KEYNOTE: Disruption calls for a customer centric strategy
- Day One – Wrap Up
- Welcome Function
- Conference Dinner Celebration
- Day 2 – Registration
- Welcome to Day Two
- Chairman’s Welcome
- Regional Tourism Review Update
- Ministerial Address
- OPENING KEYNOTE: The Love of Tourism
- VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award
- Morning Tea
- KEYNOTE: The MONA Story
- VTIC Update
- Lunch
- VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award Presentation
- KEYNOTE: Come From Away – The Remarkable True Story of the Small Town that Welcomed the World
- PANEL DISCUSSION: Embracing Disruption
- Afternoon Tea
- CLOSING KEYNOTE:
- Conference Close
- All Events
- Day 1 – Registration
- Welcome from VTIC
- OPENING KEYNOTE:
- Morning Tea
- WORKSHOP: Your Guests are Controlling Your Marketing Message!
- WORKSHOP: Designing High-Value Experiences
- WORKSHOP: Attracting Visitors Beyond Capital Cities
- PREMIUM MEMBER SESSION: Brian Cook on Leadership
- WORKSHOP: The Hidden Costs of Direct Bookings – Getting the Most From Your Distribution Channels
- WORKSHOP: What Are Your Visitors Really Doing in Your Destination?
- Changeover
- WORKSHOPS: Repeated
- WORKSHOP: The Disruptive Demographic
- WORKSHOP: What do traditional Chinese medicine, an awe-inspiring English garden and Icelandic hot springs culture have to do with Victoria’s tourism future?
- WORKSHOP: Making the most of your partnerships with OTAs
- WORKSHOP: The Hidden Costs of Direct Bookings – Getting the Most From Your Distribution Channels
- WORKSHOP: What Are Your Visitors Really Doing in Your Destination?
- Changeover
- WORKSHOPS: Repeated
- Lunch
- CLOSING KEYNOTE: Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face!
- VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award
- Afternoon Tea
- KEYNOTE: Disruption calls for a customer centric strategy
- Day One – Wrap Up
- Welcome Function
- Conference Dinner Celebration
- Day 2 – Registration
- Welcome to Day Two
- Chairman’s Welcome
- Regional Tourism Review Update
- Ministerial Address
- OPENING KEYNOTE: The Love of Tourism
- VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award
- Morning Tea
- KEYNOTE: The MONA Story
- VTIC Update
- Lunch
- VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award Presentation
- KEYNOTE: Come From Away – The Remarkable True Story of the Small Town that Welcomed the World
- PANEL DISCUSSION: Embracing Disruption
- Afternoon Tea
- CLOSING KEYNOTE:
- Conference Close
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 9:20 am | Day 1 - Registration GMHBA Stadium, Geelong 9:30 am 10:00 am We're starting a little later to give you time to arrive fresh and ready to go. Day 1 will be an immersive day of workshops to leave you with meaningful takeaways for your business. A diversity of sessions will ensure relevance to you. | Day 2 - Registration Fresh from a great dine-around experience in our host city, prepare for Day 2 where our plenary and discussion sessions will give insights into using disruption to your advantage in achieving excellence! Our speakers will present relevant case studies and share the latest trends. 8:30 am 9:00 am |
| 10:00 am | Welcome from VTIC Felicia Mariani, Chief Executive, VTIC 10:00 am 10:10 am At the start of the sixth Victorian Tourism Conference Felicia will welcome our delegates and set the scene for the coming two days. | Welcome to Day Two Adrian Byrt, Conference MC 9:00 am 9:10 am We welcome you back as we set the scene for a challenging final day. Be prepared with your thumbs on Twitter @VTICnews (don’t forget the hashtag #VVTC) and for sli.do to handle all of your burning questions. |
| 10:05 am | OPENING KEYNOTE: Dr Jordan Nguyen, Founder and CEO of Psykinetic 10:10 am 11:00 am Technology will only continue to disrupt our lives, but embracing that disruption can lead to incredible outcomes. Jordan will share with us the remarkable transformation that technology allows us to deliver. | Chairman's Welcome Charles Davidson, Chair - VTIC 9:10 am 9:30 am |
| 11:00 am | Morning Tea Proudly supported by Port Phillip Ferries with coffee by Adroit Insurance & Risk and Gordon TAFE 11:00 am 11:25 am Grab a bite to eat, a coffee and take some time to chat with our Partners who will be set up and ready to chat. Well-known faces, new faces - this is the time to connect with all. | Ministerial Address The Hon. Martin Pakula MP, Minister for Tourism and Major Events 9:30 am 9:50 am Hear how the government will be involved in supporting the next chapter of Victorian Tourism and Major Events.
|
| 11:15 am | WORKSHOP: The Hidden Costs of Direct Bookings - Getting the Most From Your Distribution Channels Tamie Matthews, RevenYou 11:25 am 12:05 pm One of the greatest challenges as a small operator is mastering all the channels that are available today to connect your product with consumers around the globe. OTA’s are an important part of this mix, but driving business effectively through your own channels is also vital. Striking the right balance, however, to maximise returns can be tricky; and understanding the true costs of direct bookings is equally as important. | Regional Tourism Review Update Mary-Anne Thomas MP 9:50 am 10:20 am In March this year the Andrews Labor Government announced a Regional Tourism Review to ensure our regions are being offered the best support and opportunities to grow visitation and boost local businesses. The review is being led by Special Adviser and Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas MP, who will share with us the latest on the progress of the review. |
| 11:15 am | WORKSHOP: What Are Your Visitors Really Doing in Your Destination? Abraham Briceno, Product Manager, Readify 11:25 am 12:05 pm Using the power of Telstra’s Location Insights, this workshop will give you a demonstration into the power of analytics collected from mobile phone usage and how this data can be used to inform decisions about our destinations. This workshop has been designed to showcase the kind of intel that’s available right now to support destination managers and destination marketers at a local and state-wide level in perfecting your efforts. | OPENING KEYNOTE: The Love of Tourism Kristin Dunne, CEO Tourism Bay of Plenty, New Zealand 10:20 am 11:05 am We delve into Kristin's brainchild plan 'The Love of Tourism', created in conjunction with TBOP and Destination Think!, and the community. The plan communicates the Bay of Plenty’s ambitious aspirations to flourish while balancing the needs of people, the environment, and the tourism industry. |
| 11:15 am | WORKSHOP: Attracting Visitors Beyond Capital Cities Denise Ulbrick, Manager Research | Tourism, Events and Visitor Economy. Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions 11:25 am 12:05 pm Drawing on research conducted in conjunction with Tourism Research Australia, this workshop will explore the propensity for visitors to venture beyond the bright lights of our capital cities, both in Victoria and across Australia more broadly. This research will also delve into trends and look at how and why this performance has changed over time. | VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award Video screening 11:05 am 11:15 am Admire the projects of the 2019 entrants into the VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award. |
| 11:15 am | WORKSHOP: Your Guests are Controlling Your Marketing Message! Liz Ward, Founder & CEO - Tourism Tribe 11:25 am 12:05 pm How do you make the most of your guests, a.k.a. 'your' great big marketing team? In our industry today, it is imperative to understand the trend towards user-generated content including reviews, social media and influencer content having so much more cut-through and influence on decision making than business content. | Morning Tea Proudly supported by 13CABS with coffee by Adroit Insurance & Risk and Gordon TAFE 11:15 am 11:35 am Grab a bite to eat, a coffee and engage with our Trade Partners who will be set up and ready to chat. Perhaps set up a coffee meeting or simply relax in our lounge. |
| 11:15 am | PREMIUM MEMBER SESSION: Brian Cook on Leadership Brian Cook, CEO, Geelong Football Club 11:25 am 12:05 pm Brian Cook has led the Cats from a near-bankrupt regional club to one of the country’s leading sports brands, enjoying unprecedented success both on and off the field. The club broke a 44-year premiership drought in 2007, winning the grand final by a record margin with further premierships following in 2009 and 2011.
Brian is known for his strong values-based leadership style and will share insights into his journey with VTIC Premium Members in a special not-to-be missed workshop session. | VTIC Update Felicia Mariani, Chief Executive, VTIC 11:35 am 12:10 pm Hear from VTIC's Chief Executive on the organisation's current agenda and how VTIC is representing the industry in our policy and advocacy efforts. |
| 11:15 am | WORKSHOP: Designing High-Value Experiences Jesse Desjardins, fwNATION 11:25 am 12:05 pm Jesse will take you through how to better understand your guests, and create breakthrough value propositions that sell. If you’ve got a great idea for a new or improved experience, but are unsure how you will transform that idea into a reality without burning piles of cash and precious time, this is the workshop for you! | KEYNOTE: The MONA Story Mark Wilsdon, Co-CEO, MONA 12:10 pm 12:50 pm MONA has challenged and stretched our perceptions of cultural experiences and reinvented perceptions of Tasmania as a destination around the globe. Mark will share with us the journey of change and disruption that MONA has led in Tasmania. |
| 12:05 pm | Changeover A quick room change, enjoy your second workshop session. 12:05 pm 12:10 pm | Lunch Proudly supported by City of Melbourne with coffee by Adroit Insurance & Risk and Gordon TAFE 12:50 pm 1:40 pm Time to refuel for a big run home! Enjoy lunch with your peers with time to discuss the day thus far and speculate on what's to come. |
| 12:05 pm | WORKSHOPS: Repeated Repeat sessions per the 3 above 12:10 pm 12:50 pm Someone famously once said that '2 out of 3 ain't bad'. Enjoy another of our engaging workshops per the above topics. | VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award Presentation Charles Davidson, Chair, VTIC 1:40 pm 2:00 pm Celebrate the young minds of tomorrow as VTIC awards the 2019 winner of the VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award. |
| 12:30 pm | Lunch Proudly supported by City of Melbourne with coffee by Adroit Insurance & Risk and Gordon TAFE 12:50 pm 1:40 pm Grab a bite to eat, coffee from our barista team and take some time out in the 'Lounge'. A host of VTIC’s industry and conference partners will be available to engage with you, so be sure to look out for them. Remember to note which room your next workshop is in as these will kick off at 1:40pm sharp! | KEYNOTE: Come From Away – The Remarkable True Story of the Small Town that Welcomed the World Claude Elliott, Former Mayor of Gander & Derm Flynn, Former Mayor of Appleton 2:00 pm 2:40 pm Two of the real-life characters from the Broadway musical ‘Come From Away’ faced enormous disruption to their small towns in Newfoundland, Canada when 7,000 stranded passengers turned up on their doorstep after 9/11 when US airspace shut down. Both mayors of their respective towns at the time, they will discuss how their communities worked together to deal with this extreme disruption. |
| 1:25 pm | WORKSHOP: What Are Your Visitors Really Doing in Your Destination? Abraham Briceno, Product Manager, Readify 1:40 pm 2:20 pm Using the power of Telstra’s Location Insights, this workshop will give you a demonstration into the power of analytics collected from mobile phone usage and how this data can be used to inform decisions about our destinations. This workshop has been designed to showcase the kind of intel that’s available right now to support destination managers and destination marketers at a local and state-wide level in perfecting your efforts. | PANEL DISCUSSION: Embracing Disruption Solène Anglaret (Expedia), Simon Purssey (13 CABS) & Carolyn Childs (MyTravelResearch.com) 2:40 pm 3:20 pm Our panel will discuss approaching disruption and what the future looks like. |
| 1:25 pm | WORKSHOP: What do traditional Chinese medicine, an awe-inspiring English garden and Icelandic hot springs culture have to do with Victoria’s tourism future? Matt Sykes, Peninsula Hot Springs 1:40 pm 2:20 pm In this interactive workshop, Matt shares a vision for a bathing and hot springs trail tracing Victoria’s southern coastline. Wearing the hats of a landscape architect, a social entrepreneur and a tourism operator he’ll share how the trail could create a unique nature-based wellness brand for our state. Could this be the key to engaging the millennial generation and reaching our industry’s ambitious job growth targets? | Afternoon Tea Proudly supported by Adagold Aviation with coffee by Adroit Insurance & Risk and Gordon TAFE 3:20 pm 3:40 pm Prime business development time - secure your future meetings and continue building those relationships. |
| 1:25 pm | WORKSHOP: The Hidden Costs of Direct Bookings - Getting the Most From Your Distribution Channels Tamie Matthews, RevenYou 1:40 pm 2:20 pm One of the greatest challenges as a small operator is mastering all the channels that are available today to connect your product with consumers around the globe. OTA’s are an important part of this mix, but driving business effectively through your own channels is also vital. Striking the right balance, however, to maximise returns can be tricky; and understanding the true costs of direct bookings is equally as important. | CLOSING KEYNOTE: Gus Balbontin, Founder - ROSHAMBO 3:40 pm 4:45 pm Entrepreneur in Residence with Victoria University. Gus is often thought of as a futurist, not because he predicts the future, but instead because he helps you focus on what you can control to deal with any future. |
| 1:25 pm | WORKSHOP: The Disruptive Demographic Bronwyn White, CEO New Young Consulting 1:40 pm 2:20 pm Who are the disruptive demographic and how do we make the most of their potential? Bronwyn's presentation is fun, at times shocking with the findings and should suitably provide information enough for you to totally review your strategies, marketing plans and destination management plans. | Conference Close Felicia Mariani, Chief Executive - VTIC 4:45 pm 4:55 pm VTIC Chief Executive Felicia Mariani will draw the conference to a close and bring together the key threads from two inspiring and informative days. |
| 1:25 pm | WORKSHOP: Making the most of your partnerships with OTAs Alex Dugdale, Alessandra Paduos, Solène Anglaret and David Alsina, Expedia Group 1:40 pm 2:20 pm The Expedia Group team will provide key learnings and insights regarding how to make the most of your partnerships with OTAs including content, engagement, and conversion. | Conference Dinner Celebration The Pier, Geelong. Proudly supported by Avalon Airport. 6:30 pm 11:00 pm Celebrate the connections and insights gained from the 2019 Victorian Tourism Conference. Tonight enjoy live music, great food and wine in a relaxed and fun environment as we close off this great event. For those of you wishing to head back to Melbourne tonight, we will transfer you to the Geelong Station in time for the last V-Line. |
| 12:00 am | Changeover A couple of minutes to find your final workshop for the day. 2:20 pm 2:25 pm | |
| 12:00 am | WORKSHOPS: Repeated Repeat sessions per the 3 above 2:25 pm 3:05 pm | |
| 12:00 am | Afternoon Tea Proudly supported by Cumulus Studio with coffee by Adroit Insurance & Risk and Gordon TAFE 3:05 pm 3:30 pm Prime business development time - secure your future meetings and continue building those relationships. | |
| 12:00 am | KEYNOTE: Disruption calls for a customer centric strategy Peter Bingeman, CEO - Visit Victoria 3:30 pm 4:10 pm What does disruption mean to the industry? How can we collaborate to keep up with customer needs and expectations? Join Peter Bingeman, CEO of Visit Victoria to discuss the importance of a customer centric strategy to keep pace with growing competition. | |
| 12:00 am | CLOSING KEYNOTE: Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face! Jesse Desjardins, fwNATION 4:10 pm 4:55 pm Even with great execution your business environment, competition or guest demands will change. As Mike Tyson’s famous boxing quote says ‘everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face’. | |
| 12:00 am | VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award Video screening 4:55 pm 5:00 pm Admire the projects of the 2019 entrants into the VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award. | |
| 12:00 am | Day One - Wrap Up 5:00 pm 5:10 pm | |
| 12:00 am | Welcome Function GMHBA Stadium, Geelong 5:10 pm 6:30 pm Join us for a casual networking opportunity engaging with your conference colleagues. Enjoy live entertainment while experiencing the atmosphere of standing on the playing surface enjoying canapes and fine wines brought to you by Jack Rabbit. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- Day 1 - Registration9:30 am - 10:00 am
- Welcome from VTIC10:00 am - 10:10 am
- OPENING KEYNOTE:10:10 am - 11:00 am
- Morning Tea11:00 am - 11:25 am
- WORKSHOP: The Hidden Costs of Direct Bookings - Getting the Most From Your Distribution Channels11:25 am - 12:05 pm
- WORKSHOP: What Are Your Visitors Really Doing in Your Destination?11:25 am - 12:05 pm
- WORKSHOP: Attracting Visitors Beyond Capital Cities11:25 am - 12:05 pm
- WORKSHOP: Your Guests are Controlling Your Marketing Message!11:25 am - 12:05 pm
- PREMIUM MEMBER SESSION: Brian Cook on Leadership11:25 am - 12:05 pm
- WORKSHOP: Designing High-Value Experiences11:25 am - 12:05 pm
- Changeover12:05 pm - 12:10 pm
- WORKSHOPS: Repeated12:10 pm - 12:50 pm
- Lunch12:50 pm - 1:40 pm
- WORKSHOP: What Are Your Visitors Really Doing in Your Destination?1:40 pm - 2:20 pm
- WORKSHOP: What do traditional Chinese medicine, an awe-inspiring English garden and Icelandic hot springs culture have to do with Victoria’s tourism future?1:40 pm - 2:20 pm
- WORKSHOP: The Hidden Costs of Direct Bookings - Getting the Most From Your Distribution Channels1:40 pm - 2:20 pm
- WORKSHOP: The Disruptive Demographic1:40 pm - 2:20 pm
- WORKSHOP: Making the most of your partnerships with OTAs1:40 pm - 2:20 pm
- Changeover2:20 pm - 2:25 pm
- WORKSHOPS: Repeated2:25 pm - 3:05 pm
- Afternoon Tea3:05 pm - 3:30 pm
- KEYNOTE: Disruption calls for a customer centric strategy3:30 pm - 4:10 pm
- CLOSING KEYNOTE: Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face!4:10 pm - 4:55 pm
- VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award4:55 pm - 5:00 pm
- Day One - Wrap Up5:00 pm - 5:10 pm
- Welcome Function5:10 pm - 6:30 pm
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- Day 2 - Registration8:30 am - 9:00 am
- Welcome to Day Two9:00 am - 9:10 am
- Chairman's Welcome9:10 am - 9:30 am
- Ministerial Address9:30 am - 9:50 am
- Regional Tourism Review Update9:50 am - 10:20 am
- OPENING KEYNOTE: The Love of Tourism10:20 am - 11:05 am
- VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award11:05 am - 11:15 am
- Morning Tea11:15 am - 11:35 am
- VTIC Update11:35 am - 12:10 pm
- KEYNOTE: The MONA Story12:10 pm - 12:50 pm
- Lunch12:50 pm - 1:40 pm
- VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award Presentation1:40 pm - 2:00 pm
- KEYNOTE: Come From Away – The Remarkable True Story of the Small Town that Welcomed the World2:00 pm - 2:40 pm
- PANEL DISCUSSION: Embracing Disruption2:40 pm - 3:20 pm
- Afternoon Tea3:20 pm - 3:40 pm
- CLOSING KEYNOTE:3:40 pm - 4:45 pm
- Conference Close4:45 pm - 4:55 pm
- Conference Dinner Celebration6:30 pm - 11:00 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Day 1 - Registration GMHBA Stadium, Geelong 9:30 am 10:00 am We're starting a little later to give you time to arrive fresh and ready to go. Day 1 will be an immersive day of workshops to leave you with meaningful takeaways for your business. A diversity of sessions will ensure relevance to you. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- Day 1 - Registration9:30 am - 10:00 am
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Welcome from VTIC Felicia Mariani, Chief Executive, VTIC 10:00 am 10:10 am At the start of the sixth Victorian Tourism Conference Felicia will welcome our delegates and set the scene for the coming two days. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- Welcome from VTIC10:00 am - 10:10 am
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | OPENING KEYNOTE: Dr Jordan Nguyen, Founder and CEO of Psykinetic 10:10 am 11:00 am Technology will only continue to disrupt our lives, but embracing that disruption can lead to incredible outcomes. Jordan will share with us the remarkable transformation that technology allows us to deliver. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- OPENING KEYNOTE:10:10 am - 11:00 am
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Morning Tea Proudly supported by Port Phillip Ferries with coffee by Adroit Insurance & Risk and Gordon TAFE 11:00 am 11:25 am Grab a bite to eat, a coffee and take some time to chat with our Partners who will be set up and ready to chat. Well-known faces, new faces - this is the time to connect with all. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- Morning Tea11:00 am - 11:25 am
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | WORKSHOP: Your Guests are Controlling Your Marketing Message! Liz Ward, Founder & CEO - Tourism Tribe 11:25 am 12:05 pm How do you make the most of your guests, a.k.a. 'your' great big marketing team? In our industry today, it is imperative to understand the trend towards user-generated content including reviews, social media and influencer content having so much more cut-through and influence on decision making than business content. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- WORKSHOP: Your Guests are Controlling Your Marketing Message!11:25 am - 12:05 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | WORKSHOP: Designing High-Value Experiences Jesse Desjardins, fwNATION 11:25 am 12:05 pm Jesse will take you through how to better understand your guests, and create breakthrough value propositions that sell. If you’ve got a great idea for a new or improved experience, but are unsure how you will transform that idea into a reality without burning piles of cash and precious time, this is the workshop for you! |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- WORKSHOP: Designing High-Value Experiences11:25 am - 12:05 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | WORKSHOP: Attracting Visitors Beyond Capital Cities Denise Ulbrick, Manager Research | Tourism, Events and Visitor Economy. Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions 11:25 am 12:05 pm Drawing on research conducted in conjunction with Tourism Research Australia, this workshop will explore the propensity for visitors to venture beyond the bright lights of our capital cities, both in Victoria and across Australia more broadly. This research will also delve into trends and look at how and why this performance has changed over time. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- WORKSHOP: Attracting Visitors Beyond Capital Cities11:25 am - 12:05 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | PREMIUM MEMBER SESSION: Brian Cook on Leadership Brian Cook, CEO, Geelong Football Club 11:25 am 12:05 pm Brian Cook has led the Cats from a near-bankrupt regional club to one of the country’s leading sports brands, enjoying unprecedented success both on and off the field. The club broke a 44-year premiership drought in 2007, winning the grand final by a record margin with further premierships following in 2009 and 2011.
Brian is known for his strong values-based leadership style and will share insights into his journey with VTIC Premium Members in a special not-to-be missed workshop session. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- PREMIUM MEMBER SESSION: Brian Cook on Leadership11:25 am - 12:05 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | WORKSHOP: The Hidden Costs of Direct Bookings - Getting the Most From Your Distribution Channels Tamie Matthews, RevenYou 11:25 am 12:05 pm One of the greatest challenges as a small operator is mastering all the channels that are available today to connect your product with consumers around the globe. OTA’s are an important part of this mix, but driving business effectively through your own channels is also vital. Striking the right balance, however, to maximise returns can be tricky; and understanding the true costs of direct bookings is equally as important. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | WORKSHOP: What Are Your Visitors Really Doing in Your Destination? Abraham Briceno, Product Manager, Readify 11:25 am 12:05 pm Using the power of Telstra’s Location Insights, this workshop will give you a demonstration into the power of analytics collected from mobile phone usage and how this data can be used to inform decisions about our destinations. This workshop has been designed to showcase the kind of intel that’s available right now to support destination managers and destination marketers at a local and state-wide level in perfecting your efforts. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- WORKSHOP: What Are Your Visitors Really Doing in Your Destination?11:25 am - 12:05 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Changeover A quick room change, enjoy your second workshop session. 12:05 pm 12:10 pm |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- Changeover12:05 pm - 12:10 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | WORKSHOPS: Repeated Repeat sessions per the 3 above 12:10 pm 12:50 pm Someone famously once said that '2 out of 3 ain't bad'. Enjoy another of our engaging workshops per the above topics. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- WORKSHOPS: Repeated12:10 pm - 12:50 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | WORKSHOP: The Disruptive Demographic Bronwyn White, CEO New Young Consulting 1:40 pm 2:20 pm Who are the disruptive demographic and how do we make the most of their potential? Bronwyn's presentation is fun, at times shocking with the findings and should suitably provide information enough for you to totally review your strategies, marketing plans and destination management plans. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- WORKSHOP: The Disruptive Demographic1:40 pm - 2:20 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | WORKSHOP: What do traditional Chinese medicine, an awe-inspiring English garden and Icelandic hot springs culture have to do with Victoria’s tourism future? Matt Sykes, Peninsula Hot Springs 1:40 pm 2:20 pm In this interactive workshop, Matt shares a vision for a bathing and hot springs trail tracing Victoria’s southern coastline. Wearing the hats of a landscape architect, a social entrepreneur and a tourism operator he’ll share how the trail could create a unique nature-based wellness brand for our state. Could this be the key to engaging the millennial generation and reaching our industry’s ambitious job growth targets? |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | WORKSHOP: Making the most of your partnerships with OTAs Alex Dugdale, Alessandra Paduos, Solène Anglaret and David Alsina, Expedia Group 1:40 pm 2:20 pm The Expedia Group team will provide key learnings and insights regarding how to make the most of your partnerships with OTAs including content, engagement, and conversion. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- WORKSHOP: Making the most of your partnerships with OTAs1:40 pm - 2:20 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | WORKSHOP: The Hidden Costs of Direct Bookings - Getting the Most From Your Distribution Channels Tamie Matthews, RevenYou 1:40 pm 2:20 pm One of the greatest challenges as a small operator is mastering all the channels that are available today to connect your product with consumers around the globe. OTA’s are an important part of this mix, but driving business effectively through your own channels is also vital. Striking the right balance, however, to maximise returns can be tricky; and understanding the true costs of direct bookings is equally as important. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | WORKSHOP: What Are Your Visitors Really Doing in Your Destination? Abraham Briceno, Product Manager, Readify 1:40 pm 2:20 pm Using the power of Telstra’s Location Insights, this workshop will give you a demonstration into the power of analytics collected from mobile phone usage and how this data can be used to inform decisions about our destinations. This workshop has been designed to showcase the kind of intel that’s available right now to support destination managers and destination marketers at a local and state-wide level in perfecting your efforts. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- WORKSHOP: What Are Your Visitors Really Doing in Your Destination?1:40 pm - 2:20 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Changeover A couple of minutes to find your final workshop for the day. 2:20 pm 2:25 pm |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- Changeover2:20 pm - 2:25 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | WORKSHOPS: Repeated Repeat sessions per the 3 above 2:25 pm 3:05 pm |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- WORKSHOPS: Repeated2:25 pm - 3:05 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Lunch Proudly supported by City of Melbourne with coffee by Adroit Insurance & Risk and Gordon TAFE 12:50 pm 1:40 pm Grab a bite to eat, coffee from our barista team and take some time out in the 'Lounge'. A host of VTIC’s industry and conference partners will be available to engage with you, so be sure to look out for them. Remember to note which room your next workshop is in as these will kick off at 1:40pm sharp! |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- Lunch12:50 pm - 1:40 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | CLOSING KEYNOTE: Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face! Jesse Desjardins, fwNATION 4:10 pm 4:55 pm Even with great execution your business environment, competition or guest demands will change. As Mike Tyson’s famous boxing quote says ‘everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face’. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- CLOSING KEYNOTE: Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face!4:10 pm - 4:55 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award Video screening 4:55 pm 5:00 pm Admire the projects of the 2019 entrants into the VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award4:55 pm - 5:00 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Afternoon Tea Proudly supported by Cumulus Studio with coffee by Adroit Insurance & Risk and Gordon TAFE 3:05 pm 3:30 pm Prime business development time - secure your future meetings and continue building those relationships. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- Afternoon Tea3:05 pm - 3:30 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | KEYNOTE: Disruption calls for a customer centric strategy Peter Bingeman, CEO - Visit Victoria 3:30 pm 4:10 pm What does disruption mean to the industry? How can we collaborate to keep up with customer needs and expectations? Join Peter Bingeman, CEO of Visit Victoria to discuss the importance of a customer centric strategy to keep pace with growing competition. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- KEYNOTE: Disruption calls for a customer centric strategy3:30 pm - 4:10 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Day One - Wrap Up 5:00 pm 5:10 pm |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- Day One - Wrap Up5:00 pm - 5:10 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Welcome Function GMHBA Stadium, Geelong 5:10 pm 6:30 pm Join us for a casual networking opportunity engaging with your conference colleagues. Enjoy live entertainment while experiencing the atmosphere of standing on the playing surface enjoying canapes and fine wines brought to you by Jack Rabbit. |
Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July
- Welcome Function5:10 pm - 6:30 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Conference Dinner Celebration The Pier, Geelong. Proudly supported by Avalon Airport. 6:30 pm 11:00 pm Celebrate the connections and insights gained from the 2019 Victorian Tourism Conference. Tonight enjoy live music, great food and wine in a relaxed and fun environment as we close off this great event. For those of you wishing to head back to Melbourne tonight, we will transfer you to the Geelong Station in time for the last V-Line. |
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- Conference Dinner Celebration6:30 pm - 11:00 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Day 2 - Registration Fresh from a great dine-around experience in our host city, prepare for Day 2 where our plenary and discussion sessions will give insights into using disruption to your advantage in achieving excellence! Our speakers will present relevant case studies and share the latest trends. 8:30 am 9:00 am |
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- Day 2 - Registration8:30 am - 9:00 am
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Welcome to Day Two Adrian Byrt, Conference MC 9:00 am 9:10 am We welcome you back as we set the scene for a challenging final day. Be prepared with your thumbs on Twitter @VTICnews (don’t forget the hashtag #VVTC) and for sli.do to handle all of your burning questions. |
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- Welcome to Day Two9:00 am - 9:10 am
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Chairman's Welcome Charles Davidson, Chair - VTIC 9:10 am 9:30 am |
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- Chairman's Welcome9:10 am - 9:30 am
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Regional Tourism Review Update Mary-Anne Thomas MP 9:50 am 10:20 am In March this year the Andrews Labor Government announced a Regional Tourism Review to ensure our regions are being offered the best support and opportunities to grow visitation and boost local businesses. The review is being led by Special Adviser and Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas MP, who will share with us the latest on the progress of the review. |
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- Regional Tourism Review Update9:50 am - 10:20 am
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Ministerial Address The Hon. Martin Pakula MP, Minister for Tourism and Major Events 9:30 am 9:50 am Hear how the government will be involved in supporting the next chapter of Victorian Tourism and Major Events.
|
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- Ministerial Address9:30 am - 9:50 am
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | OPENING KEYNOTE: The Love of Tourism Kristin Dunne, CEO Tourism Bay of Plenty, New Zealand 10:20 am 11:05 am We delve into Kristin's brainchild plan 'The Love of Tourism', created in conjunction with TBOP and Destination Think!, and the community. The plan communicates the Bay of Plenty’s ambitious aspirations to flourish while balancing the needs of people, the environment, and the tourism industry. |
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- OPENING KEYNOTE: The Love of Tourism10:20 am - 11:05 am
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award Video screening 11:05 am 11:15 am Admire the projects of the 2019 entrants into the VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award. |
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award11:05 am - 11:15 am
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Morning Tea Proudly supported by 13CABS with coffee by Adroit Insurance & Risk and Gordon TAFE 11:15 am 11:35 am Grab a bite to eat, a coffee and engage with our Trade Partners who will be set up and ready to chat. Perhaps set up a coffee meeting or simply relax in our lounge. |
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- Morning Tea11:15 am - 11:35 am
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | KEYNOTE: The MONA Story Mark Wilsdon, Co-CEO, MONA 12:10 pm 12:50 pm MONA has challenged and stretched our perceptions of cultural experiences and reinvented perceptions of Tasmania as a destination around the globe. Mark will share with us the journey of change and disruption that MONA has led in Tasmania. |
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- KEYNOTE: The MONA Story12:10 pm - 12:50 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | VTIC Update Felicia Mariani, Chief Executive, VTIC 11:35 am 12:10 pm Hear from VTIC's Chief Executive on the organisation's current agenda and how VTIC is representing the industry in our policy and advocacy efforts. |
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- VTIC Update11:35 am - 12:10 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Lunch Proudly supported by City of Melbourne with coffee by Adroit Insurance & Risk and Gordon TAFE 12:50 pm 1:40 pm Time to refuel for a big run home! Enjoy lunch with your peers with time to discuss the day thus far and speculate on what's to come. |
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- Lunch12:50 pm - 1:40 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award Presentation Charles Davidson, Chair, VTIC 1:40 pm 2:00 pm Celebrate the young minds of tomorrow as VTIC awards the 2019 winner of the VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award. |
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- VTIC Student Entrepreneurial Award Presentation1:40 pm - 2:00 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | KEYNOTE: Come From Away – The Remarkable True Story of the Small Town that Welcomed the World Claude Elliott, Former Mayor of Gander & Derm Flynn, Former Mayor of Appleton 2:00 pm 2:40 pm Two of the real-life characters from the Broadway musical ‘Come From Away’ faced enormous disruption to their small towns in Newfoundland, Canada when 7,000 stranded passengers turned up on their doorstep after 9/11 when US airspace shut down. Both mayors of their respective towns at the time, they will discuss how their communities worked together to deal with this extreme disruption. |
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | PANEL DISCUSSION: Embracing Disruption Solène Anglaret (Expedia), Simon Purssey (13 CABS) & Carolyn Childs (MyTravelResearch.com) 2:40 pm 3:20 pm Our panel will discuss approaching disruption and what the future looks like. |
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- PANEL DISCUSSION: Embracing Disruption2:40 pm - 3:20 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Afternoon Tea Proudly supported by Adagold Aviation with coffee by Adroit Insurance & Risk and Gordon TAFE 3:20 pm 3:40 pm Prime business development time - secure your future meetings and continue building those relationships. |
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- Afternoon Tea3:20 pm - 3:40 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | CLOSING KEYNOTE: Gus Balbontin, Founder - ROSHAMBO 3:40 pm 4:45 pm Entrepreneur in Residence with Victoria University. Gus is often thought of as a futurist, not because he predicts the future, but instead because he helps you focus on what you can control to deal with any future. |
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- CLOSING KEYNOTE:3:40 pm - 4:45 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July | |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Conference Close Felicia Mariani, Chief Executive - VTIC 4:45 pm 4:55 pm VTIC Chief Executive Felicia Mariani will draw the conference to a close and bring together the key threads from two inspiring and informative days. |
Day 2 - Thursday 18 July
- Conference Close4:45 pm - 4:55 pm
| Day 1 - Wednesday 17 July | Day 2 - Thursday 18 July |
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