Tourism team off to Las Vegas
THE largest Far Northern tourism sales and marketing mission to the US leaves on a Hollywood-style campaign in two weeks.
Representing some of the biggest names in local tourism, the 18-strong party has been dubbed Ocean’s 18, after the movie Ocean’s Eleven when one man and his 10 accomplices attempt to rob three Las Vegas casinos in a $150 million heist.
The Far North’s Ocean’s 18 will be hitting Las Vegas, but not to rob casinos. Their move is to rack up millions in US tourist dollars.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland North America marketing manager Jana Stankovich said the group would gather in Las Vegas to meet 25 key travel wholesalers in the US and Canada during the two-week trip.
She said they would establish and build strong relationships with the US operators, including "bonding activities" with a strong tropical flavour.
"We will remind them that we are a fun and energetic destination," Ms Stankovich said.
She said it was the biggest group to travel to the US and was designed to coincide with the low fare packages being offered by Qantas and V Australia.
Ms Stankovich said all operators would be making sales calls both before and after the Las Vegas leg.
Charles Woodward of Capta (Cairns and Port Trips and Attractions) said his business’s relationship with US and Canadian markets had fallen in recent years and this was an opportunity to renew friendships.
He said many other tropical destinations had taken the spotlight away from the Far North and the trip was to reacquaint North Americans with the region.
"We aim to work on the relationships rather than the business side," he said.
"If you have good relationships then good business will follow," he said. Qantas has launched $973 return flights, plus taxes, from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Cairns.
The Qantas flights are on sale until March 31 and dates are available from May 1 to June 8 and July 24 to September 21.
V Australia is offering return flights from Los Angeles to Sydney, internal flights to Cairns on Virgin Blue, four nights accommodation in Sydney and three nights in Cairns, and bonus day trips such as the Sydney Opera House and the Great Barrier Reef from $1475.
Who’s US bound: Morag Ritchie – Angsana Resort and Spa Palm Cove, Paolo Gambino – Cairns Colonial Club Resort, Shelagh Murphy – Cairns Tropical Zoo, Charles and Pip Woodward – The Capta Group, Drew Hamilton – Down Under Tours, Leslie Miles – Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours, Sharee Verdon – Livingston Tourism Marketing, Jason Laska – Ocean Spirit Cruises, Robbie Bastion – Parker Travel Collection, Michael Healy – Quicksilver, Ros Harries – Ros Harries Marketing, Michelle Behsman – Thala Beach Lodge, Cherie Glare – Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, Cheryl Kelly – Tourism Marketing Services, Doug Ryan – Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree, Jana Stankovich, Rob Giason and Brian Hennessy – TTNQ.
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Vegas, baby: Some of the Ocean's 18 group travelling to the US on a marketing campaign in support of special flights to Australia. Picture: chris hyde
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