Talking Tourism

Talking Tourism Episode 95 - Tasmania: The Antidote To The Straitjacket with Emma Terry

As Chief Marketing Officer for Tourism Tasmania, Emma Terry is responsible for the delivery of Tourism Tasmania’s marketing program to increase demand and grow visitor numbers to Tasmania. In today's episode of Talking Tourism, Emma sits down with West by North West's Tom Wootton to talk all things brand Tasmania, and how it competes with other tourism destinations around the country and the globe. There's no doubt that Tassie is a challenger state, and there's plenty that our industry can ...

Talking Tourism Episode 94 - Staying Match-Fit For The Customers You Don't Have with Greg Price

In the stuff of Tasmanian tourism legend, Greg Price famously chucked in a very promising and lucrative career in merchant banking in Sydney to return to Tasmania and establish a tourism business with one van and a vision of creating an affordable way for backpackers and budget travelers to see his home state. As Jump Tours Managing Director, Greg has since been awarded the Tasmanian Tourism Minister’s Young Achiever of the Year and Tasmanian Entrepreneur of the Year, and Jump Tours was name...

Talking Tourism Episode 93 - Traditional Sales & Marketing Ain't Dead Yet with Melinda Anderson

Melinda Anderson has spent more than two decades working in the sales and marketing world, and is currently the Marketing Manager at Pennicott Wilderness Journeys. At this year's Tasmanian Tourism Conference, she brought a strong voice to a panel discussion asking, "Is Traditional Tourism Marketing & Sales Dead?" Her answer: emphatically no. There's no doubt that sales and marketing of tourism and travel experiences has changed dramatically over the past few years, with the digital realm ch...

Talking Tourism Episode 88 - Designing an Employer Brand to Attract The Best Staff with Ali Uren

As founder and director of Kiikstart, Ali Uren specialises in business planning and learning, and has a passion for helping Tassie's visitor economy creatively design and redesign itself in response to challenges, gaps and threats. There's no better time than now to be talking about just that!  In today's episode of Talking Tourism, Rachel Williams chats with Ali about how businesses can attract the best talent by thinking about the end-to-end staff experience. External skill development wi...

Talking Tourism Episode 91 - Australians Still Want To Holiday with Michele Levine

Michele Levine knows a thing or two about human behaviour and consumer trends. As CEO of Roy Morgan Research, Michele's bread and butter is asking questions of Australians to understand their values, what drives them, and what they want in life.  In this episode of Talking Tourism, TICT's Emma Azon-Jacometti asks Michele what Roy Morgan's research is saying about peoples' intention to engage with the tourism industry. We're encouraged to hear that, as borders reopen, an appetite for travel ...

Talking Tourism Episode 90 - Applying Academia to Tourism with Federal Group and UTAS

Federal Group and the University of Tasmania have embarked on a groundbreaking research project that looks set to make precedent for further cooperative partnerships between the university and the Tasmanian tourism industry at large.  In this episode, Tom Wootton lines up Dr Daniel Hanna (Executive GM Corporate Affairs, Federal Group), Dr Kim Lehman (Adjunct Senior Researcher, UTAS) and Monika Belhaj (PhD candidate, UTAS) to discuss Monika's years-long study into the unique offerings of sto...

Talking Tourism Episode 89 - Word-of-Mouth On Steroids with Amanda Vallis

Amanda Vallis is founder and director of Vallis & Co., a Tasmanian-based communications agency specialising in public relations. So, what IS PR, and how can Tassie tourism operators use it to their best advantage? In this episode of Talking Tourism, Tom Wootton gets the low-down from Amanda on how some savvy public relations moves can get your tourism product or experience in the hands, ears and eyes of your target audience in compelling, efficient and often low-cost ways. Amanda discusses ...

Talking Tourism Episode 92 - How Tasmania Can Make The Most of a "New Normal" with Sarah Clark

As Managing Director of Intrepid Group APAC, Sarah Clark knows all too well the impacts of a pandemic on the national and global tourism industry. Intrepid is the world's largest adventure travel company operating in 130 countries but, in March 2020, it went into crisis mode to get about 4,000 of its customers home from around the globe. The good news? Sarah's outlook on a return to domestic and international travel says that Tassie is in good stead to make the most of a post-COVID recover...

Talking Tourism Episode 87 - Bringing Ideas To Life with Chris Davis and Jessi Mostogl

Chris Davis is the General Manager and co-founder of The Van Diemen Project, who provide small to medium businesses and entrepreneurs with advice, mentoring and support to help them build and develop sustainable businesses. Jessi Mostogl is the Director of Schools & Curriculum at Illuminate Education Australia, a sister company to the Van Diemen Project. She is passionate about empowering people for the next generation, so that they can "believe in tomorrow, today". Following their workshop...

Talking Tourism Episode 86 - Working Together For A Whole System Tourism Industry

Katy Cooper has over 20 years' experience in a broad range of industries, including Tasmanian tourism and hospitality. As Head of Product at Neu21, she delivers leadership and futures thinking programs, focusing on finding new opportunities for innovation and growth.  In this episode, Katy chats to Rachel Williams about whole systems innovation, and how it applies to the Tasmanian tourism industry right now. She explains how to define your business' inputs, elements, feedback loops and outp...

Talking Tourism Episode 85 - Wine: Always An Essential Service

"If I had known what it was going to be like before I started, I never would have done it."  It's a sentiment that a lot of us probably feel keenly right now (perhaps always!) and, for Joseph Burton, it sums up both his foray into owning his own business and the many twists and turns of a COVID-19 world over the past 18 months.  As the first certified Sommelier in Tasmania and with 20 years of experience selling and serving wine under his belt, Joseph started his own wine wholesale, retail...

Talking Tourism Episode 84 - How Do You Do Mass Gatherings In A Socially Distanced World?

Madi Seeber-Peattie had been working in the events industry for more than 15 years when COVID-19 restrictions hit the industry hard. As owner/manager of Hobart's Farm Gate Market, Street Eats @ Franko and the Food and Beverage Collective, Madi lives and breathes mass gatherings. Her various ventures typically saw up to 10,000 people through the gates every week, and one of them depended entirely on interstate visitors. So what do social distancing and density restrictions mean for the mass g...

Talking Tourism Episode 84 - How Do You Do Mass Gatherings In A Socially Distanced World?

Madi Seeber-Peattie had been working in the events industry for more than 15 years when COVID-19 restrictions hit the industry hard. As owner/manager of Hobart's Farm Gate Market, Street Eats @ Franko and the Food and Beverage Collective, Madi lives and breathes mass gatherings. Her various ventures typically saw up to 10,000 people through the gates every week, and one of them depended entirely on interstate visitors. So what do social distancing and density restrictions mean for the mass g...

Talking Tourism Episode 83 - Taking A Brand Launch To The Digital Masses with Robbie Gilligan

Robbie and Emma Gilligan were all set to launch their new whisky brand, Derwent Distillery, right around the time COVID-19 shut down all notions of mass gatherings and traditional cellar door promotions.  So they got creative. Rather than launching face-to-face, they sent tasting packs around the world, and launched the brand to 1500 new digital friends, thus becoming the first distillery in the world to launch online.  In this episode of Talking Tourism, Robbie shares the ups and downs of...

Talking Tourism Episode 82 - Tuning-Up Your Marketing Plan with David Inches & Tom Wootton

Straight out of the 2021 Tasmanian Tourism Conference held this week in Launceston, two of Tasmanian tourism's sharpest marketing minds, Tom Wootton and David Inches, talk through what tourism businesses should be doing right now to take-stock of their marketing plan and investments.  Evolve Tourism's David Inches has over 20 years experience working with tourism businesses of all types and sizes in Tasmania and across the country, building and reviewing their marketing plans and on produc...

Talking Tourism Episode 82 - Tuning-Up Your Marketing Plan with David Inches & Tom Wootton

Straight out of the 2021 Tasmanian Tourism Conference held this week in Launceston, two of Tasmanian tourism's sharpest marketing minds, Tom Wootton and David Inches, talk through what tourism businesses should be doing right now to take-stock of their marketing plan and investments.  Evolve Tourism's David Inches has over 20 years experience working with tourism businesses of all types and sizes in Tasmania and across the country, building and reviewing their marketing plans and on produc...

Talking Tourism 81 - 101 on Opening a New Hotel in the Middle of a Pandemic with Kate Bucknell

You've been appointed to your first GM role of a brand new hotel being developed by a local investment group in a regional City. You're recruiting and appointing staff, and putting the finishing touches  on the property getting ready to welcome your first guests..... .when a global pandemic hits, closing borders and bringing your entire customer market to a sudden halt.  This is Kate Bucknell's experience when she was appointed inaugural General Manager of the new Hotel Verge in central ...

Talking Tourism 81 - 101 on Opening a New Hotel in the Middle of a Pandemic with Kate Bucknell

You've been appointed to your first GM role of a brand new hotel being developed by a local investment group in a regional City. You're recruiting and appointing staff, and putting the finishing touches  on the property getting ready to welcome your first guests..... .when a global pandemic hits, closing borders and bringing your entire customer market to a sudden halt.  This is Kate Bucknell's experience when she was appointed inaugural General Manager of the new Hotel Verge in central ...

Talking Tourism Episode 80 - Getting your share of the Travel Voucher Action with Sam Denmead

The Tasmanian Government has announced $7.5 million for a further round of 'Make Yourself at Home' Travel  Vouchers to encourage Tasmanians to travel the State and support tourism businesses and visitor destinations through the latest COVID border disruptions. TICT CEO Luke Martin sat down with Green Hat Tourism's Sam Denmead to workshop practical strategies small tourism businesses could consider to give them the best chance of getting a share of the Travel Voucher market. Luke and Sam ...

Talking Tourism Episode 80 - Getting your share of the Travel Voucher Action with Sam Denmead

The Tasmanian Government has announced $7.5 million for a further round of 'Make Yourself at Home' Travel  Vouchers to encourage Tasmanians to travel the State and support tourism businesses and visitor destinations through the latest COVID border disruptions. TICT CEO Luke Martin sat down with Green Hat Tourism's Sam Denmead to workshop practical strategies small tourism businesses could consider to give them the best chance of getting a share of the Travel Voucher market. Luke and Sam ...

Talking Tourism Episode 79 - Checking-In with Tourism Tasmania's John Fitzgerald

It's been another disruptive week for everyone in tourism, with the borders shutting to Victoria and New South Wales, and our hopes again turning to the Tasmanian community to get around the State and support our operators and destinations through the latest challenges. In this context, TICT CEO Luke Martin sat down with Tourism Tasmania's CEO, John Fitzgerald to unpack the roller coaster ride that is tourism in Tasmania in 2021. John  shares his insights on the national outlook. Tourism ...

Talking Tourism Episode 78 - Polishing your Digital Assets this Winter

Winter and the quieter months are the perfect time for all tourism operators to spend some time reviewing and updating their digital assets. What are your customers saying about your product? How's  your online reputation? Are you using Google Adwords effectively, is it time to refresh your website?  Taihlaura Denman-Francis, from award winning Tasmanian marketing consultancy, Kingthing Marketing, is a digital media guru, who luvvvvs this online stuff.  Taihlaura steps you through in sim...

Talking Tourism Episode 78 - Polishing your Digital Assets this Winter

Winter and the quieter months are the perfect time for all tourism operators to spend some time reviewing and updating their digital assets. What are your customers saying about your product? How's  your online reputation? Are you using Google Adwords effectively, is it time to refresh your website?  Taihlaura Denman-Francis, from award winning Tasmanian marketing consultancy, Kingthing Marketing, is a digital media guru, who luvvvvs this online stuff.  Taihlaura steps you through in sim...

Talking Tourism Episode 77 - T21 Update with Anne Greentree

The Tasmanian Government's Director of Visitor Economy Strategy Anne Greentree sat down with TICT CEO Luke Martin, to talk through how the industry against our T21 Visitor Economy Action Plan to rebuild the value of our tourism industry through COVID.  Anne and Luke talk through airline recovery, the different hot spots of industry performance, how we're planning for the year ahead, and the different industry support programs being rolled out by State and Federal Governments. 

Talking Tourism Episode 77 - T21 Update with Anne Greentree

The Tasmanian Government's Director of Visitor Economy Strategy Anne Greentree sat down with TICT CEO Luke Martin, to talk through how the industry against our T21 Visitor Economy Action Plan to rebuild the value of our tourism industry through COVID.  Anne and Luke talk through airline recovery, the different hot spots of industry performance, how we're planning for the year ahead, and the different industry support programs being rolled out by State and Federal Governments. 

Talking Tourism Episode 76 - The Revival of Tasmania's Air Links

Fresh off the launch of Hobart's first international commercial flight in two-decades, Hobart Airport's new CEO, Norris Carter, sat down with Rachel Williams to talk things aviation. Norris outlines Tasmania's aviation out of COVID, the works at Hobart Airport to welcome back international flights, and his expectations for the ongoing recovery of air travel across Australia.   Tourism Industry Council Tasmania TICT is the peak industry body for the Tasmanian tourism industry. Disclaimer:...

Talking Tourism Episode 76 - The Revival of Tasmania's Air Links

Fresh off the launch of Hobart's first international commercial flight in two-decades, Hobart Airport's new CEO, Norris Carter, sat down with Rachel Williams to talk things aviation. Norris outlines Tasmania's aviation out of COVID, the works at Hobart Airport to welcome back international flights, and his expectations for the ongoing recovery of air travel across Australia.   Tourism Industry Council Tasmania TICT is the peak industry body for the Tasmanian tourism industry.

Special Edition: Talking Tourism in the 2021 Tasmanian State Election

With one week remaining until Tasmanians go to the polls, Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO, Luke Martin, sits down with Rachel Williams to talk all things tourism in the election. Luke outlines TICTs priorities in the election, and the major tourism policies announced so far by both major parties.  How are we tracking? What are the industry's priorities, and how have our political parties responded so far?  Tourism Industry Council Tasmania TICT is the peak industry body for the Tasm...

Special Edition: Talking Tourism in the 2021 Tasmanian State Election

With one week remaining until Tasmanians go to the polls, Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO, Luke Martin, sits down with Rachel Williams to talk all things tourism in the election. Luke outlines TICTs priorities in the election, and the major tourism policies announced so far by both major parties.  How are we tracking? What are the industry's priorities, and how have our political parties responded so far?  Tourism Industry Council Tasmania TICT is the peak industry body for the Tas...

Talking Tourism Episode 75 - Tasmania's Brand in a Post-COVID World

How will Tasmania be perceived in post-COVID world?  Tasmania's resident Brand-guru, Brand Tasmania Guru, Todd Babiak, sits down with Rachel Williams to share his thoughts on Tasmania's brand attributes that will position the State well in the new reality of COVID. 

Talking Tourism Episode 75 - Tasmania's Brand in a Post-COVID World

How will Tasmania be perceived in post-COVID world?  Tasmania's resident Brand-guru, Brand Tasmania Guru, Todd Babiak, sits down with Rachel Williams to share his thoughts on Tasmania's brand attributes that will position the State well in the new reality of COVID. 

Talking Tourism Episode 74 - Regenerative Tourism. What is it and why does it matter with Sarah Lebski

Throughout COVID the concept of Regenerative Tourism has gained strength as a guiding principle for the future of tourism in destinations like Tasmania.  Regenerative tourism takes the concept of sustainability in tourism to another level; the idea that visiting a destination should always make a positive contribution to the economic, social and ecological wellbeing of that destination.  Tasmanian Tourism Champion Sarah Lebski sits down with Rachel Williams to explain the concept of Regene...

Talking Tourism Episode 73 - 10 Things Every Tourism Operator Should be Doing Right Now with Sam Denmead & Jake Smith

Two of Tasmania's leading tourism gurus, Jake Smith and Sam Denmead share their presentation to the 2020 Tasmanian tourism conference ; 10 Things every Tourism Operator Should Be Doing Right Now as we work our way through COVID. Sam and Jake's rapid fire 10 key practical tips and insights were down very well at the tourism conference, and really is essential listening for every SME tourism operator. Get a pencil paper to take notes, and strap yourself in, as Sam and Jake drop some pearle...

Talking Tourism Episode 72 - Tasmania's Climate Future with Dr Jess Melbourne-Thomas

2020 Tasmanian Australian of the Year, Dr Jess Melbourne-Thomas delivered the keynote address at the Hobart-leg of the 2020 Tasmanian tourism conference in November. One of Australia's leading marine scientists, Jess is a leading researcher shaping Australia's response to climate change and emission reduction. Jess speaks about Tasmania's climate future; the risks, realities and opportunities. This includes her views on the opportunity for Tasmania to emerge as one of the world's first c...

Talking Tourism Episode 72 - Tasmania's Climate Future with Dr Jess Melbourne-Thomas

2020 Tasmanian Australian of the Year, Dr Jess Melbourne-Thomas delivered the keynote address at the Hobart-leg of the 2020 Tasmanian tourism conference in November. One of Australia's leading marine scientists, Jess is a leading researcher shaping Australia's response to climate change and emission reduction. Jess speaks about Tasmania's climate future; the risks, realities and opportunities. This includes her views on the opportunity for Tasmania to emerge as one of the world's first c...

Talking Tourism Episode #71 - Anna & Henry Terry. Tassie Truffles

Tassie's own Truffle Superstars! - The Terry Family have helped pioneer the truffle industry in Tasmania Anna and Henry share their family's story in cultivating a niche industry in Tasmania. Their views on how tourism and agriculture can work better together in Tasmania, and their aspirations for Tasmania's emergence as a culinary destination. 

Talking Tourism Episode #71 - Anna & Henry Terry. Tassie Truffles

Tassie's own Truffle Superstars! - The Terry Family have helped pioneer the truffle industry in Tasmania Anna and Henry share their family's story in cultivating a niche industry in Tasmania. Their views on how tourism and agriculture can work better together in Tasmania, and their aspirations for Tasmania's emergence as a culinary destination. 

Talking Tourism Episode #70 - Cutting waste and cleaning up Tasmania. A Container Deposit Scheme for Tasmania

Tasmania is renowned for its clean, green image.  But the image needs to be matched with the reality of the ground. Cutting our waste, cleaning up the State and reducing rubbish is about protecting Tasmania's brand and delivering on our promise to visitors of a pristine, clean environment. Robert Kelman is one of Tasmania's leading authorities on waste management and container recycling. He explains to us why a Container Deposit Scheme for Tasmania is so important to reduce waste discard...

Talking Tourism Episode #69 - Bruny Island Cheese & Beer's Nick Haddow

The founder of Bruny Island Cheese and Beer, Nick Haddow, is one of the pioneers of Tasmania's burgeoning reputation as a foodie destination.  After working throughout Australia and the world and studying artisan cheese making, Nick settled on Bruny Island to bring some of the purest dairy produce anywhere in the world into outstanding and unique cheese. He is also Chair of Brand Tasmania, responsible for Tasmania's brand development.  Nick shares his story, and what he believes Tasmania m...

Talking Tourism Episode #69 - Bruny Island Cheese & Beer's Nick Haddow

The founder of Bruny Island Cheese and Beer, Nick Haddow, is one of the pioneers of Tasmania's burgeoning reputation as a foodie destination.  After working throughout Australia and the world and studying artisan cheese making, Nick settled on Bruny Island to bring some of the purest dairy produce anywhere in the world into outstanding and unique cheese. He is also Chair of Brand Tasmania, responsible for Tasmania's brand development.  Nick shares his story, and what he believes Tasmania m...

Talking Tourism Episode #68 - Wine Tasmania's Sheralee Davies

Wine Tasmania's Sharelee Davies' shares her insights into the growth of Tasmania's outstanding wine sector, and its own recovery from COVID.  Sheralee also offer her insights into the future for Wine tourism in Tasmania and the opportunity for the State to be elevated as a wine destination.  Wine Tasmania is the peak industry body for Tasmania's wine industry. 

Talking Tourism Episode #68 - Wine Tasmania's Sheralee Davies

Wine Tasmania's Sharelee Davies' shares her insights into the growth of Tasmania's outstanding wine sector, and its own recovery from COVID.  Sheralee also offer her insights into the future for Wine tourism in Tasmania and the opportunity for the State to be elevated as a wine destination.  Wine Tasmania is the peak industry body for Tasmania's wine industry. 

Talking Tourism Episode #66 - The RTO Bros. Chris Griffin & Tom Wootton.

In our first episode of Talking Tourism after Tasmania's borders have re-opened to COVID-Safe States, Rachel Williams sits down with Tom Wootton & Chris Griffin, the Chief Executive's of Tasmania's Northern and North-West Regional Tourism Organisations.  Tom and Chris share their thoughts on Tasmania's tourism recovery out of COVID, their priorities for Tasmania’s new iconic drive journeys and growing Tasmania's agritourism potential.   

Talking Tourism Episode #67 - What exactly is Experiential travel? With Experiential Tasmania, Sara Barns

Sara  and James Barnes are building a business based on the principle of experiential travel - personalised, intimate experiences where visitors feel genuinely connected with places, products and people.  Their tour business, Experiential Tasmania, takes visitors behind the scenes with some of the our leading producers - meeting the makers, sampling the producer and visiting sites not usually available to the general visitor.  Sara's vision is shaped by her background working as a high end...

Talking Tourism Episode #66 - The RTO Bros. Chris Griffin & Tom Wootton.

In our first episode of Talking Tourism after Tasmania's borders have re-opened to COVID-Safe States, Rachel Williams sits down with Tom Wootton & Chris Griffin, the Chief Executive's of Tasmania's Northern and North-West Regional Tourism Organisations.  Tom and Chris share their thoughts on Tasmania's tourism recovery out of COVID, their priorities for Tasmania’s new iconic drive journeys and growing Tasmania's agritourism potential.   

Talking Tourism Episode #67 - What exactly is Experiential travel? With Experiential Tasmania, Sara Barns

Sara  and James Barnes are building a business based on the principle of experiential travel - personalised, intimate experiences where visitors feel genuinely connected with places, products and people.  Their tour business, Experiential Tasmania, takes visitors behind the scenes with some of the our leading producers - meeting the makers, sampling the producer and visiting sites not usually available to the general visitor.  Sara's vision is shaped by her background working as a high end...

Talking Tourism Episode #65 - Cyber security and protecting your business - with Andrew Quill

Talking Tourism Episode #XX - Cyber security and protecting your business - with Andrew Quill

Talking Tourism Episode #62 COVID Special - Job Keeper Changes with Rob Cameron

Rob Cameron from TICTs Business and Financial Advisers, Collins SBA sits down with Tourism Tasmania's Amy Hills to talk through the Australian Government's extension and changes to Job Keeper scheme. Rob outlines what the changes mean for employers and employees, and considers some of the steps all tourism and hospitality operators needs to be considering now in resetting the business for the ongoing COVID uncertainty. Collins SBA is a Tasmanian consultancy firm specialising in business ...

Talking Tourism Episode #62 COVID Special - Job Keeper Changes with Rob Cameron

Rob Cameron from TICTs Business and Financial Advisers, Collins SBA sits down with Tourism Tasmania's Amy Hills to talk through the Australian Government's extension and changes to Job Keeper scheme. Rob outlines what the changes mean for employers and employees, and considers some of the steps all tourism and hospitality operators needs to be considering now in resetting the business for the ongoing COVID uncertainty. Collins SBA is a Tasmanian consultancy firm specialising in business ...