31/08/2020
Save Australian Tourism
Open letter to the State Goverments
Dear State Premiers and Chief Ministers,
We are appealing to you on behalf of the Australian tourism industry as well as the myriad industries that both rely on and support it across the nation’s metropolitan, regional and rural economies.
Throughout 2020, the tourism industry has sustained a series of devastating setbacks, first from the widespread bushfires of last summer and next, much more broadly, from the ongoing, broad ranging impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic.
We acknowledge the seriousness of the health crisis we are experiencing. We understand the need for the current Victorian border closure. We also support the continued closure of Australia’s international borders, even though many of our businesses rely on international visitors for a significant portion of our revenue.
Until now, the tourism industry has, as a collective, remained optimistic in the belief that better times are ahead. The industry has worked diligently to keep up the positive stories and to communicate with our local and overseas guests, all with an underlying objective to keep our employees at work and our businesses sustainable.
Tourism Australia and the state tourism organisations have each done commendable jobs providing industry operators with up-to-date information and convincing Australians to holiday at home, to take road trips, to discover our own backyard. Our local media has been supportive, flipping content to provide more insights into the opportunities of travelling within Australia.
This should have been our moment, as Australian tourism operators, to welcome a whole new domestic market to experience our destinations and products, with direct benefit to the local economies and communities they support.
Our airlines were beginning to restore their networks, consumers were feeling confident and operators were seeing positive signs of pent-up demand and confirmed forward bookings. Many guests were happy to postpone rather than cancel their bookings in order to support the industry and essentially to have something to look forward to. With many businesses having remained closed for six months, spring was the time we were planning to see operations, employees and guests return, not to normal, but with modified operations, capacities and operations to allow safe travel.
The events of recent weeks, in particular the ongoing changes to policies around borders and access to interstate travellers, have resulted in crippling uncertainty among tourism operators and would-be travellers alike. Guests who had previously been prepared to postpone travel have now cancelled in light of the latest announcements on long term border closures. Fundamentally, we have seen these decisions erode confidence in the domestic tourism product and foresee serious, long-term damage to Australian tourism as a result.
This is an industry that directly employs over 5% of the nation’s workforce or around 660,000 Australians, with millions more indirectly employed in or reliant on the tourism industry. This effective shutdown of the industry affects tourism businesses such as hotels, airlines, tour operators, travel agencies and attractions, as well as a wide range of other businesses which supply tourism operators or who benefit from visitors’ spending, particularly in regional Australia. This includes many small independent businesses such as bakeries, wineries, farmers, local food stores, fuel stations, support services and art galleries. The regional spread of people and businesses impacted reaches deep into every electorate across the country.
When the current JobKeeper program ends in March 2021, it is probable that many existing tourism businesses will no longer be around to provide employment opportunities or tourism experiences for Australians. When international borders reopen, it is likely that the tourism industry will be so diminished that we will not be able to accommodate the number of international visitors that Australia needs to bolster our economy.
We need interstate borders to remain open. We need certainty that domestic travel is accessible so that Australians can recommence making travel plans and so we can get employees and businesses back to work. We implore you now to desist from making announcements that erode this confidence; we implore you to stop spending public money on border closures. We implore you to work quickly and collaboratively with neighbouring states to install screening protocols for travellers and to implement logical solutions which will allow interstate travel to recommence in a safe and sustainable manner.
The Australian tourism industry needs you to act now!
This message is endorsed by the following Australian tourism organisations:
James & Hayley Baillie – Founders, Baillie Lodges
John O’Sullivan – Chief Executive Officer, Experience Co.
Graham Turner - Chief Executive Officer, Flight Centre Travel Group
Olivia Wirth - Chief Executive Officer, Qantas Loyalty
Dara Karlusic - Executive Travel Management
Glenn Bourke - Chief Executive Officer, Hamilton Island Enterprises
Rohan Lund - Group Chief Executive Officer, NRMA
Peter Shelley - Managing Director, Australian Tourism Export Council
Jude Turner – Owner and Founder, Spicers Retreats
Cinzia & Andrew Burnes - Executive Director & CEO, Helloworld Travel
James Thornton - Chief Executive Officer, Intrepid Travel
David Cox - Chief Executive Officer, APT Travel Group
Jeff Ellison - Chairman, SeaLink Travel Group
Paul Davies - Chief Executive Officer, NRMA Parks and Resorts
Simon McGrath - Chief Operating Officer, Accor Hotels Pacific
Gaynor Reid - Vice President Communications and CSR, Accor Hotels Asia Pacific
Leanne Harwood - Managing Director Australasia and Japan, InterContinential Hotels Group
Geoffrey York - CEO / Group Director-Hotels, Crystalbrook Collection Hotels & Resorts
Chris Tallent - Chief Executive Officer, Journey Beyond
Luke Walker - Chief Operating Officer, Journey Beyond
Greg Magi - Executive Director, Delaware North
Craig Howson - Managing Director, True North
Simon Westaway - Executive Director, Australian Tourism Industry Council
Luke Martin - Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Industry Council Tasmania
Matthew Beattie - Managing Director, Thrifty, Australia & New Zealand
Ron Santiago - Managing Director, Europcar Car Hire
Eoin MacNeill - Vice President APAC, Hertz
Michael Londregan - Group General Manager, Virtuoso
Penny Rafferty – Executive Officer, Luxury Lodges of Australia
Kate Shilling – Executive Officer, Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia
John Daw – Executive Officer, Australian Wildlife Journeys
Carol Giuseppi - National General Manager Operations, Accommodation Association of Australia
David Gibson - Chairman, Sunotel Corporation
Ricky Jeffs – Chief Executive Officer, Erdi Group
Michael Moret-Lalli - Executive Chairman, Baillie Lodges
Craig Bradbery – Chief Operating Officer, Baillie Lodges
Charles Carlow – Owner and Managing Director, Wild Bush Luxury
Hayley Morris – Executive Director, Northern Escape Collection
Jim Carreker – Owner, The Louise Barossa Valley
Brian & Karina Barry - Owners, Bells at Killcare and Pretty Beach House
Graham Perry - Managing Director, BWH Hotel Group
Drew Kluska – Managing Director, The Tailor
Stuart Rigg – Director, Southern Crossings
Paul Groves-Berry – General Manager, Southern Crossings
Sujata Raman - Regional Managing Director, Abercrombie & Kent (Australia)
Kathy Sikkes - General Manager, Abercrombie & Kent (Australia)
Chris Hall - Managing Director, APT Travel Group
Anthony Goldman - Joint Managing Director, Goldman Travel Group
Trina Shepherd - Executive Officer, Lord Howe Island Tourism
Cameron Holland - Chief Executive Officer, Luxury Escapes
James Muscat – General Manager, Pullman Melbourne on Swanston
Erkin Aytekin - General Manager, Pullman Melbourne on the Park
Ben & Louise Lanyon – Lodge Managers, Longitude 131°
Sonya Boaden – Lodge Manager, Silky Oaks Lodge
John Hird – Lodge Manager, Southern Ocean Lodge
Libby Grant & Mark McKillop – Lodge Managers, Capella Lodge
Yale Norris - Managing Director, The Islander Estate Vineyards
Sam Giles – Regional General Manager-Sydney and The Blue Mountains, Spicers Retreats
Jesse Kornoff – General Manager, Mount Lofty House Estate
Max Mason – Sequoia Lodge Manager, Sequoia at Mount Lofty House
Denis Pierce - Director, The Linchpin Company
Michelle Cox - Director, The Linchpin Company
Grant Wilckens - Chief Executive Officer, Discovery Holiday Parks & The G’Day Group
Gary Smith – Managing Director, Tourism Leisure Corporation
Susan Badyari – Chief Executive Officer, World Expeditions Travel Group
Nikki King – Owner and Managing Director, Walk into Luxury
James Boettcher – Managing Director, FNQ Nature Tours
Bradley Schroder – General Manager, Arkaba Conservancy
Ben Wallace – Owner, Oaks Kitchen and Garden
Tony Fyfe – Director, Far North Sports Fishing
Craig Parsell – Chairman & Founder, Hemingway's Brewery
Dan Tiffin – Sales Ambassador, Hemingway’s Brewery FNQ
Craig Wickham – Managing Director, Exceptional Kangaroo Island
Paul Murray – Director, Acacia Luxury Private Tours
Arlene Mack - Owner and Managing Director, Cruise Focus
Emily Cai - General Manager, Onlyluxe Travel
Michelle Sawtell - Hotel Procurement Manager, WebBeds
John Green - Chief Executive Officer, Earl's Anchorage Lord Howe Island
Greg Reid - General Manager, Pacific Destinations Australia
Matt McKinley - Chairman, goPassport
Margaret Connell - Chief Executive, General Travel Group
Michael Nelson - Managing Director, Pinnacle Tourism Marketing
Petra Steinig - Managing Director, The Travel Insiders
Craig Couglin - Chief Executive Officer, LUXXE Outsourced Hotel Services
John Dyer - Managing Director, Air Adventure Australia
Tony Kirkhope - Owner/Chief Pilot, Kirkhope Aviation
David Greenland - Managing Director, Alquemie
Jamie Strickland - General Manager, Alquemie
Toni Davis - Founder & Owner, Tapoi Travel
Marina Gomberg - Director, Australian Travel Club
Linda Furber - Product & Marketing Manager, Down Under Answers
Jeff Adam - Director of Sales, Down Under Answers
Kathy Turner - General Manager, Goway Travel
Jan Ta'ale - Operations Manager, Goway Travel
Paul Done - Australasia Product Manager, Audley Travel
Roy Edward - CEO/Director, Rainforest Limousine Service
Pedro O'Connor - Director, Epic Private Journeys
Brad Horn - Managing Director, Epic Private Journeys
Mandy Ford - General Manager, Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore
Sonia Beckwith - Co-owner, General Manager, Live Ningaloo
Liz Schibig - Managing Director, Paradise Links Resort
Brett Dudley - Chief Executive Officer, Latitude 33 Luxury Tours
Martin Gribble - Owner, Miller Apartments & Franklin Apartments
Stephanie Karst-McGrath - Chief Executive Officer, All Pacific Travel Concept
Annika Leslie - General Manager, All Pacific Travel Concept
Oliver & Suzy Mercien-Ferol - Co-Founders/Directors, Touring Treasures
Andrew White - Managing Director and Owner, Kimberley Coastal Camp
Rosina Xue - Founder and Director, Ros Elite Experience
Michael Sheridan - Group General Manager, View Hotels
Lauren McBriarty - Executive Officer, Wimmera Mallee Regional Tourism Organisation
Lauren Douglass - Executive Officer, Australian Regional Tourism
Mark Kommer - Managing Director , Australia One
Craig Berry - A380 Captain, Qantas Airways
Sophie Baker - Director, Wanderlust Union
Anthony Gray - Managing Director, Incentive Action
Brock Parker - General Manager, Parker Travel Collection
Amanda Fry - Managing Director, Experience Nature Group
Holly Tharp - Special Projects, True North
Sharyn Kitchener - Managing Director, Mosman Travel
Tom Gibson - Director, CBRE Hotels
Lisa Story - Director, Orbit World Travel
Cathy Wharton - Founder & Owner, Northwest Australian Safaris
Stephen Sia - Managing Director, Lord Howe Island Management Services
Andrew Bullock - Chief Executive Officer, 1834 Hotels
Neil Lynch - Managing Director, Tasmanian Walking Company
Dean Francis Mooney - CEO, East Air - Cairns
Gordon and Cheryl Wellham - Owners, Exemplar Coaches and Limousines
Rachel Beaumont-Smith - General Manager, Darwin Harbour Cruises
Ryan Ingram - Executive Group Manager, Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures
Harry Fraser - Yarra Valley Ballooning
Lee Tulloch - Editor/Publisher, Mr and Mrs Amos
Clare Carroll - CEO, Cooee Traveller
Paul Gibbs - Director of Operations, Goldrush Ballooning
David Doudle - Owner and Managing Director, Australian Coastal Safaris
Caroline Densley - Owner & Director, Diverse Travel Australia
Sudeshna Ghosh - Managing Editor, Medium Rare Content Agency
Mark Shaw - General Manager, Eureka Skydeck and Eureka 89 Dining and Events
Shaun Cawood - General Manager, Cruise Whitsundays
Niko Peranovic - General Manager, Rottnest Express
Daniel Godoy - General Manager, Best Western Northbridge Apartments
Svetlana Jovanovic - General Manager, The Unique Tourism Collection
Damien Hays - Director & Chief Pilot, Windward Balloon Adventures
Matthew Lloyd - Operations Manager, Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney
Sarah Colgate - Managing Director, Aquaduck Gold Coast & Airlie Beach
Jay Yip - GM -Tourism Trade Development, Trippas White Group
Shaun Buttling - Director, Sensational Sydney Cruises
Anthony Arden - Managing Director, The Tour Collective
Don Rosenfeldt - Founder and Owner, AEA Luxury Tours
Graeme King - Managing Director, Australia-Naturally Travel
Barbara Porter - Owner/Operator - Best Western Tudor Motor Inn
Chris McKinley - General Manager, iFly Gold Coast
Stephanie Wallace - Director, Brisbane Day Tours
Darren Wallace - Director, Southern Cross 4WD Tours
Nicole Passarelli - General Manager Sales & Marketing, Rottnest Express & Sal Salis
Catherine McDonald - Operations Manager, Bill Peach Journeys
Spencer Bailey - Chief Executive Officer, APX Hotels Apartments
Deb Richardson - Director of Sales & Marketing, APX Hotels Apartments
Richard I'Anson - Travel Photographer, Richard I'Anson Photography
Tony Johnson - Managing Director, Paradise Jet Boating
Adam Sands - Managing Director, RedSands Campers
Ben Manns - Managing Director, Experience OZ
Glenn Sweet - General Manager Operations, Pan Pacific Travel
Kiff Saunders - Managing Director, Global Ballooning Australia
Andrew Woodcock - Managing Director, Crikey Camper Hire
Brooke Worrall - Operations Manager, Sunlover Holidays
Nick Rau - Director, Liberty Balloon Flights
Ray McIlwain - Managing Director, International Coaches & Tours
Helen Williams - General Manager, Best Western Plus Travel Inn Hotel
Angela Esdaile - Director, Go Fish Australia
Jenny Edmondson - Director, Port Douglas River Safari Co
Simon Clancy - Account Manager - Leisure & MICE, Aust. & NZ - Radisson Hotel Group
Lisa Makiiti & Rod Oxley - Owners, Bowker Beach House and Lagoon Landing
Matt Hayes - Managing Director, Sydney By Sail
Jessica Bateman - Project & Groups Manager, JCM Destination Australia
John Tarrant - Area Director of Sales and Marketing QLD, Hotel Grand Chancellor
Greg Harriman - Owner, Coral Sea Sportfishing Safaris
Nikki Giumelli - Owner/Operator, Bad Fishy Jet Boating
Michael Castleman - Assistant Director of Sales, Global Sales Office, The Langham Sydney
Simon Mendelawitz - CEO, Waratah Adventure Tours and Rottnest Island Sea Kayaking
Allison Forner - Marketing Communications Manager, JPT Tour Group
Ryan Mossny - Director, Two Feet & a Heartbeat
Daniel Schoedler - Managing Director, Premier Travel Tasmania
Justin Syron - Senior Tour Guide, Bamurru Plains
Dave Lane - Major Accounts Travel Sales Manager, News Corporation
Danny Kalischer - General Manager, Q-Desk
Chris Furtado - Chief Executive Officer, The Landsmith Collection
Jason Heffernan - Owner, Back Country Bliss Adventures
Graham Nicol - Director/Shareholder, Executive Escapes
Matthew Lewis - Chief Executive Officer, View Retreats
Dan Kotzmann - Managing Director, Constellation Journeys
Neil Kirby - Managing Director, Travel Masters & The Travel Studio
Steve Chant - Chief Executive Officer, Leisure Group
Kim Skilton - GM Product & Marketing, Leisure Group
Cathy Wagstaff - CEO/Group Editor, Signature Media
Maaike Bierma - General Manager, Goldrush Ballooning
Kiri Braid - General Manager Sales & Client Communications, The Bob Wood Group
Pedro Wittwer - Owner/Operator, WA NT Tours
Ali McEvoy - Ambassador, The Tailor
Daniel Hackett - Owner, RiverFly 1864
Sam Charlton - Owner, Bedarra Island Resort
Jeff Hakim - Managing Partner, Travel Partners
Mandy Lovell - Director Member Services, Relais & Chateaux
Greg Price - Managing Director, Jump Tours Tasmania
Jot Lynas - Managing Director, Unleashed Travel
Monique Bayer - Owner, Walk Melbourne Tours
Robert Hickie - Hotel Manager, Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane
Rael Donde - President, Accommodation and Tourism Association (Norfolk Island)
Heather English - Manager, Peninsula Boutique Hotel Port Douglas
Paul Mercuri - Founder and Managing Director, Traveldream
Craig Wicks - General Manager, The Mediterranean Port Douglas
Graeme Skeggs - General Manager - Tourism Services, Adams Coachlines
Joe McCormack - General Manager Land Contracting, Helloworld
Alex McGillivray - General Manager, Huntingdale Golf Club
Brent Wallace - Owner, Mr Wallace Travel,
David Armour - Managing Director, Southern World Australia
Paul Gorman - Senior Manager Owner Engagement, Luxury Escapes
Belinda Jardim - Area Director of Finance - Regional NSW, InterContinental Hotels Group
Imelda Liu - Manager of Finance & Business Support, InterContinental Hotels Group
Tara de Andrade - Owner, Travel Partners Bella Vista
Robyn Tavener - Owner, TradeWinds Country Cottages
Rhiannon Wollington - Travel Agent, Gungahlin Travel Associates
Cassandra Newey - National Executive - Training & Development, ATEC
Philip Gellatly - Senior Examiner/Accreditor, QantasLink
Michelle Major - International Sales Manager, Experience Co.
Kylie Maxwell - Executuve General Manager, ahs Hospitality
Peter Baumgart - Director, Hamilton Island Holiday Apartments
Susan Christian -Sills - Owner, Norfolk Holiday Apartments Norfolk Island
Greg Karedis - Director, Pacific hotel goup
Lindsey Neale-Rozga, Owner, Wine Tours Australia & NZ
Rhiannon Taylor - Founder, IN BED WITH
George Nicholas - Global Head of Hotels, Savills
Kate Alstergren - Owner and Managing Director, Satellite Island, Tasmania
Josie McPaul - Virtuoso travel advisor, Bayview Travel
Jane Quinn - Founder/ MD, Me Jane Camp Out, Australia
Claudia Abras - General Manager, Information Planet Travel
Sally Wiseman - Director, Travel Therapy
Riya Thanissorn - Owner and Director, Truant Travel Design
Chontelle Grecian - Sales & Marketing Manager, Nelson Bay Golf Club
Lee-Anne Harris - Managing Director, Walk Brisbane
Anthea Polson - Owner and Gallery Director, Anthea Polson Art
Emma Perham- Director - Sales, Marketing & Revenue, Crowne Plaza, Terrigal Pacific
Sally Scott - Director, Alluxia
Shelley Brice - Director, Shelley Brice Travel
Mark Banning-Taylor - Owner & CEO, Odyssey Traveller
Mick Boylan - State Sales Manager, Helloworld Travel
Marcus Dewar - Manager, The Manor Basket Range
Naomi Growden - Director, The Soho Hotel Adelaide
Nicole Grant - Business Development and Client Relationships Manager, Destination HQ
Isaac Moody - Managing Director, Gabbinbar Homestead
Daniel Csortan - Group Director of Sales, Minor Hotels Australia
Katherine O’Neill - Director, Scenic Brand & Marketing, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
Emma Coburn - Owner, Eat Pray Love Travel, Victoria
Felicity Moss - Managing Director, Jigsaw Travel
Dayana Brooke - Founder and Sustainable Travel Advocate, The Sustainable Traveller
Louise Mccarthy - Travel Manager, Travelmanagers Australia
Craig Stepnell - Owner, The VIP Traveller
David Barnett - COO, Solve Travel Management
Stephen Timms - CEO, Lotte Travel Retail Australia
Kirsty Whittaker - Manager, Kirsty Whittaker TravelManagers
Samuel Jordan - Chief Editor, Travel Roo
Kristene Fitzgerald - Travel consultant, Frontiers Travel
Peter Yared - Area General Manager Queensland, Hotel Grand Chancellor
Ash Chin - Travel Designer, SmartFlyer Australia
Imogen Eveson - Deputy Editor, Australian Traveller Media
Riley Carter - Account manger, Hamilton Island
Charisse Clarke - Proprietor, Shearwater Scenic Villas
Adrian Mayfield - Director, Oasis Palm Cove
Michelle Papas - Director, The Experience Quotient
Ben Hall - General Manager - Operations, Professional Helicopter Services
Jacqui Walshe - Managing Director, The Walshe Group & Southern Travelnet
Trent & Sarah Crothers - Owners, Lusso KV
Clint Gudenswager - General Manager, Experience Oz
Tane Thompson - Director, INFINITY Attraction Gold Coast
Sally Macmillan - Travel writer, Nine/Sun-Herald Traveller
Nicola Billens - Marketing Manager, Alquemie
Wayne Bunce - Owner / Manager, Palm Cove Tropic Apartments
Andrew Morley - Talent Acquisition Manager, InterContinental Hotels Group
Josh Munt - General Manager, Revenue Management, Journey Beyond
Aidan Mulcahy & Alex Scott - Owners/Managers, Lazy Lizard Motor Inn
Justin Montgomery - General Manager, Australia, Amadeus IT Pacific
Annette Zubani - Travel Advisor, Travel A-Z
Jay Boughton - Leasing Manager, Brisbane Airport Corporation
Sally Burgess - General Manager, Radisson Hotel & Suites Sydney
Ashleigh Franke - Manager SME and Sales Support, Qantas Freight
Dylan Cole - General Manager, Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific
Peter Hosper - Co-Founder and CEO, The Travel Authority Group
Craig Undery - General Manager, Experience Oz Local Events
Constantinos Michael Kouros - Managing Director, Australian Way Pty Ltd
Caroline Gair - Global Director Supplier Relations, Cievents
Dave & Glenys Gardiner - Owners, Reef N Beyond Eco Tours (Lord Howe Island)
Glenn Stutt - Director, Skydive Geronimo & Fly West Coast
Serena Mitchell - PR & Communications Manager, Abercrombie & Kent
Fay Cohen - Executive, Wentworth Travel
Cindy Van Der Wal - ESG Coordinator, Pro-invest Group
Kim Swindles - Director, Regal Port Douglas
Silke Kerwick - Public Affairs Manager, YHA Australia
Rapthi Thanapalasingam - Head of Brand, Consumer & Media, Virgin Australia
Brendan McKenna - General Manager - Australia, JUCY
Joshua Dows - Director of Food and Beverage, Marriott International
Melanie Jones - Director, Trinity Beach Pacific Resort
Richard and Fiona Hewitt - Resort Owners, Pink Flamingo Resort
Greg Luff - Owner Administrator, Helloworld Travel Cobram
Sonya Cooke - Manager, Port Douglas Apartments
Jaclyn Snell - Regional Manager VIC/TAS, Qantas
Treveen Page - Manager, Beach Terraces Holiday Apartments
Matthew Fleming - Director, The Kimberley Collection
Aymon Gow - General Manager, Tropical Fruit World
Kate Roberts - Travel Specialist, Allure Travel by CTM
Ben Caplan - Managing Director, Wall Street Travel
Genine McHugh - Owner, Genine McHugh - MTA Travel
Simon Bernardi - Director and Managing Partner, Australia and Beyond Holidays
Rory McVeigh - Manager Fleet Operations, QantasLink
Simon te Hennepe - CEO & Co-Founder, TRAVLR
Greg Zammit - Director, Real Aussie Adventures
Scott Tanzer - Manager, Palm Cove Tropic Apartments
John Donovan - Managing Director, Overdrive Car Hire
Paul Anderson - Owner, Escape Discovery Adventures
Rob Smith - Divisional Director Asia-Pacific, Merlin Entertainments Group
Ian Stutchbury - Managing Director, Australian Tour Specialists
Jana Frawley - Content Director, Escape
Tony Isabella - Managing Director, Marquee Limousines
Craig Burgess - Director, Murray River Paddlesteamers
Vanessa Whittaker - Travel Advisor, Destination HQ
Penny Spencer - Managing Director, Spencer Travel
Mark Norek - Company Director, Life's an Adventure
Christian Hunter - Managing Director, Travellers Choice
Geoff Skeates - B737 Captain, Qantas Airways
Donna Elliott - General Manger Cruise & Virtuoso, Travel Associates
Adam Ogle - Co-Founder, Welcome to Travel
Stephen Large - Chief Executive Officer, Port Arthur Historic Sites Management Authority
Cas Graham - Ground Staff, Qantas Airways
Todd Hendry - B737 Captain, Qantas Airways
Libby Orrock - Travel Advisor, Savenio
Lisa Ralph - Owner, Pro Dive Lord Howe Island
Nigel Blieschke - Viticulturist, Torbreck Vintners
Sam Turner - Manager, Haggerstone Island Resort
Kylie Gorst - Virtuoso Travel Advisor, Travel Associates
Biddie Shearing - Destination Development Manager, Limestone Coast Tourism
Scott Lynch - General Manager, Peppers Soul
Hannah Agnew-Elliott - Guide, Arkaba Conservancy
Mark Godbeer - Executive Chef, Silky Oaks Lodge
Craig Cooney - Owner, The Yarra Valley Touring Company
Timothy Wendt - Manager, Oceanview Eco Villas Kangaroo Island
Erin Shand - Director, Coastline Adventures
Lynette Bradford - Manager, Balboa Holiday Apartments
Jose Eduardo Slompo - Delivery Lead, Qanta Loyalty
Paul Rowsthorn - Co-founder & CEO, Airguides
Dianne Garbin - Managing Director, Floreat World of Travel
Rowen Carter - Owner, Huon Valley Caravan Park Tasmania
Simone Eckersley - Deputy Area Manager - Southern, YHA
Dean Kingi - General Manager, Swan River Seaplanes
Justin Jamieson - Managing Director, Grin Creative
Sally Mallett - Wholesale Travel Agent, Flight Centre Travel Group
Jason McGowan - General Manager, Mantra Tullamarine
Bradley Jukes - Managing Director, Acland Travel
Paul Hutton - Engineer, Qantas Airways
David wright - Owner Manager, Travel Prospects
Geoff Pilbeam - Acting Director of Sales & Marketing, Delaware North Parks & Resorts
Lisa Pagotto - Founding Director, Crooked Compass
Tracy Pereira - Travel Manager, Helloworld Travel Spring Hill
Linda Smith - Chief Financial Officer, Baillie Lodges
Jeannette Navarro - Finance Manager, Locale Travel Management
Kelli McCosker - GM Finance, Flight Centre Travel Group
Lori Litwack - General Manager, Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures
Donna Sheehan - Owner Manager, Cronulla Travel
Gina Woodward - Chief Communications Officer, Snowy Monaro Regional Council
Izaak du Plooy - Managing Director, Casino Travel Shoppe
Penny Toon - Business Partnership Manager, TravelManagers Australia
Dallas Newton - Director, Cruising and Wine Tours
Melanie Ford - Director, TTFN Travel
Christie Gowan - Personal Travel Manager, TravelManagers Australia
Lucy O’Brien - Owner, O’Briens of Clare
Jo Pincus - Branch Manager, Victoria and Tasmania, Australian Tourism Export Council
Jenni Davis - Manager, Davis & James Travel Associates
Joshua Landy - Head of Product, STA Travel
Marie-Noelle van der Griend - Flight Crew Training Planner, Virgin Australia
Kathy Clifford - Head of sales, Topdeck travel
James kavanagh - Managing Director, Flight Centre Travel Group Australia
James Ridenour - Chief Concierge, InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto
Callum Brown - Director, BLAST Experiences
Sarah Aston - Account Manager, Virgin Australia
Lannie Riley - Owner, Sail Ningaloo
Krystal Savage - Business Leader + Owner, Travel Associates Norwood Place
Becky Kent-Perchalla - Manager and Virtuoso Advisor, Perchalla & Turner Travel Associates
Sonia Jones - Owner, Sonia Jones Travel
Kathy Pavlidis - Manager, Travel Associates Kew
Ian Clark - Local Area Marketing Manager, Helloworld Travel Limited
Andrew Boyce - Regional General Manager SA/WA, Travel Associates
Jo Polesel - Business Development Executive VIC/TAS/SA, Helloworld Travel
Barry Mayo - Chairman, Travel Managers Australia
Amelia Chandler - Director, Paperbark Retreat Noosa
David Anderson - Group CEO, The Big Red Group
Rachel Dafner - Owner, Clifftop - Phillip Island
Andy Edwards - Client Relationship Manager, The Tailor
Ann-Catherine Jonez - Manager, Jones & Turner Travel Associates
Sharleen McGurk - Account Manager, QBT
Olivia Morgan - Event Manager, Olivia Morgan Production + Mgt
Mandy Spitzer - Owner, Tropicana Motor Inn
Jeremy Andrews - Dash 8 Captain, QantasLink
Mac McCrostie - Owner/Operator, The Little Penguin Bus
Travis Reid - Owner, Melbourne Small Group Tours
Kate Lawry - Owner, Journey South
Paul Robinson - Managing Director, Vinetrekker Wine & Food Tours
Craig Adamson - Managing Director, APAC, The Leading Hotels of the World
Edmond Power - General Manager, The Sebel Melbourne Ringwood
Pam Dewar - Queensland Manager, World Expeditions Travel Group
Serena Cabello - Owner/operator, Phillip Island Glamping
Michael Watson - Owner, Watson's Mountain Country Trail Rides
Kim Storey - General Manager, Destination Phillip Island
Darren Batty - National Manager, Regional Sales & Development, Qantas
Terry Smit - Managing Director, Go West Tours
Fiona Sweetman - Owner, Hidden Secrets Tours
Simon Greenland - General Manager, The Private Tour Guide
Charlton Craggs - Manager, Elysian Retreat
Wayne Rumble - Managing Director, Sojourn Retreats
Raelene Hall - Managing Director, Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments
Jane Phillips - General Manager, Big Bus Tours Sydney
Joanne Morin - Partner, Maydena Mountain Cabins & Alpacas, Tasmania
Steve Edmondson - Owner Operator, Sailaway Port Douglas
Amanda Fisher - Managing Director, Journeys By Amanda
Donn Stroud - Director, The Accommodation Group - TAG
Chris Bellmon - Travel Advisor, Low & James Travel Associates
Adrian Piotto - Managing Director, G Adventures
Brendon Granger - Chief Experience Officer, Technology 4 Hotels
Sally Palmer - Travel & Content Specialist, LUXE Traveller & Co.
Bianca Myers - Director, Artisan Adventures
Paul Mitchinson - Executive Committre, ATV - Adventure Tourism Victoria
Kim Marsden - Director, Travstar.com
Sarah Bernard - Director, Sarah Bernard Travel and Events
Roberta Rho - Director of Sales, Pacific Destinations
Angie Reidy - Owner, Desert Palms Alice Springs
Silvana Franze - Owner, Fifth Ave Katoomba Retreat
Brett Lucas - CFO, Cruisin Motorhomes
Paul Coopet - Marketing and Business Development Manager, Sydney Melbourne Touring
John Haymes - Owner/ Manager, Meridian Port Douglas
Kim Scurr - Owner, Avanti Travel
Leon and Vanessa McCowan - Owners - Jacaranda Park Holiday Cottages Norfolk Island
Joachim Howard - Managing Director, Ocean Alliance
Adela Backhouse - Personal Travel Manager, Travel Managers Australia
Matthew Perre - Director, Helloworld Travel, Mackay, Mt Pleasant & Willows
Erik Stuebe - General Manager, InterContinental Melbourne the Rialto
Natalie Godward - Director, Destination Southern NSW
Sanna Griffin - Director of Sales, View Melbourne
Dean O'Leary - Account Manager, Qantas Hotels
Itai Etzman - Product Manager, Qantas Loyalty
