UNWTO Secretary General to address 2012 National Tourism and Events Excellence Conference

Following the success of the inaugural Tourism & Events Excellence Conference in Melbourne on September 2011, the expanded National Tourism and Events Excellence Conference Building is set to become a truly national conference focusing on the challenges and opportunities that the tourism and event industries face in the coming years.

To be held on 16th and 17th July at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the conference is set broaden its scope to include maximum involvement from all sectors of the industry (accommodation, transport, events, cultural tourism and destinations) as well as pushing as far as the Asian countries.

The Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) is once again partnering with Tony Charters and Associates (TCA) to deliver a truly national event that places a great emphasis on the business of tourism.

VTIC Chief Executive Dianne Smith explains "building on (the) success (of 2011), the conference is back in its second year to become a truly national conference focusing on the challenges and opportunities that the tourism and event industries face in the coming years.

"Despite the incredibly challenging conditions, it is an exciting time for our industry with increasing visitation by the Asian markets over the coming decade and the new technologies that allow us to embrace and leverage to reach a wider audience.

"This conference is an important asset in our schedule of events, ensuring that tourism and events become a central focus of the Australian economy over the next decade.

"I encourage delegates from all over Australia to attend this year's conference and take full advantage of the program, ask questions of our experienced presenters, network with other industry professionals and tackle the challenges that our industry faces.

"It's through the learnings of this conference that operators will have the tools and capacity to take advantage of the long term economic, social and environmental benefits that tourism and events can bring to Australia."

TCA Principal Tony Charters adds "the conference brings together the direct and indirect stakeholders of both the tourism and event industries in a unique platform for the discussion of current issues and exchange of knowledge. With operators, marketers, policy makers, research, transport, infrastructure providers, and investors in one place at one time there are real opportunities to build partnerships and alliances and to achieve an excellent business and industry result.

"This year, we are proud to welcome the world's most senior tourism industry representative Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to the Conference. Mr. Rifai will provide a unique perspective on global tourism and headlines an outstanding program of national and international experts who will assist delegates to define and achieve excellence for their own tourism and events businesses.

"I believe this Conference is essential to all organisations who operate directly or indirectly in the tourism and event space. The conference was inspired by the need for a platform to address key industry issues through the filter of 'excellence' and in 2012 we will address issues such as impacts of fluctuations in the Australian dollar; declining domestic tourism demand; responding to new technology developments and remaining sustainable in a world of discounting."

Tourism Victoria is the major partner for the event which will feature more than 20 international and national keynote speakers, specialised workshop sessions and networking opportunities.

For more information contact 07 3012 9575, E: secretariat@teeconference.com, www.teeconference.com

14th May 2009 - TOURISM SHOULD FOCUS ON QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY