Visit Sunshine Coast welcomes leading tourism business event planners

Visit Sunshine Coast last week welcomed tourism business event planners and representatives from leading organisations such as TripAdvisor, Expedia, Tourism Australia and Goway Travel who were aiming to broaden their knowledge of the destination therby helping to drive bookings to the region.

The group were shown the range of experiences the Sunshine Coast has to offer, including Saltwater Eco Tours in Mooloolaba, the TreeTop Challenge in Woombye, The Original Eumundi Markets, NightQuarter in Birtinya and a slew of different restaurants, local producers and accommodation options.

Visit Sunshine Coast (VSC) Chief Executive, Matt Stoeckel said as the tourism industry continues to navigate through COVID-19 it was incredibly important to build lasting relationships with key domestic travel trade partners and kickstart business and incentive travel on the Sunshine Coast.

Stoeckel noted “It’s critical that leading booking agents, travel sites and business event planners understand what the Sunshine Coast has to offer and what sets us apart as a destination for leisure and business travel in Australia.

“Experiencing our region firsthand allows them to go on and sell our region with confidence to travellers.”

Pre-COVID in the year-end September 2019, business travel to the Sunshine Coast attracted 360,000 visitors to the region and played a critical role in offsetting seasonality, with business travel usually occurring mid-week or during off-peak periods.

Stoeckel added “in addition to the promotion of our conference offerings, we see huge potential in the incentives market and are committed to becoming leaders in this area given the natural alignment of the destination to this market.

“Big companies are often willing to spend big dollars on incentive trips for their employees, clients and distributors, and the Sunshine Coast is perfectly set-up to host these high-end VIP groups and participants.”

The visit comes as VSC prepares to embark on a roadshow across Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide and Cairns to further meet with key travel partners.

VSC has partnered with Tourism Noosa and 12 Sunshine Coast operators ranging from attractions to accommodation for the Domestic Roadshow blitz.

Image: Visit Sunshine Coast's Business Events and Trade teams on board Saltwater Eco Tours, Mooloolaba, with famil participants