Positive Impact

2022 Tasmanian Tourism Conference

The 2022 Tasmanian Tourism Conference was held on 15/16 August 2022 across Launceston.

The conference attracted a record 400 delegates across two days, around the theme of Positive Impact.

Resilience & Innovation

2021 Tasmanian Tourism Conference

The 2021 Tasmanian Tourism Conference was held in August 2021 at its traditional home in Launceston.

For the first time, Day 1 of the Conference was spread across hotel venues in the Launceston CBD, showcasing the business events capacity of some of the new hotels that have opened in the city.

The workshop day featured in-depth sessions on contemporary tourism marketing, practical regenerative tourism, effectively using public relations and tourism influences, and pursuing innovation in our business.

Day 2 of the program featured keynote addresses on the subject of innovation and resilience in business, from Intrepid Executive, Sarah Clark; Youth Market Operator Greg Price; Athlete and Entrepreneur Hanny Allston; South Australian Tourism Legend, Craig Wickham, along with a surprise 'zoom in' from Olympic Gold Medalist, Ariarne Titmus.

The event also featured an epic 'Ultimate Tassie Pub Night' with delegates descending on Launceston's Sports Garden Hotel for a night of networking, public choir, pub quiz, and pub rock.

To relive the highlights of the event, click here for images from the two days, and here, for images from the Ultimate Tassie Pub Night.

Stronger Better Together

2020 Tasmanian Tourism Conference

Like all things in 2020, the Tasmanian Tourism Conference was a little different to previous years.

Split across two cities, on two days, a record 440 delegates attended the conference that was all about our tourism recovery from COVID.

Day 1 in Launceston on October 29 included a deep-dive discussion about how Tasmania can realise its potential as an Agritourism destination, and a key note address by MONA CEO, Mark Wilsdon, on tourism and hospitality training and careers, and Australian swimming legend, Shane Gould. Click here for images of the Launceston event.

Day 2 in Hobart on November 6 featured an in-depth look at Tasmania's tourism future including our aspiration to be one of the world's first carbon-neutral destinations. We also touched on mental wellbeing, and ended the day with Tassie's own rock star, Brian Ritchie. Click here for images of the Hobart event.

Amazing Tasmanian Experiences

2019 Tasmanian Tourism Conference

What truly makes an 'Amazing Tasmanian Experience' was the focus of the 2019 Tasmanian Tourism Conference.

Delegates heard from some of the most innovative and successful 'Experience Creators' in Australian tourism, including our very own Brett Torossi, founder of the award-winning Avalon Retreats; Andrew Wright, operator of South Australia's Calypso Star Charters' Shark Cage Diving Tours; Howard Cearns, the co-founder of Little Creature Brewing Co; and Dr Ken Chapman, developer of the outstanding Cairns Skyrail.

The conference also considered some of the big challenges facing our industry including the threat and risks posed by Climate Change, and the opportunities emerging from Inclusive Tourism.

You can check out more images from the 2019 Tasmanian Tourism Conference on our Facebook page here.

Better Together

2018 Tasmanian Tourism Conference

Working together and with the community was the focus of the 2018 Tasmanian Tourism Conference 'Better Together'.

Acknowledging that for Tasmania to realise its potential as one of the world's premier visitor destinations, we're going to achieve it together.

The conference keynote addresses were delivered by Frank Cuypers, strategic consultant for Destinaiton Think!, pro-poor tourism pioneer, Lisa Choegyl and Australian tourism leader, Andrew McEvoy.

Reimagine

2017 Tasmanian Tourism Conference

Over 400 Tasmanian tourism operators, industry leaders, tourism students and stakeholders converged on Launceston in May 2017 for 'REimagine' the 2017 Tasmanian tourism conference.

Delegates were asked to consider how far the Tasmanian tourism industry had come over the twenty years since Tourism Tasmania's 'Imagine' destination marketing campaign, and to then 'REimagine' how the industry might grow and evolve over the decades to come.

Conference presenters included Susannah George, founder of Urban List on the travel preferences and behaviours of Gen Y, along with Andrew Shievechman from Skift.com on the global megatrends in tourism and travel.

Exciting changes to the conference program in 2017 included the inaugural 'Tourism Futures' program with 160 Tourism VET students attending an inspiring and insightful program designed especially for them, and our first ever 'Enchanted' - a stand-up networking function at Albert Hall to replace a traditional conference dinner.

Check out highlights of the 2017 Tasmanian Tourism Conference on this short clip.

Innovators & Entrepreneurs

2016 Tasmanian Tourism Conference

Valuing innovation in tourism and the contribution of entrepreneurs in building our modern industry was the theme of the 2016 Tasmanian tourism conference.

Highlights of the conference include a fascinating presentation by Brad Rosser, former Adviser to Sir Richard Branson, along with the founders of innovative Western Australian walking company, 'Two Feet and a Heartbeat'.

Also notable for the conference was a major Tourism & Hospitality Trade Show at Albert Hall, and a successful 'Tasmania on a Plate' with delegates dining at restaurants across Launceston.

Love your Customer

2015 Tasmanian Tourism Conference

Great customer service and delivering unforgettable visitor experiences was the focus of the 2015 Tasmanian Tourism Customer, 'Love your customer'.

Speakers from across the industry shared their insights on what made amazing visitor experiences and what it really meant to value and appreciate your customer.

Key note addresses were delivered by the inspiring Rachel Argaman, CEO of TFE Hotels, along with Spotify Australia, Managing Director, Kate Vale; and Travability advocate, Bill Forester.

To close the conference, the Tasmanian Tourism Conference Dinner featured Tasmania comedienne, Hannah Gadsby.

Tasmania on a Plate

2014 Tasmanian Tourism Conference

Food was all the focus of the 2014 Tasmanian Tourism Conference, building on the success of Tasmania hosting Tourism Australia's 'Invite the World to Dinner' Gala.

Food tourism and its growing importance to regional Tasmania was showcased, while hearing from the legend of Australian food tourism, Alla Wolf-Tasker, and the CEO of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Natalie O'Brien.

Unquestionably one of the highlights of the conference was the entertaining but brutally honest address by leading travel writer, Max Anderson on Five Star F*** Ups -what not to do in delivering great visitor experiences!

Sustainable Tourism: People, Places, Profit & Passion

2013 Tasmanian Tourism Conference

The Four Ps of Sustainable Tourism - People, Place, Profit and Passion - was the focus of the 2013 Tasmanian Tourism Conference.

The conference was headlined by the Co-Founder of Intrepid Travel, Darrell Wade, and Tasmania's most celebrated economist, Saul Eslake.