PROTECT, MANAGE & KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
You are invited to attend a special forum presented by Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism Ltd. Especially suited to Accommodation Operators this forum looks at protecting and managing your bookings through a crisis.
It is likely that at some stage in the future, a crisis event will occur either in your area or within your accommodation business that will cause visitors to stay away, or affect your capacity to operate your business.
However, crisis events, unpredictable by nature, can strike anywhere at any time with little or no warning. This free forum is ideal for tourism businesses wanting to learn more about the actions you can take to protect your bookings from the potentially damaging effects of unexpected events and, more generally, their rights and responsibilities under the Australian Consumer Law.
Topics covered by guest presenters from Consumer Affairs Victoria, and Tourism Victoria will include:
- Effective strategies for protecting your bookings
- When clients cancel:Your rights and responsibilities
- Consumer guarantees
- Your rights when customers do the wrong thing
WEDNESDAY 14TH OCTOBER in two locations:
9.45AM to 11.45AM - CAPTAINS BY THE BAY
21 Pascoe St, Apollo Bay or;
2.30PM to 4.30PM - PORT CAMPBELL HOSTEL
18 Tregea St, Port Campbell
Cost : Free
Reply to RSVP@GORT.COM.AU by Friday 9th October 2015
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RENEW YOUR GORRT 'GETTING STARTED' PACKAGE
It's time to renew your 'Getting Started' package which is a great opportunity to update your details and refresh your listing with some new images. It is important you renew your package before the expiry date to ensure your profile remains active on the web platforms.
GORRT staff are on hand to assist with any queries and will be contacting partners due for renewal. If you are having problems with the renewal or are unsure of when your renewal is due please contact the GORRT office on 03 5561 7894.
If you are yet to purchase your package view the prospectus here or contact us to help you determine the best option for your business.
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TORQUAY DESTINATION GUIDE HITS THE SHELVES
The Torquay Destination Guide is now available. Targeted to the ‘do’ stage of the visitors trip cycle, the destination guide is a visual representation of what Torquay has to offer.
There have been 75,000 copies of the guide printed and distribution is across all accredited Visitor Information Centres in the Great Ocean Road region and local businesses throughout Torquay.
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LOCAL CURRENCY SUPPORT FOR TRAVEL WEBSITE PURCHASES
Almost 25 per cent of consumers would end a transaction at the online checkout if they couldn’t pay in their local currency and one in ten travellers in India and China wouldn't go past a website’s homepage if it was not immediately clear they could pay in Rupees or the Yuan according to a poll of 3,500 consumers worldwide.
According to the research, consumers are happy to book on websites not based in the country however ‘reassurance’ is one of the most important elements when payments are taken into consideration. For more research and trends related to international and domestic tourism and travel visit Tourism Australia’s Insight Files.
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REQUEST FOR OPERATOR FEEDBACK ON IMPACT OF AFL GRAND FINAL EVE PUBLIC HOLIDAY
Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) are interested in your feedback regarding the impact of last Friday’s AFL Grand Final public holiday on your business.
Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey by clicking on the link below:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GF-Public-Holiday
Your input will give valuable insight into both the positive and negative effects of the day on the tourism sector.
Please complete the survey by COB Tuesday 13th October.
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LORNE BUSINESS AND TOURISM RESILIENCE SESSION
In this session, we’ll work through a detailed and realistic fire scenario and as a business community together work through the issues and options we may face.
- Have you set your triggers to act?
- Do you know when you’ll close your doors?
- Or what you’ll tell your customers?
You may have a detailed plan already or you may be thinking about the need to write or improve your plan – either way, by practicing in a safe environment with advice from local authorities you’ll learn how you can be better prepared.
THURSDAY 15TH OCTOBER
6.45 PM to 8.30 PM
Lorne Community House, 16 Mountjoy Parade
Cost: Free. Light refreshments provided.
RSVP: Lauren Watt, Surf Coast Shire Council on 5261 0501 or lwatt@surfcoast.vic.gov.au by Monday 12 October 2015.
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WARRNAMBOOL SEEMS A LITTLE ODD?
Warrnambool has hit the silver screen with the debut of 'Oddball' which featured on 270 screens around Australia from the 17th September. There has been wide coverage generated by Village RoadShow and Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village (Shane Jacobsen has done over 120 interviews with all forms of media discussing the true nature of the story that Oddball is based.)
See the movie trailer here
The city has been hit by Oddball mania with the arrival of signage and tourism operators getting on board with Oddball - the movie.
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village is the home to the real oddballs and school holiday programs allow guests to Meet the Maremmas and learn about their true fight to save the local Little Penguin colony.
The current dogs (Eudy and Tukla) started their summer patrols in September as early indications are this summer will be a bumper breeding season for the colony that is recovering from fox attacks that left just 4 penguins on Middle Island in 2005. Since the introduction of the Maremma dogs there has never been a fox encroaching the island and the colony is fighting back to be around 150 birds.
There is a funding drive to help buy the next generation of penguin guardians - details can he found here.
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GET SOCIAL
Here are some of the recent images that have hit out social media feeds over the past few weeks. Want to get your business/images featured? Share your best images by emailing them to social@gort.com.au or post them via your own social channels using #visitgreatoceanroad
Industry Facebook page
Consumer Facebook page
Twitter
Instagram
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A beautiful shot of Shelly Beach, Warrnambool. Photo @mrperrycho on Instagram
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The spectacular Hopetoun Falls in the Otways captured brilliantly! Photo by @pkwestwood0 on Instagram
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We had one or two cyclists enjoying the Great Ocean Road, Otways and the magic spring weather this month! Photo @leonwalkerphotography on Instagram
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ATE16 SELLER REGISTRATION OPENS
Seller applications are open until Thursday 29 October for the Australian Tourism Exchange 2016 (ATE16) to be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre from 15 - 19 May next year. ATE is Australia’s largest annual travel and tourism business-to-business event. It provides a forum for Australian tourism businesses to promote their products directly to tourism wholesalers and retailers from around the world through scheduled business appointments and networking events. Buyer applications will open on Tuesday 13 October. Find out more.
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AUS MUSIC FESTIVAL WARRNAMBOOL
The inaugural Aus Music Festival, Warrnambool, Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November will showcase established acts as well as emerging national and local talent. A smorgasbord of Aus music genres will be on show. Hear Blues, Folk, Soul, Country, Gospel, Alt Country, Indie, Rock, Pop, Bluegrass, Jazz, New Age, Alternative, Experimental, Electronic, Rap, Metal, Hip Hop, Acapella, Choral or Classical from artists including Archie Roach, Tex Perkins and Charlie Owen plus over 100 other Aus performers.
Single concert tickets and passes on sale at the Box office - Lighthouse Theatre (03) 5559 4999
Bookings and more details here
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DISCOVER DRINK ARTS FOOD TORQUAY (DAFT) THIS OCTOBER
Held on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of October, the jam packed weekend showcases local products, produce, beverages (wine, beer, cider, coffee), art and music from the region.
The Torquay Celebration: Enjoy a 3 course lunch created by local chefs accompanied by local wines, beers and ciders, plus entertainment and free tickets to the Beats Bus and Bell Street Fiesta. The Art Competition is part of the celebration, this is an opportunity to display local artist’s work from the Surf Coast Shire. Sat 10 / 1-4pm / $89pp / The Beach Hotel Jan Juc
Bells Beats Bus: A fun and exciting way to get around Torquay/Jan Juc. Visit different restaurants with live music and enjoy a local night out with some friends! Sat 10 Oct / 6 – 11pm / $20pp on and off access for 5 hours
Bell Street Fiesta: A fiesta to celebrate all things local! Includes free beer and wine tasting, kids entertainment jumping castles, face painting & crafts, 3 stages including The Kite Machine, Old Feather & Mad House, live entertainment, Skate Park, Stalls, producers, art, designers, food and much more! Sun 11 / 12-7pm / $5 entry / Free for children
Local Treats: A selection of venues in Torquay will be showcasing local produce on their menus. So look out for the DAFT Local Treats sign around town. Sat 10 & Sun 11 October. various venues in Torquay & Jan Juc.
All tickets are available here
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A SPOOKTACULAR FAMILY EVENT
The Trick or Treat Kidz Fest held at Historical Barwon Park Mansion, Winchelsea, began as a backyard children’s party celebrating Halloween, and has grown to become a large community event just 20 minutes from Geelong and 1 hour from Melbourne. The festival is run by the Winchelsea Primary School, with all profits returned to the school.
Each year the party has grown with lots of fun and freaky activities on offer, such as Spooky Mini Golf, Pumpkin Bowling, Pumpkin & Eye Ball Toss, Toilet Paper Mummies, a Freaky Fashion Parade and Spooky Disco.
Family tickets (2 adults, 3 children) - $75
Single tickets - $20
Senior Card Holders - $10
Children under 2 are free
For more information or to purchase your tickets, please visit www.trickortreatkidzfest.org.au
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For more industry information.
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