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Chairman's Message
We hope you have had a positive start to 2015 and have enjoyed strong Summer trade. The Board has continued work on the development of the Strategic Tourism Master Plan for the region and has released a discussion paper identifying some of the challenges and opportunities identified to date.
I encourage you to take the time to feed in the challenges and opportunities you face as a business or the broader issues we face as a region into the Master Planning process. We want to work collectively with you as stakeholders to build a stronger, sustainable region, maximising the return from the visitor economy. Read the discussion paper at www.greatoceanroadtourism.org.au.
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General Manager's Message
It is hard to believe we are already into the 2nd month in 2015 but the saying does go “time flies when you are having fun!”
The year has got off at a hectic pace, the team here is focused on design and production of the new suite of collateral. Additional copies of the last editions of the Visitor Guides and Visitor maps were printed to last through the peak season and to allow the new look Visitor Guide to hit the market just prior to Easter with a strong emphasis on building consumer awareness that the region is a year round destination and in many cases, is at its best from autumn to spring.
The Official Visitors Guide and Official Visitors Map, will be underpinned by a series of Destination Guides, showcasing the key things to see and do within the region. It is critical that you as an industry support these guides as the more product participating the stronger the message that a visitor needs to stay in the region longer to get the most out of their trip. Publications will be produced as both print and digital versions and we encourage you as operators to take either print and/or digital copies for distribution to your guests.
I look forward to sharing the new collateral with you as an industry and encourage you to buy in and be part of the product we showcase within the region. Tourism Victoria is increasing their emphasis on the Melbourne and regional Victorian markets throughout 2015/2016 and we as a region wish to be poised to capitalise on this opportunity.
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Public Relations
Sunrise: Cape Otway Lightstation Coverage! TODAY
It is a pleasure to welcome back to the region Edwina Bartholomew & the Sunrise weather crew back to the Great Ocean Road region after visiting our region in November last year. This time around Sunrise featured the majestic Cape Otway Lightstation.
Lee Malady along with Tourism Victoria have worked brilliantly together to pitch to Channel 7 & Sunrise to have them visit our region twice in the last 4 months.
If you missed seeing the weather segments on this mornings show, please visit here to view: https://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/
Get Up & Go Magazine
The Surf Coast Walk had a great wrap in the Get Up and Go January edition!
To view this great double page spread, please click here
Social Media
Want to get news and information when it first comes to hand? Make sure you do not forget to like to our corporate facebook page!
To like our page, please visit https://www.facebook.com/greatoceanroadregionaltourism
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Up & Coming Region Events
Apollo Bay: Apollo Bay Seafood Festival
Seafood lovers take note! Mark Saturday 21 February 2015 in your diary and grab your family, friends and picnic rug and head on down to Victoria's own "Paradise by the Sea - Apollo Bay" as we host the Apollo Bay Seafood Festival. A free fun day out for all!
When: Saturday 21st February
Where: Apollo Bay Foreshore, Apollo Bay
Tickets: FREE!
Minya: Music By Moonlight Concert Series:
What a great year of the Minya Music by Moonlight so far, we are down to the last few concerts of the season, with Coco's Lunch being the third last of the series.
This group of five women is a national treasure…’ Herald Sun Renowned for their extraordinary song-writing, skin-tight vocal harmonies and stunning live performances, Coco’s Lunch have long been recognised as award-winning pioneers of original Australian vocal music.
When: Saturday 21st February (2 concerts left in the series to go post this event)
Where: Minya Vineyard & Winery, Minya Lane, Connewarre
Tickets: $35 per guest
Birregurra: The Creators at Brae- SOLD OUT
Guests will experience the unique bond between musicians and chefs which goes further than the late nights they work, the reviews and the public performance. Be part of an exclusive degustation of music, food and wine. From andante to al dente, guests will enjoy an unforgettable performance by the Creators: the chef and the musicians. Please note, table arrangements for this event are on a shared basis, according to availability. You may be seated with other diners at a shared table.
When: Sunday 1st of March
Where: Brae Restaurant. 4285 Cape Otway Road, Birregurra
Tickets: SOLD OUT!
Camperdown: Corangamite Foodies Feast 
Already famous for its dairy produce, Corangamite Shire is gaining a reputation as a producer of much more. As befitting a region with a trophy cabinet full of awards for its cheeses, strawberries, chocolate, crayfish, plus wines and beers, we're planning a 'dinner of abundance' to proudly show both locals and visitors to the region as much of the high-quality produce as we can include in the evening's menu
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When: Friday 13th March 2015
Where: Five Star Function centre, Adeney Street, Camperdown
Tickets: $115. Ticket includes 3 course meal, drinks and entertainment.
For more information and to book tickets, please visit www.corangamitefoodiesfeast.com/
Portland: Seafood by Seashore
Set amongst the stunning Portland foreshore, experience the delights of locally caught seafood and regional produce, prepared with the assistance of a surprise chef.
When: Sunday 15th March 2015
Where: Portland Foreshore, Lee Breakwater Road, Portland
Tickets: $100
For more information & to purchase tickets: please click here
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Make sure you are listed on the new Apple Maps
Apple is defying Google and has chosen to go off in their own direction with their own suite of maps!
Please be sure to keep this in mind for your guests who may be using iPhones or iPads to find you!
For more information on this, please see the public release from Apple:
In the last few weeks, Apple has replaced Google Maps on their iPhones and iPads with their own mapping service. While your business may be listed on Google Maps, it may not be listed on the new Apple Maps as they get their data from different sources. To ensure your business appears on the new mapping service, and so people can find your business easily when they are using an iPhone or iPad in the region, register with Yelp via http://biz.yelp.com.au.
Summary
- Apple mobile devices are moving away from Google Maps
- Apple mobile devices dominate mobile internet usage in Australia
- Registering with Yelp via http://biz.yelp.com.au is the simplest way to get listed on Apple Maps
Background
For the past 4+ years Google Search and Google Maps have become the defacto means by which the majority of Australian internet users search and locate products and services. The majority of businesses are listed on Google Maps either through the business registering with Google or through Google listing businesses from other sources of data.
Up until a few weeks it was relatively simple to ensure you were listed on the maps offered by both Apple and Android based mobile devices as they all used Google Maps, however this has now changed with the latest release of Apple iOS (the operating system that powers iPhone, iPads and iPod Touch devices) now using Apples own mapping solution.
Apple are using a range of data sources to list business and points-of-interest on their maps. The simplest way to get listed is to register with Yelp, a service that lists business and asks consumers to rate their experiences with those businesses. Yelp is very similar to TripAdvisor for those of you who are familiar with this tourism based service. Apple has partnered with Yelp as a prime source of business listings on Apple Maps so after registering with Yelp within about 24 hours the listing is available on Apple Maps. To register with Yelp goto http://biz.yelp.com.au and follow the process to register and setup your listing. There is no cost associated with this. You can include links to your website, phone number, images and a description of your business so this is another way to broaden your online brand exposure.
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Great Southern Touring Route: 2015/16 Program
Great Southern Touring Route is one of the most reputable touring routes in Australia, growing international markets for operators year on year!
Have you always wanted to learn how to tap into the international market but been unsure on how you can?
Great Southern Touring Route is just about to launch their 2015/16 program and you can book in your time with Liz Price to discuss what the program involves and how you can become involved.
Don't miss your opportunity to find out all of the ins and outs of this truly magnificent international program. Call Liz Price on 0448 385 176 to arrange your time to discuss.
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Promoting Our Regions New Free Wifi
Many of you may have come across the free wifi initative across the region, which was facilitated by Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism. The project is now near the completion of installation stage with 22 out of the 24 installation points up and live!
Now that we are up and live across the region, we need to promote this great resource to our visitors!
As well as being beneficial to our visitors, as a region, we can use this to our advantage as operators as well!
To begin with, Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism has produced weather proof stickers promoting free wifi hotspots. We are encouraging all businesses who fall within one of the wifi zones to pick up one of our stickers to help promote this great initiative!
Stickers can be collected from your local Visitor Information Centre, or please call our office on (03) 55 617 894 to have your sticker mailed to you!
There will be more prominent promotion of the free wifi hotspots coming in the future, however lets all work together to get the awareness out in our region & to our visitors!
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Business Events Australia News
Arriving into Melbourne in eight stages over the next eight weeks is the single largest Indonesian incentive group ever hosted in Australia, the Tupperware Indonesia Manager Incentive Trip 2015. Estimated to be worth $19 million to the Victorian economy, the event will reward more than 4,000 of Tupperware's highest achieving sales managers, team leaders and distributors. Click here for more information.
It is magnificent business events initiated by Business Events Australia and Tourism Victoria that the Great Ocean Road region can really gain a great flow on effect to boost our visitor economy as these high profile events are being held in Melbourne.
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Australian Tourism Exchange: Melbourne 2015
The Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) is Australia’s largest annual travel and tourism business-to-business event. It brings together Australia’s tourism industry in a forum to showcase their products directly to tourism wholesalers and retailers from around the world, through a combination of scheduled business appointments and networking events. It is also a unique opportunity for international travel Buyers to experience Australia first-hand.
As this year the event is being hosted in Melbourne, the Board of Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism is involved in a familiarisation of ATE and will see first hand the marvelous work which such an event does to attract international wholesalers in generating inbound travellers to our region.
Each year around 1200 Australian Seller delegates from approximately 460 companies, 600 key Buyer delegates from over 36 countries, and over 50 international and Australian media attend this global event.
ATE15 will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Melbourne, Victoria, from 21-25 June 2015.
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