Welcome to the August Edition of
Grampians E-News
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A Message from the CEO
Spring is a spectacular season in the Grampians and we're excited to kick it off this year with the Seriously Shiraz Wine Festival on NEW DATES, 1 & 2 September which is the Father's Day weekend and a perfect opportunity for our visitors to explore the wider Grampians region.
Several of our Grampians wineries have recently received some top ratings by the James Halliday Wine Companion 2019 and we can all take the opportunity to celebrate with them over the next couple of weeks by sharing the festival information and events with our respective audiences on social media to generate continued visitor activity to the region from which we all benefit. Congratulations to Fallen Giants Winery for being chosen and Qantas Wine of the month – we’re not the only ones who think we have some of the best wines in the country!
The NEW Visit Victoria Regional Campaign - 'Your Happy Space' was launched in the Grampians last month and it was fantastic to have the Tourism Minister John Eren MP & CEO Visit Victoria Peter Bingeman in our region to celebrate this exciting initiative! This fantastic new emotive destination marketing campaign is aimed at encouraging more intrastate visitors (specifically Melburnians) to find their happy space in regional Victoria.
This past fortnight at Grampians Tourism we've welcomed our new marketing assistant Amanda Cochran and we're excited to have Amanda's expertise added to our team and she's looking forward to working closely with our industry partners and supporting the marketing of our region.
This month I'll be heading over to India promoting our partnership in the Great Southern Touring Route (GSTR). The India market is the second largest for expenditure for the state and is a key development opportunity for our region with growth potential in both leisure and VFR markets and will help continue growth in international visitation.
We had a great turn out for our GSTR industry networking event at the Halls Gap Hotel last week, it was fantastic to reconnect with our industry partners, provide an update on our international activity and discuss the future growth opportunities for our region.
So pour a Grampians red and check out some of the events for our Seriously Shiraz Wine Festival on the Visit Grampians website!
Marc Sleeman
Chief Executive Officer
Grampians Tourism
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Seriously Shiraz - A Perfect Father's Day Weekend Getaway
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Here’s our insider tips and suggested itinerary to make sure you get to sip & savour every minute of this fantastic event on our blog HERE...
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Congratulations to all our Grampians wineries who have recently received some terrific results in the James Halliday Wine Companion 2019, just ahead of Seriously Shiraz - what fantastic timing!
A special mention to new Wine Companion inclusion Fallen Giants Halls Gap Estate, who are excited to have moved up to 5 red star rating with Bests, Seppelts, Mount Langi Ghiran and Grampians Estate, putting them in the top 10% of wineries in Australia, and with both their 2016 Shiraz in the Top 15 Shiraz in Australia.
Well done!
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Visit Victoria has launched a new regional marketing campaign aimed at encouraging Melburnians to venture to Victoria’s regions.
The Your Happy Space campaign profiles regional Victoria’s diverse experiences and world-class food, art, music, nature and cultural offerings.
It will include a new film piece to be rolled out across television, cinema and social media, and fully integrated digital, public relations and partnership activity, including a dedicated yourhappyspace.com.au website.
To find out more about the new campaign
CLICK HERE
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Click on PLAY to watch the YouTube clip
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Community Grants Initiative
OPEN FOR VOTING!
Pick My Project is a Victorian-first community grants initiative, with at least $1 million in funding available in each metro and regional area. There are lots of Grampians community AND tourism-based projects listed so show your support and pick your three favourite project ideas in our regional community and help make them a reality.
Voting is quick and simple, and open until 5pm, Monday 17 September.
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Some fantastic recent exposure for Mount Arapiles on The Living Room.
Rising 230m from the surrounding Wimmera Plains, Mount Arapiles, or "Djurite" is part of the Mount Arapiles - Tooan State Park located approximately 30 klms west of Horsham. With over 2,000 different climbs, the Park is considered one of the best rock climbing locations in Australia.
Watch the episode HERE
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Introducing our newest team member here at Grampians Tourism,
Amanda Cochran. We are thrilled to have Amanda as part of our small but dynamic team, and she brings with her a wealth of experience and enthusiasm.
Amanda’s role will be Marketing Assistant and includes our organic social media content, website updates, PR assistance, industry communications – to name a few things!
Originally from Newcastle in the Hunter Valley, Amanda holds a Bachelor degree in Communications from the University of Newcastle and was a Rotary scholar to France. With a background in communications, journalism and travel, she brings to us a range of expertise in creative and digital marketing, social media and web & IT.
As founder of small local start up ‘The Grampians Goods Co’, Amanda is passionate about enterprise, innovation and the region she calls home. She currently lives in Dunkeld with her 3 children, Claudia 9, Elodie 6 and James 3 and loves taking regional day trips, great food and wine, and any sort of creative project.
Amanda looks forward to working with Grampians Tourism to strengthen and support regional tourism development and contributing her skills and experience to the team.
Please join us in making her feel welcome in our glorious region!
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Great Southern Touring Route Update
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As representative for the Great Southern Touring Route, Erin White attended the recent South East Asia Sales Mission in Singapore and Malaysia - July 2018, conducted by Visit Victoria.
The mission was trade focused, combining highly targeted frontline trade training and product planner liaison. Feedback from operators and travel agents who have participated in recent missions indicated that this destination-based mission provides relevant and useful training that increases destination knowledge of the regions and their experiences.
As two of Victoria’s most mature markets, the focus for this mission was to continue presenting new products and experiences to our travel partners, reinforcing Victoria’s credentials as a tourism destination for first time and repeat visitors. Visit Victoria targeted a minimum 10 and maximum 16 regions/products to participate in this event with a criteria to meet to be able to attend, largely around new product to showcase.
Erin provided a combination of group presentations and business-to-business meetings with over 100 frontline agents and trade, leading to greater partnerships and marketing opportunities.
Erin will also be attending Tourism Australia’s ‘Corroboree Asia’ at the end of August and Marc will be attending the India Trade Mission in mid August.
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