2018 Whitsundays Tourism Exchange A Huge Triumph

Tourism Whitsundays was thrilled to again host the successful Whitsundays Tourism
Exchange for its fifth year.
Whitsundays Tourism Exchange (WTE) is an opportunity for Product Managers from 24 of
the top trade partners such as Expedia Group, Flight Centre Travel Group and Helloworld
Travel LTD representing wholesalers, inbound tour operators and online travel agents to
descend on Airlie Beach giving local tour operators and accommodation houses the chance
to provide product updates and build important relationships via several events set up
through Tourism Whitsundays over the week
Tourism Whitsundays CEO Tash Wheeler said of the successful event “Every year the
feedback from the WTE gets better and better, each year it exceeds our expectations. It’s
great to see that our local tour operators and accommodation houses recognize the WTE as
a key event every year”.
Several big names were in attendance this year such as Australia One, Tourism Australia,
Helloworld Travel Ltd, Flight Centre Travel Group, Expedia Group, Tourism and Events
Queensland, Daydream Island, Hayman Island, Hamilton Island and Journey Beyond (Cruise
Whitsundays).
This year’s WTE was kicked off at Boathouse FishBar with a delicious welcome dinner and
the initial opportunity for networking. The main WTE workshop was conducted at Peppers
Airlie Beach followed by another vital networking opportunity at Mira Ambrosia Restaurant,
Mirage Whitsundays.
Richard McKisack Daydream Island’s Business Development Manager – Leisure said “I would
like to say that my first WTE was a huge success. It brought Australia’s key sellers of
Whitsundays into the region to experience the products first hand. With our opening in April
2019, it was crucial for our partners to experience, see & feel the region and so they can
pass on to their clients”.
Tom Gallagher Flight Centre Travel Group Product Managers agrees “The WTE was
extremely beneficial to my role as Product Manager at Flight Centre Travel Group. I was able
to meet face-to-face with numerous sellers, providing opportunities to establish new
relationships, discuss new products, as well as improve existing business arrangements. The
efficiency offered by meeting with so many people in the one place was fantastic, and I look
forward to attending WTE again next year”.
2
The success of this event would not be possible each year without the help and generosity of
our major sponsors. Thank you to Boathouse FishBar, Daydream Island Resort, Mirage
Whitsundays, Peppers Airlie Beach, Tourism Australia and Whitsunday Coast Airport.
To access event photos click here.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/a11ciplecrsc888/AAAjzG3soN8_x8la9zQw8Imoa?dl=0

Source: Tourism Whitsundays.