Great Customer Experience Program
North West Tourism Forum
Upon an invitation from West by North West Regional Tourism, the THA’s north west Great Customer Experience manager Stu Jones attended a tourism forum on King Island in July. This visit proved a huge success, providing everyone in attendance with the opportunity to learn, share and network on one of Tasmania’s boutique destinations.
We discussed the problems and concerns affecting industry with all the attendees at the forum and across the two days on the island, with some of the major problems identified: • Lack of accommodation, both residential and commercial for tourists and workers • Attraction and retention of staff to the island, where operators are paying above award and competitor rates to keep staff • Transportation costs, both on and off the island for produce and goods There are plans in place for members of the THA team to return to King Island in the coming months to sit down with industry operators and further discuss their concerns and begin mapping a way forward to address and solve these. Further communication around this trip will be provided when dates are locked in. Finally, we have welcomed Melissa Denkinger to the GCE team as our northern regional manager. Melissa, who is a passionate hospitality professional who has worked in the industry since she was 15, most recently worked as a hospitality teacher and trainer in WA, NSW and Singapore and is now looking forward to being back in industry and working with the Northern and East Coast operators. Melissa replaces Lee Christmas, who finished with the THA in May. Her contact details are below should you need to be in touch.
• More than 50 tourism operators and staff participated • It included a presentation and networking night • Presentations were made from Tourism Tasmania, West by North West Regional Tourism, State Growth, Events Tasmania, Braddon Business Centre and the Tasmanian Hospitality Association. All can be viewed at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=D4fafpm4DJ8 • Stu presented on who the THA is and what we strive to achieve • The presentation night was followed up with onsite visits to King Island Distillery, King Island Cheese, King Island Hotel, King Island Brewhouse, Boomerang, world renowned Golf Course Cape Wickham and a few new tourism initiates yet to be released In terms of exposure for our GCE program, the forum allowed Stu to visit a number of members and potential new members and book in some Venue Awareness sessions for our next visit. We understand the remote nature of the island presents specific challenges to local businesses and we are committed to assisting in any way we can.
Jack Milbourne (Southern Regional Manager) E: jack@tha.asn.au Ph: 0439763977 Melissa Denkinger (Northern Regional Manager) E: melissa@tha.asn.au Ph: 0402827998 Stuart Jones (North West Regional Manager) E: stuart@tha.asn.au Ph: 0460624858
27 Tasmanian Hospitality Review August/July Edition
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