Tourism Australia wins in the United Kingdom

Tourism Australia recently took out the Destination Partner of the Year Award at the Advantage Big Celebration Lunch 2024. The annual awards mark the success of The Advantage Travel Partnership’s top suppliers. Advantage Travel Partnership is a United Kingdom consortium with over 800 independent members across the United Kingdom with annual travel sales in excess of £8 billion. The award was won by Tourism Australia for the second consecutive year with Julia Lo Bue, Chief Executive Officer commenting “the campaigns have boosted destination knowledge and driven high-value bookings, all while delivering exceptional training and marketing support for our members”.  

JATA launches coral conservation program in Japan

Tourism Australia and Tourism and Events Queensland are supporting a unique coral conservation program at the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef. The support is part of the Japan Association of Travel Agents' (JATA) Outbound Promotion Council (JOTC) activities. Set to take place in March 2025, the event is included in travel packages from Japan and includes a day trip aboard the Reef Magic Pontoon, where participants can engage in coral restoration activities, marine biology lectures, snorkelling, and Aboriginal cultural experiences. This initiative highlights sustainable tourism and environmental protection activities. The program is currently offered by major Japanese travel agencies, including H.I.S., JTB, Tobu Top Tours, Nippon Travel Agency, and Hankyu Travel International. With a target of 200 participants, additional agency participation is encouraged to expand the program’s reach and impact.

StudiesUp Fair in Paris

Tourism Australia participated in StudiesUp’s ‘Working and Studying in Australia’ fair in Paris held at the Australian Embassy. The event took place last month and welcomed more than 500 French interested in a working holiday or study abroad. At the exhibitor stands, participants could ask questions, conferences were held all day to cover all Australia Working Holiday subjects. Topics ranged from how to prepare before leaving, to tips on what to do once arriving in Australia, and as a bonus the chance for one attendee to win a flight to Australia. Tourism Australia participated in the event with a stand to discuss the Australian destination and answer related questions and showcase all the wonderful places to visit in Australia while on a working holiday.

Aussie trivia tested in the United States

Earlier this month, Tourism Australia sponsored a holiday trivia night at Century Park Towers in Los Angeles. At the event which welcomed around 100 agents from the office park community had the chance to win Aussie giveaways at the evening of fun and friendly competition. Highlights included showing Tourism Australia’s brand video, an Australia-themed trivia round, G’day swag for all guests, and a special Ruby appearance. Ten lucky winners also received boxes of Australian goodies. The event was a great opportunity to connect with community, celebrate the season, and showcase Australia’s offerings in a memorable and engaging way.

Australia wins for Best Adventure and Emerging Destination at Travel + Leisure India Awards

Australia has been awarded as the Best Adventure Destination for Great Barrier Reef and Best Emerging Destination for Rottnest Island at the Travel + Leisure India’s Best Awards 2024. India’s Best Awards (IBA) 2024 is the 13th edition of the Travel+Leisure India & South Asia’s marquee property, and it celebrates excellence in the realm of travel, leisure, and lifestyle. The theme for this year was ‘Art of Discovery’, where Australia won two awards for its adventure and emerging offerings that caught the eye of the discerning traveller. The award ceremony was held in Delhi on earlier this month.

YHA Celebrates Sustainability Milestone with New Certifications

YHA has achieved a significant sustainability milestone with three of its properties - YHA Sydney Harbour, YHA Port Elliot Beach House, and YHA Adelaide Central earning Sustainable Tourism Certification from Ecotourism Australia. The certification recognises YHA’s commitment to sustainable tourism practices, including environmental, socio-economic, and cultural management. Notable initiatives include solar power, rainwater tanks, and community engagement programs like Feel Good Fridays in Adelaide. YHA aims to certify all 19 of its properties within the next year, reinforcing its position as a leader in sustainable accommodation. Find more information on Ecotourism Australia’s Green Travel Guide. 

Quincy Melbourne Achieves Carbon Neutral Milestone 

Quincy Melbourne has become the first hotel in Victoria, and currently the only in Australia, to achieve Climate Active Carbon Neutral Building certification through NABERS. Offsetting 1,671 tonnes of carbon annually - equivalent to 167 Australian households - Quincy is leading the way in sustainable hospitality. The 241-room hotel, managed by TFE Hotels, has implemented a Board-endorsed sustainability strategy, set climate targets, and established in-house greenhouse gas monitoring. This certification marks a significant step in Quincy's journey to net zero, with offsets paving the way for operational reductions. 

Register to attend Destination Australia 2025

Tourism Australia will host the annual Destination Australia conference on Wednesday 19 March 2025 at the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney). This year, with a theme of ‘We are the Australian tourism industry’ the future evolution and growth of our sector, will be the focus of the day. At the event, industry leaders will share insights and updates, we will explore how we can continue to evolve the depth and breadth of our tourism offerings, and we will look again to how we collaborate to ensure the sustainable growth of our sector. As always, a range of topics will be covered from aviation to marketing trends, future distribution landscape to agritourism, and so much more! Find out more and register here. 

BridgeClimb Sydney’s new look

BridgeClimb Sydney has unveiled its newly redesigned Climb Suit – the first major redesign in over 12 years. The vibrant new design, created in collaboration with renowned First Nations artist Taleena Simon is a powerful symbol of unity and respect. As a proud Worimi and Bundjaluong woman, Taleena has brought her unique vision and storytelling to the artwork featured on the new Climb Suit, honoring the ancestral connections and stories of Indigenous peoples. The colour palette has also been carefully chosen to blend with the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, while the First Nations design – featured on the shoulders and arms – introduces a vibrant connection to Indigenous culture.

Barnbougle Celebrates 20th Anniversary with 20-year-old Tasmanian Single Malt Release

The iconic Barnbougle Golf Links on the northeast coast of Tasmania has celebrated its 20-year anniversary, partnering with Hellyers Road Distillery to mark the occasion.  The two brands have brought together two of life’s greatest pleasures, golf and whisky, launching a limited edition Barnbougle Anniversary 20-year-old Single Malt. Carefully matured over two decades, Barnbougle Golf celebrates classic links architecture, Tasmanian provenance and exceptional craftsmanship. In the whisky making world, similar characteristics resonate with Hellyers Road Distillery, who are revered for their traditional style of whisky making and local heritage. The special release 20-year-old Tasmanian Single Malt is individually numbered and sealed with cork and wax seal. For more details on the product’s notes and purchase information, visit the Barnbougle website. 

Introducing Sense of Self Sydney

Melbourne / Narrm born bathhouse Sense Of Self, the first of Australia's modern bathhouses, will open its long-await second outpost in Sydney / Warrane in 2025. Located on the border of Surry Hills and Paddington and housed within a two-storey industrial warehouse spanning more than 1,000 square metres, Sense Of Self will be Sydney’s most spacious indoor bathhouse. It will boast multiple large mineral pools (39°C), spacious saunas (80°C), a Hammam steam room (46°C), and Cold Plunge pools (10-12°C), as well as dedicated treatment rooms, and plenty of relaxation space where guests are encouraged to take their time, or even have a snooze. Sign up online to be the first to hear about opening updates and introductory offers. 

The Ducks at Hotel Brunswick is open just in time for summer

Three Blue Ducks and Hotel Brunswick are thrilled to announce the opening of ‘The Ducks at Hotel Brunswick’, a new eatery that combines the relaxed atmosphere of a classic Aussie pub with the food style and sustainable ethos that Three Blue Ducks is known for. Located in New South Wales’ Northern Rivers region, The Hotel sits on the banks of the Brunswick River, welcoming The Ducks within the venue in time for the busy summer season. The new venture brings together Three Blue Ducks co-owners Darren Robertson and Andy Allen and Regional Head Chef, Sam Morton along with Hotel Brunswick’s Head Chef, Loki Lynch and Group General Manager of Food, Ben Turner. They have created a menu that celebrates the best local produce from the Northern Rivers region while putting a Ducks twist on beloved pub favourites. Bookings are available online.