Destination Download | September 2021

Welcome to our latest Destination Download, in this edition we share the latest industry updates, funding and support announcements, as well as business and skills development opportunities.

We know that it continues to be really tough time, please know we are here to support you and we encourage you to reach out to us.

If you need help in your work or personal life, assistance is available to you. Lifeline is offering free (fully funded) video counselling. No referrals are required. Please also share this resource with those you feel may be in need: lifeline.org.au/community-counselling

Support is also available through the NewAccess for Small Business Owners program by Beyond Blue. This is a free and confidential mental health coaching program, to give small business owners, including sole traders the support they need. 

Between our updates you’ll find us on the socials – head over to follow us on LinkedIn and you’ll also find us on Instagram. We also encourage you to share our updates with your networks, simply forward this email and they can register here.

Take care and talk soon,
The DSSS team
Header image: Tulip Time – one of Australia’s oldest and leading floral festivals blooms, Bowral.
Credit: Destination NSW.
In this edition:
News & Announcements

Destination Drop In | webinar + quick interviews

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for the the Opportunity Updates webinar this morning, part of our Destination Drop In series.

If you missed the session, a recording is now available with updates from:

  • Steve Cox – CEO, Destination NSW
  • Dominic Mehling – Industry Relations Manager, Tourism Australia
  • Michelle Klohs – Training Coordinator, Training Services NSW
Presentations and resources provided by our guest speakers are also available.

Catch up on previous webinars, as well as the quick interviews with Aaron Matis, our Industry Development Manager, as he chats with guest speakers, business owners and operators, as well as government and non-government industry stakeholders. Watch here.

‘Let’s Do This’ campaign to encourage NSW to get vaccinated

The NSW Government has launched the next phase of its statewide COVID-19 advertising campaign aimed at encouraging people across NSW to get vaccinated. 

The campaign includes metropolitan and regional television and newspapers, as well as radio, digital, social media and out of home advertising across NSW with material translated into 19 languages and adapted for Aboriginal media channels. 
A campaign toolkit has been developed for NSW businesses to promote the initiative. Social media tiles, videos and campaign messaging is available to download here

COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone in Australia regardless of Medicare or visa status and are available to book at more than 2,000 locations in NSW including GPs, pharmacies, and NSW Health vaccination clinics. 

For information and bookings go to: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/covid-19-vaccination-nsw 

A map documenting NSW resident vaccination statewide by home postcode and LGA is available on nsw.gov.au. The page documents the latest case numbers, vaccination totals and statistics on coronavirus disease in NSW. 

Tourism Australia launch vaccination support campaign

Tourism Australia last month launched a vaccination initiative called “It’s our best shot for travel” and “It’s our best shot for events”. The social media and print initiative encourages Australians to support the tourism and business events industry by getting vaccinated 
against COVID-19.

Getting vaccinated will give governments confidence to ease border restrictions and consumers’ confidence to resume their normal lives. This in turn will allow Australians to reconnect with friends and family across the country, as well support the tourism and business events industry.

Toolkits for industry to share the messaging are now available. Find out more.

Covid-19 vaccinations and the workplace employer guide

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has released a new guide for employers on how to approach the COVID-19 vaccination with employees.
The guide as well as other useful resources are available for download here

ATDW partner with Google to integrate listings across platforms

The Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) have announced a new partnership with Google to deliver integration between Google My Business listings and ATDW listings.

The new integration was announced in the first episode of their new #askATDW series; to share platform updates and developments, answer questions and show you how to get the most from your ATDW listing. You can watch the episode and subscribe via YouTube

The new Google My Business feature enables operators to link their Google My Business account (or create one if they don’t have one) to their ATDW listing, allowing all future updates to the ATDW listing in the applicable fields to sync over to Google. This integration also allows the operator to view valuable Google-generated statistics in a new dashboard.

Learn more about the integration in the new guides:

Transformational proposal announced for Wollongong CBD

WIN Corporation announced this week its ambitious new project, WIN Grand. Set to develop an entire block in central Wollongong, into a mixed-use precinct including a 39-storey apartment tower, an aquatic centre and a range of commercial and cultural facilities.
The project would be significant and completely change the city’s CBD. The application is on public exhibition until 1 October.

Buy Regional 

One way to support each other and other regional communities (perhaps especially during lock-down) is to Buy Regional which is a NSW Government program and online marketplace designed to encourage support for country communities and buying direct from producers. This is also a good opportunity for new businesses who may not be aware of this portal which may provide an additional way to distribute your product.

Other similar platforms include Buy from the BushStay in the BushOne Day Closer to Rain and Thankful4Farmers.

Virtual National Park tours with Google Trekker 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service have launched a Google Maps street view of over 50 National Parks, allowing visitors to virtually discover walking tracks, lookouts and campgrounds on the coast, deep within rainforests, and across Outback NSW.
Among the local tracks featured are:

For further details about the Google Street View Trekker, read more here. Receive updates from NPWS by subscribing to the Naturescapes e-newsletter here.

Funding Opportunities

NSW Government COVID-19 Support 

The NSW Government has released new eligibility guidelines for the NSW COVID-19 Business Grants.

Watch back the DSSS Destination Drop In ‘Business Support’ webinar, with important information from Service NSW, Resilience NSW and Business Connect.

You can also access a COVID-19 Business Support webinar recording with updated information and find how to access support from the NSW Business Concierge.

More NSW Government support:

Black Summer Bushfire Recovery grants

Applications are now open for the BSBR grants program, the program will help communities address remaining priorities for recovery and resilience following the 2019-2020 bushfires. The deadline for applications has been extended until Wednesday 6 October 2021. Read more.
 

Regional Events Acceleration Fund

The NSW Government’s $20 million Regional Events Acceleration Fund is open. There are two streams of funding with $50,000 to $200,000 available per grant. Applications close 17 December, or when fully committed.

COVID Development Grants

Individual artists and small to medium arts and cultural organisations impacted by COVID-19 restrictions can now apply for COVID Development Grants to support the development of new work.
 

Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants

The grants from Wine Australia are designed to support wine or cider producers who add value by attracting visitors to wine regions and encourage wine tourism. There are a number of criteria for wine and cider producers to meet, check the requirements and apply by Thursday 30 September.

 

Industry Insights

New tourism recovery scenarios

Tourism Research Australia has released a number of resources are provided to help Australia’s tourism businesses operate in this difficult environment and better understand the challenges ahead. They include a report on Australian Tourism in 2020 and Tourism Recovery Scenarios to provide a better understanding of the various timeframes needed for domestic and international demand to recover.


Domestic tourism data and trends

Tourism Research Australia has released the National Visitor Survey results for May 2021. While there were falls in overnight trips and visitor nights compared to pre-COVID May 2019, there were promising increases in visitor spend. Results from June are expected to reflect the impact of recent outbreaks and lockdowns.
 

Business Events Consumer Demand Project 2021

Tourism Australia has undertaken new international business events research to understand the factors influencing decision makers when choosing a destination for events, including how Australia is perceived and the impact the global COVID-19 pandemic has had on decision making. Findings from the Consumer Demand Project indicate that despite the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, association and incentive decision makers are optimistic about the industry’s future.


Destination NSW Westpac Tourism Expenditure Monitor

Destination NSW in partnership with Westpac, provide monthly reporting on tourism expenditure in NSW through the Tourism Expenditure Monitor. Data for June 2021 is now available and previous reports are available on the Destination NSW website.
 

Expedia Travel Value Index

From price and flexibility to sustainability and inclusion, gain an understanding of what is most important to your customers when they travel this year? Expedia Groups latest research reveals how traveller preferences have shifted due to the pandemic and how they vary across different geographies, age groups, and travel experiences. 

Business + Skills Development, Events, Resources

Reboot your tourism business

From the 23rd August (yes, there’s a few to catch up on), Tourism Tribe started a 30-day Tourism Business Reboot Challenge. Every week day for 30 days they’ll be posting a Youtube video, blog post or going live on Instagram with new content containing an actionable piece of advice to help you improve your online presence and business skills!

Tourism Australia Industry Webinar

Tourism Australia’s next industry webinar will be held at 11am, Friday 10 September 2021. The webinar will include an update from Australia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Michael Kidd, AM and Stephanie Tully, Chief Customer Officer at Qantas will share an update on Qantas’ international plans. Tourism Australia Managing Director, Phillipa Harrison, will also give an update on Tourism Australia’s recent industry vaccination initiative. Register to join.

Event Industry Bounce Back Chats

Hosted by Australian Regional Events Alliance (AREA), the regular event industry chats are back. Join the sessions to have direct access to an outstanding line up of marketing, strategy and event development guru’s from across the regional event industry – the Industry Bounce Back Chats are a chance for you to keep up to date and tackle problems in real time. Next chat is Friday 17th September, at 11am.
Read more and join the conversation here.

Webinar Series: Facebook and Instagram for Tourism

Tourism businesses can join a series of five free Facebook and Instagram for Tourism webinars, featuring presenters from Facebook and the Destination NSW social media team. Each webinar in the series will: 

  • Share tips for optimising your tourism business’ social presence 
  • Inspire new ideas to capture and create effective content  
  • Highlight how to effectively engage visitors through Facebook and Instagram  
  • Provide tools and resources to assist you to promote your online presence
The series will include five webinars and are presented as part of the NSW First program. Register here for sessions.

Customer Service – Online Short Courses

Destination NSW has partnered with Restaurant and Catering Australia to deliver three, free online short courses – known as micro credentials – for NSW tourism and hospitality businesses. On completion of each course, you will receive a digital badge which is a recognised credential to add to your CV and your LinkedIn profile. Course topics include:

  • Customer Service
  • Managing Customer Expectations (Covid-19)
  • Emtional Awareness in Customer Service
Read more and enrol for free here

7-week Intensive Regional Event Management Training Program

rEVENTS Academy’s comprehensive Regional Event Management Training Program is back, starting 6 September through to 22 October, 2021 – ready for regional event committees to accelerate their event management skills in a flexible online learning environment. The course covers all facets of Event Management in 10 bite sized modules based on the holistic ‘Ten Key Steps to Successful & Sustainable Event Management‘.

Updated Tourism Australia Resources

Tourism Australia has added new and updated resources to its corporate site. The assets include updated information for the tourism industry on COVIDSafe industry resources, information on Australian Government relief assistance, support and resourcesdisaster recovery information and Federal Government support for tourism businesses
The Sustainable Tourism information and resources has also been updated.

Strengthen your business after the 2019-20 bushfires

The Strengthening Business service is part of the Commonwealth Government’s
 Entrepreneurs’ Programme.
 
The program transforms Australian businesses with advice and grants. It aims to strengthen, grow, innovate and commercialise your business, both nationally and globally. 
 
The Entrepreneurs’ Programme can help you:

  • rebuild your business and get your bushfire-affected business back on track
  • grow your business, improve your supply chain performance and improve your capability to trade and export in global markets
  • develop innovative solutions and connect with the research sector
  • commercialise your product, process or service into production and on the market
  • fund your incubators for Australian start-ups with an international focus
To be eligible you must be a small business impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires, in one of the 32 identified LGAs. Applications are now open and close 31 March 2022.