EUROPEAN EXPANSION IMPORTANT for TOURISM FUTURE

Following the launch of its Eastern Hemisphere division in February, Australia's leading tourism marketing company, Parker Travel Collection continues its global expansion program with the appointment of a European Sales Director.

This latest development signifies Parker Travel Collection's commitment to providing a global presence and ongoing faith in the future of Australia's inbound tourism from the key markets of Europe.

As a testament of their confidence in the European market, Parker Travel Collection's Managing Director Todd Parker, has announced the signing of Ms Maria Haglund.

"Maria joins Parker Travel Collection with a wealth of experience in Europe, most recently as a special consultant to the Sydney Opera House. Her role as Director of Sales - Europe has been created especially to focus on generating business from continental markets and our agenda to offer tourism marketing service solutions on a global scale," said Mr Parker.

Keen to dispel rumours threatening the success of Australia's tourism industry, Parker Travel Collection says the situation is definitely not 'doom and gloom' for key international markets in Europe. Robbie Bastion touched down in his home town of Cairns this week after attending the International Tourisme Bourse (ITB)in Berlin. While away, he also conducted a program of sales calls in Munich, Paris, London and Manchester.

ITB is ranked as the largest travel trade show in the world with over 100,000 exhibitors from 62 countries in attendance.

"There's no doubt that 2007 was a very challenging year for tourism from all markets and 2008 has started the same way. However, there are definite signs of resurgence in the vital European markets in the not too distant future.

"By the end of 2007, German visitation to Australia was up two per cent and markets that had been quiet for some years - Italy, Scandinavia and the Netherlands - are all showing signs of a return to more prosperous times.

Cairns. Friday 16 November 2007.The managing director of Parker Travel Collection, Todd Parker is delighted to announce the appointment of Skye Collie as sales executive whose key responsibilities will be retail agent training in the UK and Australia, on-line support and Tourism Business Development.

A self-confessed ‘travel bug’, Skye Collie recently returned to Australia after six years working in the UK travel industry; spending two years with Lunn Poly (now Thomson holidays) before moving to Quest Travel where she spent four years creating tailor-made, long-haul holidays.

According to Mr Parker, Skye will be a valuable member of his team. “She has extensive knowledge of product in Australia and New Zealand and vast experience of directional selling.

“In retail sales she developed a thorough understanding of airline contracts and routings and enjoys an excellent reputation for delivering superb customer service.”

While Skye is a born and bred Queenslander – growing up on the Sunshine Coast - she will now call Cairns home - however her new sales executive role will see her returning to the UK for several months at a time to conduct and oversee retail agent training of Parker Travel Collection’s tourism product portfolio.

Parker Travel Collection is a Tourism Business Development Company that has offices in Cairns, the Gold Coast and Melbourne.

Last week the 8th annual ‘North Queensland ATEC – Inbound Up North’ Mega famil tour took place, this year aptly named the Magical Mystery Tour. The program showcased the Port Douglas, Daintree and Cape Tribulation areas where 50 Inbound Tour Operators (ITO’s) from all over Australia, and 50 suppliers from the region, engaged in workshop and networking activities. The event was organized by the local ATEC committee with assistance from local suppliers and was haled as the most successful event yet. Local Tourism Organizations from around the region also had the chance to showcase their various attributes during the ‘Change your Latitude’ treasure hunt held at Rainforest Habitat. ITO’s followed a series of clues to find each destination, each clue designed to educate ITO’s along the way.

Andrew Dineen (Project Manager – Parker Travel Collection & Vice Chairman for the NQ ATEC branch) said about the tour; ‘Inbound Up North has become a permanent fixture on many ITO’s calendars, and following last years successful event, the aim was to take ITO’s to areas they had not seen for a while, and create an environment away from the daily grind to solidify relationships.’ A goal definitely achieved, testament to the fact was the favorable response to the inaugural ‘Gala Awards’ night held at Coconut Beach Resort on the final day of the itinerary.

Next years itinerary has already taken shape and will involve a swag of new regions and experiences for ITO’s, and suppliers alike. When asked to comment on possible inclusions in next years itinerary, a spokesman from the committee declined to comment.

Pictured above: Liz Crowley – General Manager Operations, AAT Kings, Andrew Dineen – Project Manager, Parker Travel Collection & Vice Chair of NQ ATEC Branch, Gabrielle McCarthy - Manager, Operations and Program Services, Grand Circle Travel Australia, Doug Ryan – Executive Officer, PDDT.

Competing against a line-up of international hotel brands, The Lakes Cairns Resort and Spa proved once again that professional independently owned operations can have the final say when it took home the gong for both awards categories it entered winning Deluxe Accommodation and Tourism Education & Training at Tropical North Queensland’s Tourism Awards in Cairns on Saturday night.

General Manager for the resort, Craig Biber was in attendance to accept the award that he says, is a real coup for an independently owned and operated property.

This is the second year running The Lakes Cairns Resort and Spa has won the Deluxe Accommodation category at TNQ’s Tourism Awards and comes hot on the heels of bagging HMAA’s ‘Best 4-5 Star Resort’, ‘Training’ and ‘Operator of the Year’ awards (Qld) as well as its signature restaurant, Lago, winning ‘Best Hotel / Resort Restaurant’ at the Restaurant and Caterer’s Awards.

“These awards are testament to the hard work and commitment of our entire team whose day-to-day mission is to provide guests with world-class accommodation and a memorable experience.

“On a bigger picture level, this acknowledgement from industry underscores the value of independent operators who are becoming less and less with the increase of global hotel operators who posses bigger brand power and bigger marketing budgets.

“As an independent, we work hard to make up the shortfall in brand and dollars by providing a unique product that responds quickly to changing market trends, along with creating a culture that supports and encourages staff to provide very personal service. Our success relies heavily on the guest experience so it’s critical to ensure the product and the service operate hand in hand.”

Monday 15 October 2007
Pictured from left, Rob Giason - CEO TTNQ, Todd Parker - Managing Director Parker Travel Collection, Kevin Byrne - Mayor of Cairns.

After three consecutive wins in the field of Tourism Product Marketing, the Parker Travel Collection was admitted to the prestigious Hall of Fame on Saturday night’s glittering tourism awards hosted by Tourism Tropical North Queensland.


In front of over 600 guests, Parker Travel Collection’s Managing Director, Todd Parker paid tribute to his General Manager and brother, Brock Parker as well as Domestic Retail Sales Manager Justin Berger for the enormous success of the Hot Deals to Cool Places domestic retail campaign run over the past three years.

“It really is a credit to Brock and his domestic sales team - that this retail package campaign now generates more than $7 million for Tropical North Queensland Tourism businesses.”

Mr Parker also thanked the 22 TNQ tourism businesses that have supported domestic tourism marketing over the last 11 years and remarked that he looks forward to creating more exciting campaigns in the future.

The Parker Travel Collection is regarded as Australia’s leading tourism marketing company offering a wide range of tourism services.

The Hall of Fame Awards comes hot on the heels of Mr Parker’s announcement that his company is expanding into the lucrative Eastern markets of China, India, Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Lorna Curry (Product Director) from Tailormade Travel in UK has spent the past week with Andrew Dineen (Project Manager – Parker Travel Collection) visiting regions and product within Tropical North Queensland as a prelude to writing a new brochure for the forth coming travel year. This is the first time Lorna has visited the region in 5 years and was suitably impressed with the growth in infrastructure and product in general.
Tailormade focus’s on providing their clients with unique and boutique accommodation and experiences, noting Australia as their largest target market. This tour was the perfect opportunity to showcase not only major iconic product throughout the region, but also venture into regional Australia in search of new and unexplored territories. When asked what is the major factor influencing product selection for their clients, Lorna says ‘ the main thing we look for in a product/experience is quite simple, when you wake up in the morning what is it that tells you…..yes I’m in Australia? Products that have that element have always proven successful with Tailormade.’

Lorna is pictured here with Andrew Dineen and Robbie Bastion (International Director of Sales – Parker Travel Collection)

MEDIA INFORMATION Friday 12 October 2007

PARKER TRAVEL COLLECTION MOVES EAST TO CULMINATE IN GLOBAL PRESENCE

Australia’s leading tourism marketing company, Parker Travel Collection, has today announced it will expand its global presence into the Eastern Hemisphere. The company intends to roll out offices in China, India and Korea over the next five years to service markets across Asia and the Middle East.

To implement this expansion, Parker Travel Collection has appointed Greg Daven as General Manager Sales – Eastern Hemisphere.

According to Parker Travel Collection’s Managing Director, Todd Parker, “Greg is perfectly suited to oversee this development across eastern markets. In his previous role with Kuranda Scenic Rail Greg established a solid reputation both in Australia and overseas as a highly effective tourism professional.

“Securing Greg’s specialist expertise is vital to our future expansion while maintaining our place as Australia’s leading tourism marketing company.”

Greg’s appointment brings the sales team to eight. Combined, the Parker Travel Collection team is able to cover a broad spectrum of markets with greater frequency. As a team Parker Travel Collection offers a competitive edge with high level industry contacts and influence.

Parker Travel Collection’s International Director of Sales flew to Sydney last week to farewell the North American travel agents who participated in the Newmans Amazing Vacations adventure. The brain-child of Newman’s, Vice President Pandora Van Buskirk, organised 5 teams of agents who visited NSW, Victoria, South Australia and of course, Queensland. During their Queensland visit, agents experienced the Great Barrier Reef with Quicksilver and the rainforest with Down Under Tours but their favourite experience was a morning Ballooning with Hot Air. The morning floating over the Tropical Tablelands was voted the highlight of their trip.

More news on the innovative familiarization, along with photographs and personal insights can be found at www.newmansamazingadventure.com

Following successful events held in previous years, Austravel has continued it’s LIVE shows across the UK again this year and Parker Travel Collection has been a proud supporter. The LIVE Shows include a day face to face training sessions with consultants from both Austravel and Thompson stores, 2 days of consumer based trade show and of course evenings are spent busily taking notes on industry trends and changes during the ‘net-working’ sessions.

Andrew Dineen and Skye Collie (Parker Travel Collection) are pictured on the Tourism Queensland stand along with (from left to right) Tommy Davies (VeryGC), Andrew Cavallaro (TQ), The ‘Bundy’ Man, Jane Nicholson (TQ) and Sharyn Brydon (TTNQ) during the consumer trading day.

The Lakes Cairns Resort and Spa brought home the bacon at the recent HMAA (Hotel Motel Accommodation Association) awards in Brisbane winning three categories. In addition to receiving top honours as Best 4.5 Star Resort, the property was recognized for Training and its General Manager, Craig Biber won Operator of the Year.

Last night’s win caps off a successful three year run at the HMAA Awards with the resort bagging a total of seven awards including Best 4.5 Star Hotel in 2006 and Best 4.5 Star Resort in 2005.

The Lakes Cairns Resort and Spa’s General Manager, Craig Biber was in attendance to collect the awards.

Thrilled at this latest recognition from Queensland’s peak hospitality industry organization, Mr Biber said he looked forward to both thanking and congratulating his team and their commitment to providing world-class accommodation.

“To win best accommodation once is a great achievement, but to win three years running is just fantastic news. Apart from the celebrations that will ensue, the greatest thing these awards do is recognise independent operators who are becoming less and less with the increase of global hotel corporations.

“As an independent, we work hard to make up the shortfall in brand and dollars with greater efficiencies, economies of scale, quality assurance and attention to detail,” said Mr Biber.