12 March 2026
GOLD COAST SHINES AT QANTAS AUSTRALIAN TOURISM AWARDS
Queensland’s tourism operators were celebrated at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in Fremantle, with the Gold Coast proudly represented on the national stage. GC Aqua Park, BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park, and Blues on Broadbeach festival were named national finalists, showcasing the region’s vibrant and innovative experiences. A special shoutout to BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park, which took home Gold in the Caravan and Holiday Parks category – a well-deserved win highlighting their outstanding guest experiences.
SHAPE THE FUTURE OF QUEENSLAND’S TOURISM WORKFORCE
QTIC’s Future Ready Workforce consultations are interactive, industry-led sessions where tourism, hospitality, travel and events businesses come together to share real insights about workforce challenges and opportunities. Your input will help shape workforce planning, skills development, and training priorities for the industry.
- Gold Coast session: Wednesday 25 March, The Club at Parkview
THE POWER OF AI: TOURISM AUSTRALIA WEBINAR SERIES
Tourism Australia has launched a four-part Industry Webinar Series on AI & Digital Change, designed to help tourism businesses understand and adapt to digital disruption. The first session, Demystifying AI: What’s true, what’s not and what really matters, offered practical insights on how to use AI confidently to save time, improve decision making and unlock business growth – without the buzzwords.
If you missed the first session ‘Demystifying AI’ you can watch the session here and the second session: Social ‘Beyond the Pretty Pictures’, watch here.
The final webinar in the series, AI in the Tourism Industry, will be held online on Friday 13 March at 11:00am AEDT. This session wraps up the program with actionable insights that tourism operators can directly apply to their business.
UNLOCK QUEENSLAND TOURISM TRENDS: TEQ REPORTS RELEASED
Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) has released a new suite of research and performance insights to support industry planning and decision-making in 2026 and beyond. This includes domestic market segmentation summaries covering couples, families, groups and solo travellers, as well as updated regional snapshots featuring the latest international visitation data. The December 2025 Queensland Accommodation Report is also now available, providing key performance metrics including occupancy, average daily rate and revenue per available room.
MEDIA MARKETPLACE UNLOCKS DESTINATION STORYTELLING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOLD COAST
Experience Gold Coast’s Media and PR representatives recently attended TravMedia's International Media Marketplace (IMM) Australia 2026, meeting with more than 25 leading travel writers and editors from Australia and New Zealand.
It was a great opportunity to showcase the breadth of experiences on offer across the Gold Coast, and tease some of the exciting developments in the pipeline for our city's visitor economy.
Experience Gold Coast was proud to be part of the largest Queensland delegation ever to attend IMM, showcasing alongside RTOs from across the state and Tourism Events Queensland.
We look forward to working closely with our local industry partners on some exciting story telling opportunities in the year ahead.
BUILD THE NEXT GENERATION OF TOURISM LEADERS WITH ATEC ELITE
Applications are now open for the ATEC Emerging Leaders of Inbound Tourism Excellence (ELITE) Program 2026, a national initiative designed to develop confident, capable leaders in tourism export. Celebrating its tenth year, the program features refreshed content and delivery, offering practical, relevant insights and hands-on leadership experience. Participants gain commercial knowledge, peer connections, and long-term leadership capability through a cohort-based learning journey.
- When: May – November 2026
- Where: National, cohort-based program
- Who can apply: Emerging leaders in inbound tourism; mentors also welcome
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR NATURE BASED TOURISM GRANT WORKSHOP
City of Gold Coast is co-hosting its second online webinar on Tuesday 24 March designed to help strengthen your funding proposals, improve your chances with upcoming grants and shape market-ready experiences.
The workshop will centre on developing innovative, marketable products and experiences. The focus of this session is on a deeper, more advanced guidance and will explore innovative product and experience design, visitor expectations and will introduce Cinefly, a visual storytelling tool to support your proposal pitch.
Attendance is free and open to all local operators.
HOW TO GET YOUR STORY IN THE MEDIA WEBINAR
Wanting to get your business into the media? Join the “How to get your story in the media” webinar on March 17 from 11-12am. This practical, must-attend session is free for Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) members, as a part of QTIC’s Future Ready Webinar Series.
You’ll learn:
- From media/communications experts, including the SkyRail marketing team
- How to pitch your stories so that journalists will want to run them
- How to cut through the noise, and protect your reputation
- What to do when plans change, and how to handle it with confidence
If you want to tell your business’s story, or manage media attention with ease and confidence, then this webinar is perfect for you!
Data correct as at 12 March 2026
PARTNER ANNOUNCEMENTS
NORTÉ LAUNCHES MALBEC MONTH: A CELEBRATION OF ARGENTINE FIRE, FLAVOUR AND WINE
This March, Norté celebrates Malbec Month, a month-long tribute to Argentina’s iconic grape, pairing expressive Malbecs with fire-driven cuisine inspired by the country’s rich culinary heritage. Guests can enjoy a set menu featuring charred meats, traditional accompaniments, and desserts, with an optional curated wine pairing guiding diners through Argentina’s diverse wine regions. The experience highlights the harmony between bold, flame-cooked dishes and full-bodied, elegant wines, showcasing the depth and finesse of Argentine Malbec.
- When: 4th – 29th March | Lunch Fri–Sun, Dinner Wed–Thu
- Set Menu: $65pp (optional) | Wine Pairing: $65pp (optional)
- Bookings: Reservations recommended
VIEW THE 26 FEB 2026 VISITOR ECONOMY UPDATE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Experience Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.