NEW YEAR, NEW HORIZONS
The Visitor Economy team would like to wish our Industry Partners a Happy New Year and we hope you are enjoying a successful and rewarding summer holiday season.
We would also like to welcome you to our new look industry e-newsletter, Experience with EGC, which brings communications across EGC together into one streamlined update. The same industry news, membership benefits, resources and opportunities will be included below each fortnight to help you stay in touch.
We look forward to working with you in 2025 as we continue to drive the growth of the visitor economy and strengthen the Gold Coast's position as Australia’s lifestyle capital.
HONG KONG AIRLINES RETURNS FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR
The Gold Coast is ready to welcome the return of Hong Kong Airlines, with seasonal services between Hong Kong and the Gold Coast resuming on 18 January - just in time for the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday period, celebrating the Year of the Snake in 2025.
This seasonal service will deliver 6,000 seats into the Gold Coast over a four-week period, boosting tourism and trade over the Chinese New Year festive period.
INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES
REGISTER NOW: VIRTUAL INDUSTRY UPDATE
To kick off the new year, we will be holding our first virtual industry update on Friday, 31 January 2025.
Please reach out to the Industry Partnerships team for more information.
LOAD A DEAL FOR TEQ'S NEXT CAMPAIGN
Queensland is Too Great to Wait! Tourism and Events Queensland’s (TEQ) upcoming campaign aims to convert the strong intention that exists for a Queensland holiday and will promote compelling holiday offers to drive domestic travellers to book a trip now. This campaign will run from 2 February to 30 March 2025 and now is the time to get ready.
When you load your deals through Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW), you can have up to three live deals at a time, so have some fun and let the personality of your business shine through.
The $2.9 million campaign will reach families, couples and group travellers in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
REGISTER NOW: TEQ'S GLOBAL MARKET BRIEFING 2025
TEQ is bringing its Global Market Briefing back to the Gold Coast on Tuesday, 11 February 2025.
These highly anticipated events are an opportunity for industry to connect directly with TEQ’s International Directors and Country Managers and hear the latest insights and trends coming out of Queensland's largest inbound markets.
DESTINATION 2045: QUEENSLAND'S TOURISM FUTURE
Help shape a visionary 20-year plan that reflects the voices of our vibrant tourism industry. Consultation is now open for Destination 2045: Queensland's Tourism Future.
This is your opportunity to guide the direction of Queensland's visitor economy by sharing your insights on ecotourism, Brisbane 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games legacy, access, events delivery and experience development.
Register now for the Gold Coast regional consultation session coming to the city on February 25.
MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
DOGGY DAY CARE AT BIG4 GOLD COAST HOLIDAY PARK
Exciting news! Doggy Day Care is now open at BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park, providing a perfect solution for travellers with pets.
Each pup enjoys their own kennel with a faux grass mat and water bowl in an airconditioned space featuring TVs showing Paw Patrol and Bluey.
Open daily from 9am to 5pm, guests can leave their dogs while exploring nearby Theme Parks, hinterland, or beaches. BIG4 also offer the Puppy Pamper Palace (dog wash bay), an off-leash park for play and socialising, and a pooch-friendly area in Nibbles Cafe, ensuring every family member - human and canine - has a fantastic time!
KENZ BEAUTY SPA AND MOROCCAN HAMMAM NOW OPEN!
Nestled in the vibrant heart of the Gold Coast is Kenz Beauty and Moroccan Hammam Spa, a haven that invites all women, both locals and tourists, to step back into the world of ancient wellness and beauty practices.
This is a unique destination on the Gold Coast dedicated to traditional Moroccan hammam rituals, and the team are excited to offer a genuine experience that transports you to the heart of Morocco without leaving Australia.
Kenz Beauty is the first Moroccan Hammam Spa on the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Explore the unique treatments now.
NEW MEMBERS
GREEN COAST EXPERIENCES
Green Coast Experiences provides fantastic river cruises and charters to naturally beautiful places on the Gold Coast waterways.
Offering a unique range of bespoke charters, naturally immersive eco-cruises, and picnics on water for up to 80 guests. The Indigenous Cultural Cruises and Aboriginal Cultural Intelligence Workshops are in collaboration with Kombumerri Traditional Owners.
ENCORE EVENT TECHNOLOGIES
As the leading supplier of creative production and in-house technical and audio-visual services in the region, Encore has a team of experts to help you deliver memorable event experiences.
In partnership with event planners, hotels, venues, agencies and staging customers, Encore create and execute thousands of events annually – in person, virtual and hybrid – of any size, at any venue, anywhere in the world.
ICECREAM DREAMERY
Icecream Dreamery is the Gold Coast’s coolest ice cream van, serving sweet treats since July 2024.
Known for its delicious soft serve and exclusive gourmet ice cream, Icecream Dreamery has quickly gained a loyal following at major events like Gold Coast 500, HOTA Markets, Southport Surf Life Saving Club, and schools such as AB Paterson College. With rave reviews across social media, Icecream Dreamery is perfect for any event, festival, or celebration.
THERAPY FITNESS
Therapy Fitness is a tri-concept boutique studio offering immersive, feel-good fitness experiences designed to enhance your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Three signature classes include RunLift, a treadmill and strength fusion that pushes you to new limits; Rhythm Cycle, where you’ll ride to the beat with added upper body resistance and introspection; and Connect, blending hot Pilates, yoga, and breathwork for the ultimate mind-body connection.
THE TAMBORINE
The Tamborine is the newest boutique hotel, located less than an hour from the Gold Coast.
The hotel is a beautiful and stylistic reimagining of a 1980s Hacienda-style motel and is a place to escape the everyday. All 23 guest rooms have breathtaking views over the escarpment and beyond, and feature luxe king size beds, sumptuous linens, and Leif bathroom amenities.
Enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast of locally sourced produce each morning, before choosing to spend your day relaxing poolside, visiting local award-winning wineries, or exploring the lush rainforests of the surrounding World Heritage National Parks. At The Tamborine, the choice is entirely yours.
HALCYON HOUSE
Halcyon House, Australia’s award-winning luxury beachside hotel is located in Cabarita Beach on the Tweed Coast of northern New South Wales, and 20 minutes from Gold Coast Airport. With a spectacular beachfront location, you’ll spend Halcyon days poolside sipping cocktails, dining in our hatted restaurant Paper Daisy, and relaxing at Halcyon Spa.
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.