17 April 2025
INDUSTY OPPORTUNITIES
THE TOURISM DIGITAL ADAPTION PROGRAM IS BACK!
The Tourism Business Digital Adaption Program is back for 2025, offering eligible tourism operators up to $2,500 in funding for digital upgrades.
Improve the reach and impact of your small or medium-size business with access to more than 70 approved digital program providers. Solutions on offer include:
- social media content creation and scheduling
- back-end systems
- reservation and booking systems
- and much more!
Click below to see the approved digital providers supporting the program and claim your $2,500 digital upgrade today.
NOMINATIONS OPEN - QUEENSLAND TOURISM AWARDS 2025
Nominations for the Queensland Tourism Awards are now open!
With over 30 award categories, the state's highest tourism accolade recognises individuals and businesses dedicated to visitor excellence.
Nominating your tourism product is a quick 10-minute process and ensures that your business is in the running to complete an award submission, due later in the year.
Nominate your business before Friday, 9 May 2025.
EOI: TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCES MENTORING PROGRAM
As the world continues to change so too do consumer travel needs, and today’s travellers are seeking transformational travel experiences. Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) has developed the Ultimate Transformational Experience Guide providing practical tools and case studies to help operators evolve their offerings and strengthen their competitive edge.
The Transformational Experiences Mentoring Program supports operators in interpreting the Ultimate Transformational Experiences Guide and becoming champions of transformational experiences.
The program provides operators with one-on-one mentor support over a 10-week period, working through the guide and identifying opportunities to reimagine their visitor experience.
The program forms part of TEQ’s experience design pipeline and is open to eligible operators who have achieved Best of Queensland Experience status.
Experience Gold Coast in collaboration with TEQ are seeking Expressions of Interest from operators interested in participating in the program. To be considered, please complete the EOI form and submit to industrypartnerships@experiencegoldcoast.com.
GOLD COAST NATURE BASED TOURISM PROGRAM LAUNCH
Due to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the Gold Coast Nature-Based Tourism (NBT) Program Launch has been rescheduled for Wednesday, 7 May at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
This event will unveil funding and support opportunities for new and existing tourism businesses, showcase exciting city-led projects, and feature guest speakers on future opportunities in nature-based tourism. Attendees will also experience Astra Lumina - a new and immersive night-time attraction.
Learn how to get involved in this exciting new program and join industry leaders, investors and tourism operators for an afternoon of insights, networking and innovation.
For more information, visit cityofgoldcoast.com.au/NatureBasedTourismProgram
Limited spots available.
MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
UNLEASH THE POWER OF STORYTELLING WITH CINEFLY
Cinefly - winner of the Advance Queensland Enhanced Visitor Experience Challenge - is empowering Queensland tourism and events businesses with unlimited, AI-powered video creation.
This exclusive opportunity is fully funded by the Queensland Government through the Tourism Business Digital Adaption Program and comes at no cost to you.
Now, Cinefly are taking it a step further. They’re sending professional filmmakers on location to help you capture your story and show you how to get the most out of Cinefly. Whether it’s shooting b-roll, showcasing your destination’s unique charm, or helping you craft your narrative, Cinefly have got you covered.
WIN A 12-MONTH LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP FOR A FIRST-TIME MANAGER
Whether you're a first-time manager ready to grow or a leader nominating someone in your team, this is your chance to gain access to a transformational leadership experience.
Kinetik Global is offering a 12-month scholarship to the premium Lead Strong Foundational Program, designed to support a first-time managers with the tools, confidence and clarity they need to lead effectively.
Who can enter?
- first-time managers entering on their own behalf
- frontline leaders who may have been leading a long time but are feeling overwhelmed and out of their depth
- senior leaders, HR, Learning and Development or team leads nominating a manager who fits the above criteria.
You can apply for yourself or nominate someone else. If nominating someone, we’ll contact you if your application is successful and request the nominee's contact details.
Entries close 5pm Tuesday, 6 May and winner or nominee will be contacted Wednesday, 7 May.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
AMORE TOURS
Amore Tours offers a unique boating experience with our exclusive fleet of limited-edition Fiat 500 boats. Whether you’re seeking a brief escape or a more immersive adventure, Amore Tours offer a variety of tours lasting one to two hours, designed to create lasting memories on the water.
Knowledgeable skippers will lead you on an unforgettable journey, sharing fascinating stories and insights about the local area. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, planning a romantic outing, or simply looking to unwind with friends and family, the tours cater to all occasions.
THE BEACH HOTEL BROADBEACH
Head Chef Tapos Singha brings modern flair to chef-hatted pub classics, blending culinary excellence with the laid-back charm of the coast. With a focus on fresh, quality ingredients, The Beach Hotel offers a dining experience that celebrates the best of Australian cuisine in a stunning coastal setting.
HOLYSTONE
With 20 years in multiple customer service roles – spanning from retail, media and maritime, Holystone have learnt what it really takes to manage and lead successful teams.
HOLOGRAM ZOO SURFERS PARADISE
See dinosaurs, Africa, the North Pole, Asia and Australia, and journey through new high-tech hologram tunnels where the animals come off the walls and fly through the air with you. It is both a zoo and an aquarium!
VIEW THE 3 APRIL 2025 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.