Tourism Consulting Services

Contracted by Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Limited (GAPDL) and the Gidarjil Development Corporation to prepare a business case to assist with the launch of a Indigenous cultural tourism experience in the Gladstone region;

Renewal and updating of the region’s Destination Tourism Plan, which was first launched in May 2014. This process involved extensive consultation with a number of key stakeholders including Council, tourism operators, state tourism authorities and other relevant bodies, current performance review, target market assessment, emerging trends and recommendations featuring a detailed implementation action plan.

Reviewing, updating and finalising the Tweed’s Destination Management Plan to guide the tourism strategy for the region upto 2030. This process involved extensive consultation with a number of key stakeholders including Council, tourism operators, state tourism authorities and other relevant bodies, current performance review, target market assessment, emerging trends and recommendations featuring a detailed implementation action plan;

This project featured an in depth review of the visitor information services structure in the Tweed, and outlined numerous recommendations for the ongoing management of the region's VIC services moving forward;

Contracted by the Fraser Coast Regional Council, the project team of DR Tourism and Earthcheck are developing an RV Strategy for the region which outlines a best-practice approach to the management and promotion of the camping and caravanning industry;

Contracted by the Central Highlands Development Corporation, the project team of DR Tourism and Earthcheck are developing an RV Strategy for the region which outlines a best-practice approach to the management and promotion of the camping and caravanning industry;

Renewal and updating of the region’s Destination Tourism Plan, which was first launched in May 2014. This process involved extensive consultation with a number of key stakeholders including 2 major Councils, tourism operators, state tourism authorities and other relevant bodies, current performance review, target market assessment, emerging trends and recommendations featuring a detailed implementation action plan;

Reviewed the region’s Destination Tourism Plan, first compiled in May 2014. This process included an analysis of the performance of the region in respect to the original targets set, a renewed target market analysis, market forecasts and a list of revitalise.

Business case outlining recommendations for the future, sustainable management of the Cape Hillsborough Sunrise Wallaby Experience. Best Practice Review, Target Market Analysis, Visitor Forecasting, recommended business/ structure, marketing plan as well as recommendations around admission fees and financial forecasts;

Contracted in 2015 to produce a range of product specific and non-product specific drive itineraries focused on the Great Beach Drive. These itineraries varied in duration, and also varied depending on the target market (adventurous, budget, luxurious, self-drive, guided etc.);

As a part of the Great Beach Drive initiative, this project involved the development of a signage scheme outlining the possible locations along the route (both northbound and southbound) for physical signage. This also involved an audit of existing signage;

Successful facilitation of discussion between industry and the Queensland government to grant tourism operators with access to the West Coast of Fraser Island. Successful representation of the whale watching industry to gain approval from the state government for operators to introduce ‘swim with whale’ tours and code of practice in 2014;

This entailed taking managerial responsibility for revising, promoting and facilitating tourism and economic development related key projects for the Council’s Priority Project list;

This project included a full review of the existing Strategic Plan for this tourism, marketing, events and industry attraction entity. Introduced Council (major funder and owner) strategy briefings, collaborated with Tourism Events Queensland on a “Tourism Champions” operators education field tour and revamped the linkages between food production, events and tourism product development; and

As Interim General Manager of FCO, Leigh Bennett undertook a full review of this tourism, marketing, events and industry attraction entity. A turnaround plan was implemented (Fix, Stabilise, Progress and Sustain) in the first 3 months, and interviews and engagement with politicians, councillors, the industry and the media was comprehensive. That exercise was extended to 6 months as both internal capability issues and worsening council politics continued but it was clear the organisation could be turned around which Leigh by staying on as part time Interim GM for 18 months. It is now Fraser Coast Tourism and Events.