
Dear State Premiers and Chief Ministers,
We are appealing to you on behalf of the Australian tourism industry as well as the myriad industries that both rely on and support it across the nation’s metropolitan, regional and rural economies.
Throughout 2020, the tourism industry has sustained a series of devastating setbacks, first from the widespread bushfires of last summer and next, much more broadly, from the ongoing, broad ranging impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic.
We acknowledge the seriousness of the health crisis we are experiencing. We understand the need for the current Victorian border closure. We also support the continued closure of Australia’s international borders, even though many of our businesses rely on international visitors for a significant portion of our revenue.
Until now, the tourism industry has, as a collective, remained optimistic in the belief that better times are ahead. The industry has worked diligently to keep up the positive stories and to communicate with our local and overseas guests, all with an underlying objective to keep our employees at work and our businesses sustainable.
Tourism Australia and the state tourism organisations have each done commendable jobs providing industry operators with up-to-date information and convincing Australians to holiday at home, to take road trips, to discover our own backyard. Our local media has been supportive, flipping content to provide more insights into the opportunities of travelling within Australia.
This should have been our moment, as Australian tourism operators, to welcome a whole new domestic market to experience our destinations and products, with direct benefit to the local economies and communities they support.
Our airlines were beginning to restore their networks, consumers were feeling confident and operators were seeing positive signs of pent-up demand and confirmed forward bookings. Many guests were happy to postpone rather than cancel their bookings in order to support the industry and essentially to have something to look forward to. With many businesses having remained closed for six months, spring was the time we were planning to see operations, employees and guests return, not to normal, but with modified operations, capacities and operations to allow safe travel.
The events of recent weeks, in particular the ongoing changes to policies around borders and access to interstate travellers, have resulted in crippling uncertainty among tourism operators and would-be travellers alike. Guests who had previously been prepared to postpone travel have now cancelled in light of the latest announcements on long term border closures. Fundamentally, we have seen these decisions erode confidence in the domestic tourism product and foresee serious, long-term damage to Australian tourism as a result.
This is an industry that directly employs over 5% of the nation’s workforce or around 660,000 Australians, with millions more indirectly employed in or reliant on the tourism industry. This effective shutdown of the industry affects tourism businesses such as hotels, airlines, tour operators, travel agencies and attractions, as well as a wide range of other businesses which supply tourism operators or who benefit from visitors’ spending, particularly in regional Australia. This includes many small independent businesses such as bakeries, wineries, farmers, local food stores, fuel stations, support services and art galleries. The regional spread of people and businesses impacted reaches deep into every electorate across the country.
When the current JobKeeper program ends in March 2021, it is probable that many existing tourism businesses will no longer be around to provide employment opportunities or tourism experiences for Australians. When international borders reopen, it is likely that the tourism industry will be so diminished that we will not be able to accommodate the number of international visitors that Australia needs to bolster our economy.
We need interstate borders to remain open. We need certainty that domestic travel is accessible so that Australians can recommence making travel plans and so we can get employees and businesses back to work. We implore you now to desist from making announcements that erode this confidence; we implore you to stop spending public money on border closures. We implore you to work quickly and collaboratively with neighbouring states to install screening protocols for travellers and to implement logical solutions which will allow interstate travel to recommence in a safe and sustainable manner.
The Australian tourism industry needs you to act now!
This message is endorsed by the following Australian tourism organisations:
- James & Hayley Baillie – Founders, Baillie Lodges
- John O’Sullivan – Chief Executive Officer, Experience Co.
- Graham Turner - Chief Executive Officer, Flight Centre Travel Group
- John Gissing - Chief Executive Officer, QantasLink
- Olivia Wirth - Chief Executive Officer, Qantas Loyalty
- Glenn Bourke - Chief Executive Officer, Hamilton Island Enterprises
- Matt Cameron-Smith - Chief Executive Officer, Voyages
- Jude Turner – Owner and Founder, Spicers Retreats
- Rohan Lund - Group Chief Executive Officer, NRMA
- Kerrie McCallum - Editor in Chief, News Corp Australia
- Peter Shelley - Managing Director, Australian Tourism Export Council
- Margy Osmond - Chief Executive Officer, Tourism & Transport Forum Australia
- Cinzia & Andrew Burnes - Executive Director & CEO, Helloworld Travel
- James Thornton - Chief Executive Officer, Intrepid Travel
- David Cox - Chief Executive Officer, APT Travel Group
- Jeff Ellison - Chairman, SeaLink Travel Group
- Stephen Byron - Chief Executive Officer, Canberra Airport
- Paul Davies - Chief Executive Officer, NRMA Parks and Resorts
- Simon McGrath - Chief Operating Officer, Accor Hotels Pacific
- Leanne Harwood - Managing Director Australasia and Japan, InterContinential Hotels Group
- Sean Hunt - Area Vice President - Australia, New Zealand & Pacific, Marriott International
- Heidi Kunkeln - VP Operations Australasia, Hilton
- Craig Hooley - Chief Operating Officer, Minor Hotels
- Geoffrey York - CEO / Group Director-Hotels, Crystalbrook Collection Hotels & Resorts
- Chris Tallent - Chief Executive Officer, Journey Beyond
- Luke Walker - Chief Operating Officer, Journey Beyond
- Greg Magi - Executive Director, Delaware North
- Craig Howson - Managing Director, True North
- Simon Westaway - Executive Director, Australian Tourism Industry Council
- Luke Martin - Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Industry Council Tasmania
- Gaynor Reid - Vice President Communications and CSR, Accor Hotels Asia Pacific
- Matthew Beattie - Managing Director, Thrifty, Australia & New Zealand
- Ron Santiago - Managing Director, Europcar Car Hire
- Eoin MacNeill - Vice President APAC, Hertz
- Michael Londregan - Group General Manager, Virtuoso
- Penny Rafferty – Executive Officer, Luxury Lodges of Australia
- Kate Shilling – Executive Officer, Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia
- John Daw – Executive Officer, Australian Wildlife Journeys
- Carol Giuseppi - National General Manager Operations, Accommodation Association of Australia
- David Gibson - Chairman, Sunotel Corporation
- Ricky Jeffs – Chief Executive Officer, Erdi Group
- Michael Moret-Lalli - Executive Chairman, Baillie Lodges
- Craig Bradbery – Chief Operating Officer, Baillie Lodges
- Chris Partridge - Area General Manager South East Queensland, Hilton Hotels
- Charles Carlow – Owner and Managing Director, Wild Bush Luxury
- Hayley Morris – Executive Director, Northern Escape Collection
- Jim Carreker – Owner, The Louise Barossa Valley
- Brian & Karina Barry - Owners, Bells at Killcare and Pretty Beach House
- Graham Perry - Managing Director, BWH Hotel Group
- Dean Long - Chief Executive Officer, Accommodation Association
- Barry Robinson - President and Managing Director, Wyndham Vacation Clubs
- Drew Kluska – Managing Director, The Tailor
- Stuart Rigg – Director, Southern Crossings
- Paul Groves-Berry – General Manager, Southern Crossings
- Sujata Raman - Regional Managing Director, Abercrombie & Kent (Australia)
- Kathy Sikkes - General Manager, Abercrombie & Kent (Australia)
- Chris Hall - Managing Director, APT Travel Group
- Jody Grossfeldt - General Manager, AAT Kings
- Nick Sutherland - Group General Manager Corporate, Helloworld Travel
- Anthony Goldman - Joint Managing Director, Goldman Travel Group
- Trina Shepherd - Executive Officer, Lord Howe Island Tourism
- Cameron Holland - Chief Executive Officer, Luxury Escapes
- James Muscat – General Manager, Pullman Melbourne on Swanston
- Erkin Aytekin - General Manager, Pullman Melbourne on the Park
- Ben & Louise Lanyon – Lodge Managers, Longitude 131°
- Sonya Boaden – Lodge Manager, Silky Oaks Lodge
- John Hird – Lodge Manager, Southern Ocean Lodge
- Libby Grant & Mark McKillop – Lodge Managers, Capella Lodge
- Yale Norris - Managing Director, The Islander Estate Vineyards
- Sam Giles – Regional General Manager-Sydney and The Blue Mountains, Spicers Retreats
- Jesse Kornoff – General Manager, Mount Lofty House Estate
- Max Mason – Sequoia Lodge Manager, Sequoia at Mount Lofty House
- Denis Pierce - Director, The Linchpin Company
- Michelle Cox - Director, The Linchpin Company
- Grant Wilckens - Chief Executive Officer, Discovery Holiday Parks & The G’Day Group
- Gary Smith – Managing Director, Tourism Leisure Corporation
- Susan Badyari – Chief Executive Officer, World Expeditions Travel Group
- Nikki King – Owner and Managing Director, Walk into Luxury
- James Boettcher – Managing Director, FNQ Nature Tours
- Bradley Schroder – General Manager, Arkaba Conservancy
- Ben Wallace – Owner, Oaks Kitchen and Garden
- Tony Fyfe – Director, Far North Sports Fishing
- Craig Parsell – Chairman & Founder, Hemingway's Brewery
- Dan Tiffin – Sales Ambassador, Hemingway’s Brewery FNQ
- Craig Wickham – Managing Director, Exceptional Kangaroo Island
- Paul Murray – Director, Acacia Luxury Private Tours
- Arlene Mack - Owner and Managing Director, Cruise Focus
- Emily Cai - General Manager, Onlyluxe Travel
- Michelle Sawtell - Hotel Procurement Manager, WebBeds
- John Green - Chief Executive Officer, Earl's Anchorage Lord Howe Island
- Greg Reid - General Manager, Pacific Destinations Australia
- Matt McKinley - Chairman, goPassport
- Margaret Connell - Chief Executive, General Travel Group
- Michael Nelson - Managing Director, Pinnacle Tourism Marketing
- Petra Steinig - Managing Director, The Travel Insiders
- Craig Couglin - Chief Executive Officer, LUXXE Outsourced Hotel Services
- John Dyer - Managing Director, Air Adventure Australia
- Tony Kirkhope - Owner/Chief Pilot, Kirkhope Aviation
- David Greenland - Managing Director, Alquemie
- Jamie Strickland - General Manager, Alquemie
- Toni Davis - Founder & Owner, Tapoi Travel
- Marina Gomberg - Director, Australian Travel Club
- Linda Furber - Product & Marketing Manager, Down Under Answers
- Jeff Adam - Director of Sales, Down Under Answers
- Kathy Turner - General Manager, Goway Travel
- Jan Ta'ale - Operations Manager, Goway Travel
- Paul Done - Australasia Product Manager, Audley Travel
- Roy Edward - CEO/Director, Rainforest Limousine Service
- Pedro O'Connor - Director, Epic Private Journeys
- Brad Horn - Managing Director, Epic Private Journeys
- Mandy Ford - General Manager, Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore
- Sonia Beckwith - Co-owner, General Manager, Live Ningaloo
- Liz Schibig - Managing Director, Paradise Links Resort
- Brett Dudley - Chief Executive Officer, Latitude 33 Luxury Tours
- Martin Gribble - Owner, Miller Apartments & Franklin Apartments
- Stephanie Karst-McGrath - Chief Executive Officer, All Pacific Travel Concept
- Annika Leslie - General Manager, All Pacific Travel Concept
- Oliver & Suzy Mercien-Ferol - Co-Founders/Directors, Touring Treasures
- Andrew White - Managing Director and Owner, Kimberley Coastal Camp
- Rosina Xue - Founder and Director, Ros Elite Experience
- Michael Sheridan - Group General Manager, View Hotels
- Lauren McBriarty - Executive Officer, Wimmera Mallee Regional Tourism Organisation
- Lauren Douglass - Executive Officer, Australian Regional Tourism
- Mark Kommer - Managing Director , Australia One
- Craig Berry - A380 Captain, Qantas Airways
- Sophie Baker - Director, Wanderlust Union
- Anthony Gray - Managing Director, Incentive Action
- Brock Parker - General Manager, Parker Travel Collection
- Amanda Fry - Managing Director, Experience Nature Group
- Holly Tharp - Special Projects, True North
- Sharyn Kitchener - Managing Director, Mosman Travel
- Tom Gibson - Director, CBRE Hotels
- Lisa Story - Director, Orbit World Travel
- Cathy Wharton - Founder & Owner, Northwest Australian Safaris
- Stephen Sia - Managing Director, Lord Howe Island Management Services
- Glen Macdonald - Chief Executive Officer, Fitzroy Island Resort
- Andrew Bullock - Chief Executive Officer, 1834 Hotels
- Neil Lynch - Managing Director, Tasmanian Walking Company
- Dean Francis Mooney - CEO, East Air - Cairns
- Gordon and Cheryl Wellham - Owners, Exemplar Coaches and Limousines
- Rachel Beaumont-Smith - General Manager, Darwin Harbour Cruises
- Ryan Ingram - Executive Group Manager, Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures
- Harry Fraser - Yarra Valley Ballooning
- Lee Tulloch - Editor/Publisher, Mr and Mrs Amos
- Clare Carroll - CEO, Cooee Traveller
- Paul Gibbs - Director of Operations, Goldrush Ballooning
- David Doudle - Owner and Managing Director, Australian Coastal Safaris
- Caroline Densley - Owner & Director, Diverse Travel Australia
- Sudeshna Ghosh - Managing Editor, Medium Rare Content Agency
- Mark Shaw - General Manager, Eureka Skydeck and Eureka 89 Dining and Events
- Shaun Cawood - General Manager, Cruise Whitsundays
- Niko Peranovic - General Manager, Rottnest Express
- Daniel Godoy - General Manager, Best Western Northbridge Apartments
- Svetlana Jovanovic - General Manager, The Unique Tourism Collection
- Damien Hays - Director & Chief Pilot, Windward Balloon Adventures
- Matthew Lloyd - Operations Manager, Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney
- Sarah Colgate - Managing Director, Aquaduck Gold Coast & Airlie Beach
- Jay Yip - GM -Tourism Trade Development, Trippas White Group
- Shaun Buttling - Director, Sensational Sydney Cruises
- Anthony Arden - Managing Director, The Tour Collective
- Don Rosenfeldt - Founder and Owner, AEA Luxury Tours
- Graeme King - Managing Director, Australia-Naturally Travel
- Barbara Porter - Owner/Operator - Best Western Tudor Motor Inn
- Chris McKinley - General Manager, iFly Gold Coast
- Stephanie Wallace - Director, Brisbane Day Tours
- Darren Wallace - Director, Southern Cross 4WD Tours
- Nicole Passarelli - General Manager Sales & Marketing, Rottnest Express & Sal Salis
- Catherine McDonald - Operations Manager, Bill Peach Journeys
- Spencer Bailey - Chief Executive Officer, APX Hotels Apartments
- Deb Richardson - Director of Sales & Marketing, APX Hotels Apartments
- Richard I'Anson - Travel Photographer, Richard I'Anson Photography
- Tony Johnson - Managing Director, Paradise Jet Boating
- Adam Sands - Managing Director, RedSands Campers
- Ben Manns - Managing Director, Experience OZ
- Glenn Sweet - General Manager Operations, Pan Pacific Travel
- Kiff Saunders - Managing Director, Global Ballooning Australia
- Andrew Woodcock - Managing Director, Crikey Camper Hire
- Brooke Worrall - Operations Manager, Sunlover Holidays
- Nick Rau - Director, Liberty Balloon Flights
- Ray McIlwain - Managing Director, International Coaches & Tours
- Helen Williams - General Manager, Best Western Plus Travel Inn Hotel
- Angela Esdaile - Director, Go Fish Australia
- Jenny Edmondson - Director, Port Douglas River Safari Co
- Simon Clancy - Account Manager - Leisure & MICE, Aust. & NZ - Radisson Hotel Group
- Lisa Makiiti & Rod Oxley - Owners, Bowker Beach House and Lagoon Landing
- Matt Hayes - Managing Director, Sydney By Sail
- Jessica Bateman - Project & Groups Manager, JCM Destination Australia
- John Tarrant - Area Director of Sales and Marketing QLD, Hotel Grand Chancellor
- Greg Harriman - Owner, Coral Sea Sportfishing Safaris
- Nikki Giumelli - Owner/Operator, Bad Fishy Jet Boating
- Michael Castleman - Assistant Director of Sales, Global Sales Office, The Langham Sydney
- Simon Mendelawitz - CEO, Waratah Adventure Tours and Rottnest Island Sea Kayaking
- Allison Forner - Marketing Communications Manager, JPT Tour Group
- Ryan Mossny - Director, Two Feet & a Heartbeat
- Daniel Schoedler - Managing Director, Premier Travel Tasmania
- Justin Syron - Senior Tour Guide, Bamurru Plains
- Dave Lane - Major Accounts Travel Sales Manager, News Corporation
- Danny Kalischer - General Manager, Q-Desk
- Chris Furtado - Chief Executive Officer, The Landsmith Collection
- Jason Heffernan - Owner, Back Country Bliss Adventures
- Graham Nicol - Director/Shareholder, Executive Escapes
- Matthew Lewis - Chief Executive Officer, View Retreats
- Dan Kotzmann - Managing Director, Constellation Journeys
- Neil Kirby - Managing Director, Travel Masters & The Travel Studio
- Steve Chant - Chief Executive Officer, Leisure Group
- Kim Skilton - GM Product & Marketing, Leisure Group
- Cathy Wagstaff - CEO/Group Editor, Signature Media
- Maaike Bierma - General Manager, Goldrush Ballooning
- Kiri Braid - General Manager Sales & Client Communications, The Bob Wood Group
- Pedro Wittwer - Owner/Operator, WA NT Tours
- Ali McEvoy - Ambassador, The Tailor
- Daniel Hackett - Owner, RiverFly 1864
- Sam Charlton - Owner, Bedarra Island Resort
- Jeff Hakim - Managing Partner, Travel Partners
- Mandy Lovell - Director Member Services, Relais & Chateaux
- Greg Price - Managing Director, Jump Tours Tasmania
- Jot Lynas - Managing Director, Unleashed Travel
- Monique Bayer - Owner, Walk Melbourne Tours
- Robert Hickie - Hotel Manager, Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane
- Rael Donde - President, Accommodation and Tourism Association (Norfolk Island)
- Heather English - Manager, Peninsula Boutique Hotel Port Douglas
- Paul Mercuri - Founder and Managing Director, Traveldream
- Craig Wicks - General Manager, The Mediterranean Port Douglas
- Graeme Skeggs - General Manager - Tourism Services, Adams Coachlines
- Joe McCormack - General Manager Land Contracting, Helloworld
- Alex McGillivray - General Manager, Huntingdale Golf Club
- Brent Wallace - Owner, Mr Wallace Travel,
- David Armour - Managing Director, Southern World Australia
- Paul Gorman - Senior Manager Owner Engagement, Luxury Escapes
- Belinda Jardim - Area Director of Finance - Regional NSW, InterContinental Hotels Group
- Imelda Liu - Manager of Finance & Business Support, InterContinental Hotels Group
- Tara de Andrade - Owner, Travel Partners Bella Vista
- Robyn Tavener - Owner, TradeWinds Country Cottages
- Rhiannon Wollington - Travel Agent, Gungahlin Travel Associates
- Cassandra Newey - National Executive - Training & Development, ATEC
- Philip Gellatly - Senior Examiner/Accreditor, QantasLink
- Michelle Major - International Sales Manager, Experience Co.
- Kylie Maxwell - Executuve General Manager, ahs Hospitality
- Peter Baumgart - Director, Hamilton Island Holiday Apartments
- Susan Christian -Sills - Owner, Norfolk Holiday Apartments Norfolk Island
- Greg Karedis - Director, Pacific hotel goup
- Lindsey Neale-Rozga, Owner, Wine Tours Australia & NZ
- James Kavanagh - Managing Director, Flight Centre Travel Group Australia
- Rhiannon Taylor - Founder, IN BED WITH
- George Nicholas - Global Head of Hotels, Savills
- Kate Alstergren - Owner and Managing Director, Satellite Island, Tasmania
- Josie McPaul - Virtuoso travel advisor, Bayview Travel
- Jane Quinn - Founder/ MD, Me Jane Camp Out, Australia
- Claudia Abras - General Manager, Information Planet Travel
- Sally Wiseman - Director, Travel Therapy
- Riya Thanissorn - Owner and Director, Truant Travel Design
- Chontelle Grecian - Sales & Marketing Manager, Nelson Bay Golf Club
- Lee-Anne Harris - Managing Director, Walk Brisbane
- Anthea Polson - Owner and Gallery Director, Anthea Polson Art
- Emma Perham- Director - Sales, Marketing & Revenue, Crowne Plaza, Terrigal Pacific
- Sally Scott - Director, Alluxia
- Shelley Brice - Director, Shelley Brice Travel
- Mark Banning-Taylor - Owner & CEO, Odyssey Traveller
- Mick Boylan - State Sales Manager, Helloworld Travel
- Marcus Dewar - Manager, The Manor Basket Range
- Naomi Growden - Director, The Soho Hotel Adelaide
- Nicole Grant - Business Development and Client Relationships Manager, Destination HQ
- Isaac Moody - Managing Director, Gabbinbar Homestead
- Daniel Csortan - Group Director of Sales, Minor Hotels Australia
- Katherine O’Neill - Director, Scenic Brand & Marketing, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
- Emma Coburn - Owner, Eat Pray Love Travel, Victoria
- Felicity Moss - Managing Director, Jigsaw Travel
- Dayana Brooke - Founder and Sustainable Travel Advocate, The Sustainable Traveller
- Louise Mccarthy - Travel Manager, Travelmanagers Australia
- Craig Stepnell - Owner, The VIP Traveller
- David Barnett - COO, Solve Travel Management
- Stephen Timms - CEO, Lotte Travel Retail Australia
- Kirsty Whittaker - Manager, Kirsty Whittaker TravelManagers
- Samuel Jordan - Chief Editor, Travel Roo
- Kristene Fitzgerald - Travel consultant, Frontiers Travel
- Peter Yared - Area General Manager Queensland, Hotel Grand Chancellor
- Ash Chin - Travel Designer, SmartFlyer Australia
- Imogen Eveson - Deputy Editor, Australian Traveller Media
- Riley Carter - Account manger, Hamilton Island
- Charisse Clarke - Proprietor, Shearwater Scenic Villas
- Adrian Mayfield - Director, Oasis Palm Cove
- Michelle Papas - Director, The Experience Quotient
- Ben Hall - General Manager - Operations, Professional Helicopter Services
- Jacqui Walshe - Managing Director, The Walshe Group & Southern Travelnet
- Trent & Sarah Crothers - Owners, Lusso KV
- Clint Gudenswager - General Manager, Experience Oz
- Tane Thompson - Director, INFINITY Attraction Gold Coast
- Sally Macmillan - Travel writer, Nine/Sun-Herald Traveller
- Nicola Billens - Marketing Manager, Alquemie
- Wayne Bunce - Owner / Manager, Palm Cove Tropic Apartments
- Andrew Morley - Talent Acquisition Manager, InterContinental Hotels Group
- Josh Munt - General Manager, Revenue Management, Journey Beyond
- Aidan Mulcahy & Alex Scott - Owners/Managers, Lazy Lizard Motor Inn
- Justin Montgomery - General Manager, Australia, Amadeus IT Pacific
- Annette Zubani - Travel Advisor, Travel A-Z
- Jay Boughton - Leasing Manager, Brisbane Airport Corporation
- Sally Burgess - General Manager, Radisson Hotel & Suites Sydney
- Ashleigh Franke - Manager SME and Sales Support, Qantas Freight
- Dylan Cole - General Manager, Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific
- Peter Hosper - Co-Founder and CEO, The Travel Authority Group
- Craig Undery - General Manager, Experience Oz Local Events
- Constantinos Michael Kouros - Managing Director, Australian Way Pty Ltd
- Caroline Gair - Global Director Supplier Relations, Cievents
- Dave & Glenys Gardiner - Owners, Reef N Beyond Eco Tours (Lord Howe Island)
- Glenn Stutt - Director, Skydive Geronimo & Fly West Coast
- Serena Mitchell - PR & Communications Manager, Abercrombie & Kent
- Fay Cohen - Executive, Wentworth Travel
- Cindy Van Der Wal - ESG Coordinator, Pro-invest Group
- Kim Swindles - Director, Regal Port Douglas
- Silke Kerwick - Public Affairs Manager, YHA Australia
- Rapthi Thanapalasingam - Head of Brand, Consumer & Media, Virgin Australia
- Brendan McKenna - General Manager - Australia, JUCY
- Joshua Dows - Director of Food and Beverage, Marriott International
- Melanie Jones - Director, Trinity Beach Pacific Resort
- Richard and Fiona Hewitt - Resort Owners, Pink Flamingo Resort
- Greg Luff - Owner Administrator, Helloworld Travel Cobram
- Sonya Cooke - Manager, Port Douglas Apartments
- Jaclyn Snell - Regional Manager VIC/TAS, Qantas
- Treveen Page - Manager, Beach Terraces Holiday Apartments
- Matthew Fleming - Director, The Kimberley Collection
- Aymon Gow - General Manager, Tropical Fruit World
- Kate Roberts - Travel Specialist, Allure Travel by CTM
- Ben Caplan - Managing Director, Wall Street Travel
- Genine McHugh - Owner, Genine McHugh - MTA Travel
- Simon Bernardi - Director and Managing Partner, Australia and Beyond Holidays
- Rory McVeigh - Manager Fleet Operations, QantasLink
- Simon te Hennepe - CEO & Co-Founder, TRAVLR
- Greg Zammit - Director, Real Aussie Adventures
- Scott Tanzer - Manager, Palm Cove Tropic Apartments
- John Donovan - Managing Director, Overdrive Car Hire
- Paul Anderson - Owner, Escape Discovery Adventures
- Rob Smith - Divisional Director Asia-Pacific, Merlin Entertainments Group
- Ian Stutchbury - Managing Director, Australian Tour Specialists
- Jana Frawley - Content Director, Escape
- Tony Isabella - Managing Director, Marquee Limousines
- Craig Burgess - Director, Murray River Paddlesteamers
- Vanessa Whittaker - Travel Advisor, Destination HQ
- Penny Spencer - Managing Director, Spencer Travel
- Mark Norek - Company Director, Life's an Adventure
- Christian Hunter - Managing Director, Travellers Choice
- Geoff Skeates - B737 Captain, Qantas Airways
- Donna Elliott - General Manger Cruise & Virtuoso, Travel Associates
- Adam Ogle - Co-Founder, Welcome to Travel
- Stephen Large - Chief Executive Officer, Port Arthur Historic Sites Management Authority
- Cas Graham - Ground Staff, Qantas Airways
- Todd Hendry - B737 Captain, Qantas Airways
- Libby Orrock - Travel Advisor, Savenio
- Lisa Ralph - Owner, Pro Dive Lord Howe Island
- Nigel Blieschke - Viticulturist, Torbreck Vintners
- Sam Turner - Manager, Haggerstone Island Resort
- Kylie Gorst - Virtuoso Travel Advisor, Travel Associates
- Biddie Shearing - Destination Development Manager, Limestone Coast Tourism
- Scott Lynch - General Manager, Peppers Soul
- Hannah Agnew-Elliott - Guide, Arkaba Conservancy
- Mark Godbeer - Executive Chef, Silky Oaks Lodge
- Craig Cooney - Owner, The Yarra Valley Touring Company
- Timothy Wendt - Manager, Oceanview Eco Villas Kangaroo Island
- Erin Shand - Director, Coastline Adventures
- Lynette Bradford - Manager, Balboa Holiday Apartments
- Jose Eduardo Slompo - Delivery Lead, Qanta Loyalty
- Paul Rowsthorn - Co-founder & CEO, Airguides
- Dianne Garbin - Managing Director, Floreat World of Travel
- Rowen Carter - Owner, Huon Valley Caravan Park Tasmania
- Simone Eckersley - Deputy Area Manager - Southern, YHA
- Dean Kingi - General Manager, Swan River Seaplanes
- Justin Jamieson - Managing Director, Grin Creative
- Sally Mallett - Wholesale Travel Agent, Flight Centre Travel Group
- Jason McGowan - General Manager, Mantra Tullamarine
- Bradley Jukes - Managing Director, Acland Travel
- Paul Hutton - Engineer, Qantas Airways
- David wright - Owner Manager, Travel Prospects
- Geoff Pilbeam - Acting Director of Sales & Marketing, Delaware North Parks & Resorts
- Lisa Pagotto - Founding Director, Crooked Compass
- Tracy Pereira - Travel Manager, Helloworld Travel Spring Hill
- Linda Smith - Chief Financial Officer, Baillie Lodges
- Jeannette Navarro - Finance Manager, Locale Travel Management
- Kelli McCosker - GM Finance, Flight Centre Travel Group
- Lori Litwack - General Manager, Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures
- Donna Sheehan - Owner Manager, Cronulla Travel
- Gina Woodward - Chief Communications Officer, Snowy Monaro Regional Council
- Izaak du Plooy - Managing Director, Casino Travel Shoppe
- Penny Toon - Business Partnership Manager, TravelManagers Australia
- Dallas Newton - Director, Cruising and Wine Tours
- Melanie Ford - Director, TTFN Travel
- Christie Gowan - Personal Travel Manager, TravelManagers Australia
- Lucy O’Brien - Owner, O’Briens of Clare
- Jo Pincus - Branch Manager, Victoria and Tasmania, Australian Tourism Export Council
- Jenni Davis - Manager, Davis & James Travel Associates
- Joshua Landy - Head of Product, STA Travel
- Marie-Noelle van der Griend - Flight Crew Training Planner, Virgin Australia
- Kathy Clifford - Head of Sales, Topdeck travel
- James Ridenour - Chief Concierge, InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto
- Callum Brown - Director, BLAST Experiences
- Sarah Aston - Account Manager, Virgin Australia
- Lannie Riley - Owner, Sail Ningaloo
- Krystal Savage - Business Leader + Owner, Travel Associates Norwood Place
- Becky Kent-Perchalla - Manager and Virtuoso Advisor, Perchalla & Turner Travel Associates
- Sonia Jones - Owner, Sonia Jones Travel
- Kathy Pavlidis - Manager, Travel Associates Kew
- Ian Clark - Local Area Marketing Manager, Helloworld Travel Limited
- Andrew Boyce - Regional General Manager SA/WA, Travel Associates
- Jo Polesel - Business Development Executive VIC/TAS/SA, Helloworld Travel
- Barry Mayo - Chairman, Travel Managers Australia
- Amelia Chandler - Director, Paperbark Retreat Noosa
- David Anderson - Group CEO, The Big Red Group
- Rachel Dafner - Owner, Clifftop - Phillip Island
- Andy Edwards - Client Relationship Manager, The Tailor
- Ann-Catherine Jonez - Manager, Jones & Turner Travel Associates
- Sharleen McGurk - Account Manager, QBT
- Olivia Morgan - Event Manager, Olivia Morgan Production + Management
- Mandy Spitzer - Owner, Tropicana Motor Inn
- Jeremy Andrews - Dash 8 Captain, QantasLink
- Mac McCrostie - Owner/Operator, The Little Penguin Bus
- Travis Reid - Owner, Melbourne Small Group Tours
- Kate Lawry - Owner, Journey South
- Paul Robinson - Managing Director, Vinetrekker Wine & Food Tours
- Craig Adamson - Managing Director, APAC, The Leading Hotels of the World
- Edmond Power - General Manager, The Sebel Melbourne Ringwood
- Pam Dewar - Queensland Manager, World Expeditions Travel Group
- Serena Cabello - Owner/operator, Phillip Island Glamping
- Michael Watson - Owner, Watson's Mountain Country Trail Rides
- Kim Storey - General Manager, Destination Phillip Island
- Darren Batty - National Manager, Regional Sales & Development, Qantas
- Terry Smit - Managing Director, Go West Tours
- Fiona Sweetman - Owner, Hidden Secrets Tours
- Simon Greenland - General Manager, The Private Tour Guide
- Charlton Craggs - Manager, Elysian Retreat
- Wayne Rumble - Managing Director, Sojourn Retreats
- Raelene Hall - Managing Director, Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments
- Jane Phillips - General Manager, Big Bus Tours Sydney
- Joanne Morin - Partner, Maydena Mountain Cabins & Alpacas, Tasmania
- Steve Edmondson - Owner Operator, Sailaway Port Douglas
- Amanda Fisher - Managing Director, Journeys By Amanda
- Donn Stroud - Director, The Accommodation Group - TAG
- Chris Bellmon - Travel Advisor, Low & James Travel Associates
- Adrian Piotto - Managing Director, G Adventures
- Brendon Granger - Chief Experience Officer, Technology 4 Hotels
- Sally Palmer - Travel & Content Specialist, LUXE Traveller & Co.
- Bianca Myers - Director, Artisan Adventures
- Paul Mitchinson - Executive Committre, ATV - Adventure Tourism Victoria
- Kim Marsden - Director, Travstar.com
- Sarah Bernard - Director, Sarah Bernard Travel and Events
- Roberta Rho - Director of Sales, Pacific Destinations
- Angie Reidy - Owner, Desert Palms Alice Springs
- Silvana Franze - Owner, Fifth Ave Katoomba Retreat
- Brett Lucas - Chief Financial Officer, Cruisin Motorhomes
- Paul Coopet - Marketing and Business Development Manager, Sydney Melbourne Touring
- John Haymes - Owner/Manager, Meridian Port Douglas
- Kim Scurr - Owner, Avanti Travel
- Leon and Vanessa McCowan - Owners - Jacaranda Park Holiday Cottages Norfolk Island
- Joachim Howard - Managing Director, Ocean Alliance
- Adela Backhouse - Personal Travel Manager, Travel Managers Australia
- Matthew Perre - Director, Helloworld Travel, Mackay, Mt Pleasant & Willows
- Erik Stuebe - General Manager, InterContinental Melbourne the Rialto
- Natalie Godward - Director, Destination Southern NSW
- Sanna Griffin - Director of Sales, View Melbourne
- Dean O'Leary - Account Manager, Qantas Hotels
- Itai Etzman - Product Manager, Qantas Loyalty
- Robert Lanz - Duty Manager, Hotel 115
- Tim Bilston - General Manager, Amora Hotel Riverwalk Melbourne
- Stephen & Margaret Coop - Owners/Managers, Melaleuca Resort
- Grant Parsons - Area Sales Manager, Flight Centre Travel Group
- Craig Holland - Owner, Hillcrest Mountainview Retreat
- Lisa Goode - General Manager, Crowne Plaza Alice Springs and Alice Springs Convention Centre
- Kirsty Siekmann - Chief Executive Officer, The Tailor
- Michelle Horne - Owner, Reho Travel
- Ian Rankine - Chief Executive/Director, TasVacations
- John Douglas - Area Director of Finance, Marriott International - ANZP
- Ashley Hansen - Area Director of Sales & Distibution, Marriott International
- Karl Unterfrauner - General Manager, Stamford Plaza Melbourne
- Silvia Kypriotis - Hotel Manager,Ibis Darling Harbour
- Paul Beames - CEO, Get Lost Travel Group
- Fiona Pryde - General Manager, Hilton Surfers Paradise
- Sylvia Grove - Director, Coates Wildlife Tours
- Lorraine Mercuri - General Manager, Swissotel Sydney
- Lance Johnston - Owner, Port Douglas Transfers
- Scott Pinnegar - National Sales Manager, Australian Cycle Tours
- John Thompson - Head of Commercial, Minor Hotels Australia
- Carrie Chiasson - General Manager, Niramaya VIllas and Spa
- Emily Hill - Head of Marketing, Australian National Maritime Museum
- Mandy and Mike Dwyer - Owners, Main Beach Travel Gold Coast
- Anne Moore - Director, Freestyle Resort Port Douglas
- Jytte Ranjel - Chair, Guiding Organisations Australia
- Chris Hamill - Managing Director, Driveaway
- Vanessa Budah - Head of PR & Communications, The Travel Corporation
- Jay Nikolin - Sales & Marketing Manager, Hotel Lindrum Melbourne
- Jodie Tatchell - Owner, Tasting Plate Tours
- Andy Webber - Manager, Discovery Travel Centre
- Adrian Clarke - Marketing & Commercial Manager, Virtuoso
- Kerry-Anne Walker - Director Global Events, Flight Centre Travel Group
- John O'Sullivan - Founding Director, Depot Adventures
- Jacqueline Ingram - Director, Flying Colours Travel, Sale
- Dara Karlusic - Managing Director, Executive Travel Management
- Glenn Wilcox - General Manager NSW, Corporate Travel Management
- Daniel Morahan - Managing Director, Keith Prowse Travel
- Blair Weir - Commercial Director, Hilton Sydney
- Ronald van Weezel - General Manager, Hilton Sydney
- Scott Pinnegar - National Sales Manager, Australian Cycle Tours
- Vanessa Budah - Head of PR & Communications, The Travel Corporation
- Rod Hillman - Chief Executive, Ecotourism Australia
- Nick Vanderwoude - Regional Manager WA/SA, Qantas Airways
- Daniel Hughes - General Manager, AJ Hackett Cairns
- Steve White - General Manager, The Mansion Melbourne
- Aaron McDowell - Manager, Field Marketing Australasia, InterContinental Hotels Group
- Peter Woodward - Managing Director, CaPTA Group
- Amanda Fraser - Director, Port Douglas Sands Resort
- Clay Watson & Renai Caruso - Owner Operators, Daylesford Wine Tours
- Lindsay Hermes - Manager Policy and Government Relations, Tourism & Transport Forum Australia
- David Jay Clark - Country Manager Australia, Tauck Tours
- Anthony Penney - State Manager SA, Qantas Airways
- Jason Westwood - Operations Manager, Australian Wildlife Adventures
- Robert Smith - General Manager, Jackaroo Treehouse Mission Beach
- Markus Kaliss - General Manager, Hilton Darwin
- Natalia Mitchell - Owner, Blue Juice Fishing Charters
- Georgia Guerinet - Marketing Executive, Crowne Plaza Melbourne
- Cameron Stirling - General Manager Finance, Flight Centre Travel Group
- James Clay - Founder and CEO, Hero Travel
- Sean Prendergast - Director, Bilpin Cider Co
- Christine Haddad - Director of Sales & Marketing, Park Hyatt Sydney
- Lisa Anderson - Manager, Tourism, Yalumba Family Winemakers
- Frank & Alison Edwards - Owners, Austin Tourist Park, Tamworth
- Andre Ellis - Co-founder / General Manager, Outback Spirit
- Andrew Russell - General Manager, Kimberley Grande Resort
- Sian West - Managing Director, Ocean Blue Coastal Retreats
- Simon & Ali Eberhard - Owners, Gawler Caravan Park
- Alex Hill - General Manager, Tourism Adventure Group
- Tom Grove - Managing Director, Coates Wildlife Tours
- Mandy Hambleton - Product Manager, Destination Cairns Marketing
- Rohan Marx - Managing Director, East Coast Car Rentals
- Cameron Boyd - General Manager, Flight Centre Travel Academy
- Nikki Marshall-Wadsworth - Owner / General Manager, Quest Cheltenham
- Jason Cronshaw - Managing Director, Fantastic Aussie Tours
- Vicki Norek - General Manager, Life's An Adventure Walking Tours
- Christine Judd - General Manager, Making Waves Foundation
- Caroline Faulkner - Key Account Manager, InterContinental Hotels Group
- Lisa Shreeve - Chief Executive Officer, Busselton Jetty
- Carolyn Pierre - Senior Manager Brand Extensions, Jetstar
- Ryan Thomas - Chief Executive Officer, Ignite Travel Group
- Ralph D'Souza - General Manager, Oaks Darwin Elan Hotel
- Ian Solomon - General Manager, Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge
- Maurits de Graeff - General Manager, The Playford Hotel
- Mark Durran - Managing Director, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group
- Robyn Ritchie - Owner / Operator, Best Western Apollo Bay Motel & Apartments
- Claudia Rossi Hudson - Managing Director/Owner, Mary Rossi Travel
- Wayne Greenwood - Vice President Pacific, Accor Plus