Monday, 18th of February, 2019 | 9am – 4.30pm
Capital Theatre | 50 View Street, Bendigo
Join us in exploring the latest and emerging trends in the tourism industry.
Your ticket includes access to the conference, keynote speakers and workshops, as well as lunch and afternoon tea.
• $150 for general admission
• $85 subsidised ticket for Bendigo Tourism partners
Premium partners can register for one complimentary ticket as part of their benefits. Contact Diantha Vess on d.vess@bendigo.vic.gov.au or (03) 5434 6280.
SPEAKERS
Alanna Green
Trip Advisor
Alanna’s role with TripAdvisor involves working directly with destinations on making the best and most informative content available to the TripAdvisor global audience of 456 million unique visitors per month, because there is no one better to tell the story a destination than those who live and breathe it.
Ben Tyers
The Urban List
Editor at The Urban List, Melbourne, Ben has over ten years of experience in marketing. With a background in graphic design and photography, Ben will share his insights into the fast paced and visually driven world of millennial marketing and the trends and technology that are on the horizon.
Zoe Meagher
Melbourne Museum
Experience Developer at premier tourism destination Melbourne Museum, Zoe is a firm believer in cross-pollination. Zoe presents exhibit spaces in extraordinary ways and will share her expertise in creating repeat visitation through changing the experience.
Simon Waller
Author & Futurist
Simon doesn’t just talk about the future; he lives it and reports back. Researching emerging technologies and trends, Simon runs experiments on himself, his business and his family so that he can share his insights. Simon will discuss the future of tourism and the relationship technology will play.
Christine Smith
Great Ocean Stays (Geelong)
Winner of the 2018 Victorian Disability Award for excellence in promoting inclusive communities, and deputy-chair of Tourism Greater Geelong & The Bellarine, Chris will share her story of seamlessly integrating accessibility into her mainstream tourism business.
Chelsea Thomas
I Heart Bargains
Chelsea Thomas has been creating brand stories and digital and marketing content for over fifteen years. Six years ago Chelsea created the country’s largest online hub for fashion and homewares under $100 @iheartbargains. With over 150,000 followers Chelsea is here to deliver the secrets to growing your Instagram profile and the best ways to build an engaged and loyal audience online.
Nicki Kenyon
Visit Victoria
General Manager of Consumer Markets at Visit Victoria, Nicki is responsible for driving marketing transformation through embracing new technologies and platforms. Nicki will discuss the ways that Visit Victoria track and respond to trends and what they’re expecting, and how they’re preparing, for the future of tourism.
Tim O’Callaghan
Qantas
Regional Manager at Qantas Airways, Tim has spent 20 years within the aviation industry and says facing challenges is what gets him out of bed in the morning. Tim will discuss the new Qantas daily flights between Bendigo and Sydney and the opportunities that presents to our industry.
What is NEXT?
Bendigo Tourism in collaboration with the City of Greater Bendigo are excited to announce our first ever conference called Bendigo NEXT on Monday February 18th, 2019 at the iconic Capital Theatre at 50 View St, Bendigo.
The four key themes explored for the day will be: Networking Emerging Trends Xperiences Technology
The
conference will feature guest presenters who are leaders in the tourism
industry, with practical advice which you can implement into your
business. Key topics including creating your visual brand, designing unique
experiences, marketing techniques for the next generation of visitors and the
future of tourism.
Bendigo has had amazing growth with over the past 10 years with a 70% increase
in day trip visitation and 48% increase in overnight visitation*. 2019
continues to be a big year for our industry with great opportunities around the
arrival of daily Qantas flights from Sydney to Bendigo in March and Bendigo Art
Gallery’s Australian exclusive exhibition Tudors to Windsors: British Royal
Portraits. It an increasing competitive market, it is important
that we continue to work together to ensure that we are creating compelling
experiences that meets the expectations of today’s consumers and utilise the
latest marketing techniques to attract them to our region.
We hope you can join us for this special event.
*Source – All figures are estimates based on the National Visitor Survey for the Bendigo Loddon Region, Tourism Research Australia.
Bendigo NEXT would like to acknowledge that we are on Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Country whose ancestestors and their descendants are the traditional owners of this country.
We acknowledge that they have been custodians for many centuries and continue to perform age old ceremonies of celebration, initiation and renewal. We acknowledge their living culture and their unique role in the life of the region.
Bendigo NEXT is brought to you by Bendigo Tourism in partnership with the City of Greater Bendigo.
