Investing in Queensland's Tourism Industry
Queensland has earned a reputation as a world class location for tourism, with cosmopolitan cities, beautiful beaches, rugged outback locations and friendly country towns. Globally competitive products and services and unique holiday destinations combine to provide strong investment opportunities in the tourism and services sectors. Join our panel of experts as we delve into Queensland's tourism market. pastevent
AmCham Major Industry Briefing Series
INVESTING IN QUEENSLAND'S TOURISM INDUSTRY BREAKFAST BRIEFING
Located in the world’s strongest tourism region and largest aviation market, Queensland offers a secure and stable environment for tourism investors. With an aim to increase annual visitor expenditure to $30 billion by the year 2020, the tourism sector will need to continue to innovate. Government and businesses will need to harness new opportunities and manage new risks requiring imaginative thinking and evidence-based choices. Maximising the benefits of the tourism industry requires a commitment to increase investment in tourism marketing, support business events, and invest in key visitor economy infrastructure.
Our panel will discuss the key industry priorities to take Queensland’s visitor economy forward and how businesses can capitalise on the opportunities.
Panel of Speakers:
- Rob Sharp, Group Executive, Virgin Australia Airlines
- Gert-Jan de Graaff, Chief Executive Officer, Brisbane Airport Corporation
- Hon Kate Jones MP, Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development and Minister for the Commonwealth Games
- Rob Nelson, Chief Operating Officer, Brisbane Marketing
Panel discussion facilitated by Kristin Devitt, Managing Director, KDPR
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Australia is the tenth largest tourism market in the world and a major destination for business investment. Located in the world’s strongest tourism region and largest aviation market, Australia offers a secure and stable environment for tourism investors.
Tourism Investment
Queensland's key tourism advantages include:
World-class destinations - with 5 of Australia's 11 World Natural Heritage areas and many national parks and forests, Queensland is one of the world's most beautiful destinations
Growing tourism demand - with an increase in direct flights and airline seat capacity from Europe, the United States and Asia. China is Queensland's fastest growing inbound tourism market in visitor numbers and expenditure
Pro-business economic environment - low business costs, government support for business, highly skilled workforce, sophisticated and reliable infrastructure
Strong tourism industry network - well-established national, state, regional and local tourism industry bodies and associations.
Business Queensland
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If you are a student or startup, you may be eligible to book at our discounted rate.
Please contact [email protected] to enquire.
Rob Sharp, Group Executive
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA AIRLINES
Rob is an experienced senior aviation executive, having held a number of executive positions in the Australian airline industry over the past 17 years. Rob has a wealth of commercial expertise including specialist experience in operating in a multi-brand environment, is backed by strong operational credentials and has a track record of innovation.
Previously, Rob spent eight years in various commercial roles at one of Australia’s largest airlines, including Strategy and Innovation, and Global Airport Infrastructure and Services. Rob was Tigerair Australia’s longest serving CEO successfully creating a profitable customer focused LCC and is currently Group Executive Virgin Australian Airlines.
Rob Sharp is responsible for Virgin Australia Airlines including Inflight Experience, Ground Experience, Network Operations and Operations Services, Flight Operations, Engineering & Maintenance, Safety, Pricing, Network, Scheduling & Yield, Sales & Distribution, Alliances & Product and Business Transformation.
Gert-Jan de Graaff, Chief Executive Officer
BRISBANE AIRPORT CORPORATION PTY LTD
Gert-Jan de Graaff was appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer of Brisbane Airport Corporation Pty Ltd in June 2018.
Gert-Jan has more than 20 years’ experience in leadership roles at major airports around the world. He started his career in airport management in 1995 with Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in The Netherlands where he had a number of roles. These included management positions in the commercial, finance and strategic departments.
In 2005 Gert-Jan de Graaff was appointed as Managing Director of ASDC AB, the Company that manages and develops the commercial activities in the terminals of Stockholm-Arlanda Airport in Sweden.
Between 2007 and 2012 Gert-Jan held senior executive roles with Brisbane Airport Corporation Pty Ltd, including General Manager Commercial Services and General Manager Strategic Planning & Development.
Prior to his return to Brisbane Airport in 2018 Mr de Graaff lead the bid for Galeão / Rio de Janeiro Airport in Brazil on behalf of Royal Schiphol Group and his most recent position was President & CEO of JFKIAT LLC, the private operators of Terminal 4 at John F Kennedy International Airport since 2014.
Previous Board appointments include the position of Chairman of Airport Coordination Netherlands, and Board Memberships with Airports Council International North America (WBP), Air Cargo Netherlands, Cargonaut BV, and several tourism attraction agencies.
The Hon Kate Jones MP
Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development and Minister for the Commonwealth Games
Kate served as Minister for Education during the first term of the Palaszczuk Government and also served as Minister for Environment and Natural Resources in the Bligh Government. She was elected to the seat of Ashgrove in 2015, having previously held the seat between 2006 and 2012.
As the Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development and Minister for the Commonwealth Games, Kate is a key member of the Palaszczuk Government that is committed to improving frontline services, delivering jobs and restoring accountability to government.
Kate believes her local community deserves better and is working every day to deliver on that commitment.
Minister Jones is responsible for itourism policy, tourism investment attraction, infrastructure and access, industry engagement and innovation as well as major events to deliver on the Queensland Government’s long-term commitment to grow the state’s $25 billion tourism industry and cement Queensland’s position as a world-leading tourism destination.
Rob Nelson, Chief Operating Officer
Brisbane Marketing
Brisbane Marketing is the official economic development board for the City of Brisbane and the driving force behind Brisbane’s growing reputation as a progressive and globally connected city. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brisbane City Council, Brisbane Marketing is a key partner in driving Brisbane City Council’s economic development plan and vision for the city. Brisbane Marketing aims to create economic and social value for the City and promotes Brisbane nationally and internationally as Australia’s new world city.
As COO, Rob’s primary purpose is to drive the performance of the organisation’s core business development functions delivering economic outcomes, primarily being: Investment Attraction; Tourism and Major Events; Industry Development (study, skills & innovation); Conventions & business events; and Precinct development.
Much of Rob’s career has been in sports management, tourism and major events prior to entering the conventions & business event sector with Brisbane Marketing. Having recently been appointed to the role of Chief Operating Officer, Rob has further progressed to the broader remit of economic development.
Some of Rob’s career highlights include: the Sydney 2000 Olympics with SOCOG; running professional ironman/surf lifesaving series; working on a host of other major events including the Santos Tour Down Under and 2003 Rugby World Cup. He has held senior roles in AFL and Rugby Union where he was responsible for securing the IRB Sevens for Adelaide. More recently Rob led the Brisbane Convention Bureau in securing conferences relevant to the aviation sector including CAPA Australia Pacific Aviation Summit 2016 and Routes Asia 2018. Rob is also a member of the Brisbane consortia for the Connecting with Asia program.
Kristin Devitt, Managing Director
KDPR
Kristin has forged a successful career spanning more than 20 years as a broadcast journalist and communications strategist, and since founding KDPR in 2003, has become a trusted advisor to leaders in business, government and the professions on all aspects of communication.
Kristin is well known for her strategic nous and ability to problem solve and build brands and she loves working with decision-makers who are prepared to think outside the box on communications strategy. Her investment in the success of her clients has allowed her to build long-lasting, trusted relationships with some of Queensland’s most influential individuals and organisations.
Change management, place making, launches, mergers, advocacy, reputation, digital presence and creative development are her particular areas of interest. Highly skilled in reputation management and crisis communications, Kristin is also in-demand as a media trainer and public speaking coach, and is a regular guest speaker, facilitator and MC at Brisbane business and fundraising events, and a regular panelist on ABC Radio Brisbane.
The Office of Women (Queensland) named Kristin as one of ten women in the 1990s to have contributed in a significant way to Queensland as part of the Q150 celebrations. She has held several Board and Committee roles including Women in Media Queensland, La Boite Theatre Company, the National Board of the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) and Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce Qld (AICC).
Kristin is a champion for change, particularly on the subject of gender equality, and is an outspoken advocate for the empowerment of women.
Event Partners
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