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The Whitsundays Tourism Exchange is one of the best ways we’ve found to influence travel itineraries issued nationally and internationally.
‘The Whitsundays is an amazing holiday destination and the buyers love coming into region to meet with the sellers, it’s a far nicer place to meet than a regular office!’ said Ms Bohan. The Tourism Exchange will run in a speed dating style format and open conversations and relationships between 36 local hotels, tour operators, transport operators (sellers) and travel wholesalers, inbound travel agents and online travel agents (buyers) from all over Australia.

Tourism Whitsundays CEO, Rick Hamilton said the event is an excellent opportunity for local tourism businesses to access the biggest travel wholesalers and online buyers in Australia without leaving The Whitsundays.

‘In lieu of being able to experience a destination themselves, travel agents rely on their wholesaler or inbound travel agent to recommend great destinations.

The Whitsundays Tourism Exchange comprises two-speed dating style sessions between buyers and sellers with each ‘date’ 8 minutes in duration, followed by a networking function at Shute Harbour Marine Terminal for all attendees. At the conclusion of the event, half of the buyers will stay in The Whitsundays for a post-event famil, the itinerary includes one night in Airlie Beach, a tour to Whitehaven Beach and concludes with a night on one of the islands.

‘We’ve seen record breaking visitation to The Whitsundays this year and this event is another way we work to attract those visitors,’ said Mr Hamilton.

Tourism Whitsunday Trade Manager, Suzy Bohan said that travel agents are always on the lookout for a great holiday destination for their clients.

The goal of this event is to make sure every person looking for a holiday has access to The Whitsundays through their chosen booking channel. Buyers will also attend an exclusive welcome event this evening and 17 will stay on for a post-event famil in The Whitsundays.

By bringing the top buyers into the region we’re making sure they know the product available and are seeing The Whitsundays at the same time.’ The exposure to buyers from all over Australia has been missed for the last few years due to pandemic restrictions and the scaled-back travel industry. The Whitsunday Tourism Exchange will be held tomorrow, Tuesday 18th October at Club Wyndym, Airlie Beach followed by a networking event at Shute Harbour Marine Terminal.

The Whitsundays is out for a hot date to sell The Whitsundays with 31 trade delegates arriving in the region today for the first Whitsundays Tourism Exchange since 2019.