In a nostalgic twist steeped in sunshine and sentiment, Helloworld Travel has confirmed that its 2026 Owner Manager Conference (OMC) will be staged in Cairns — that tropical gateway to the Great Barrier Reef where reef meets rainforest and, for many in the industry, history meets heart.
The announcement — made by none other than Helloworld CEO Andrew Burnes AO on the final day of the 2025 OMC in Vancouver — was met with applause, a few misty eyes, and possibly a sudden craving for Queensland prawns.
Set to take place from Thursday, June 11, to Sunday, June 14, 2026, the four-day spectacle is the result of a strategic partnership between Helloworld Travel (ASX: HLO) and Tourism and Events Queensland—a pairing that promises to deliver not just a conference but a celebration of all things North Queensland.
Andrew Burnes, AO and Cinzia Burnes (HLO) announcing the destination at the 2025 Helloworld Travel OMC in Vancouver.
“We are delighted to be taking our 2026 OMC to Cairns,” Burnes declared, the sort of announcement that comes with a tinge of homecoming. “Queensland is a highly popular travel region, not just for Australians, but for Kiwis and international travellers too. We’re proud to be backing this vibrant destination — and Queensland tourism more broadly.”
But for Burnes, this isn’t just business. It’s personal. And as it turns out, deeply so.
“We’ve got history here. Back in the 1980s, when we started the AOT Group — originally the Australian Outback Travel Company — Cairns was our launchpad. We ran safari tours to Cape York. Ten years based in Cairns helped shape our journey. Nearly four decades later, we’re returning to where it all began.”
It’s a poetic full-circle moment. For many Helloworld agents, the 2026 OMC won’t just be a conference — it will be a pilgrimage.
And if Burnes’ promise of an “amazing program” is anything to go by, delegates can expect more than breakout sessions and speaker panels. There’ll be a tropical twist to everything — think networking under palm trees, reef snorkels between strategy sessions, and maybe even a cheeky mojito.
Craig Davidson, CEO of Tourism and Events Queensland, was just as buoyant.
“We’re thrilled to be welcoming the Helloworld family to Cairns,” Davidson said. “We’ll be putting Tropical North Queensland on full display — and inviting every delegate to feel ‘That Holiday Feeling’. Because let’s be honest: no one does holidays quite like Queensland.”
He’s not wrong. From the coral gardens of the Reef to the prehistoric greens of the Daintree, Cairns is arguably Australia’s most exotically laid-back conference destination. There’s something about mixing sun, sea, and strategy that sharpens focus and softens even the most hardened of travel veterans.
The 2025 edition in Vancouver may have wrapped up with snow-capped aplomb, but next year’s affair promises literal and metaphorical tropical heat. Helloworld’s decision to pivot from the Pacific Northwest’s piney grandeur to the lush tropics of Far North Queensland is a nod to more than just scenery. It’s a return to legacy — and perhaps, a glimpse at where the future lies.
The message for travel agents across Australia and New Zealand is clear: Save the date — June 11–14, 2026. Registrations will be opening before you can say, “Cairns crocodile cruise. ” Early birds are likely to get more than worms—possibly reef snorkels, rainforest hikes, and an industry gathering to remember.
By Michelle Warner
