Business Support & Industry Development

Capricorn Enterprise is committed to providing a range of opportunities for local business to develop and grow their business. These opportunities are made available via a variety of practical workshops and networking opportunities.

TOURISM TRADE DISTRIBUTION MENTORING

Thanks to State government funding, administered by QTIC and delivered in partnership with the RTO Network, Success Matrix (Amanda Kruse) delivered fully subsidised one-on-one mentoring as follows: [See IMAGES 2 & 3] - 11 November 19 – Developing tools of the trade and trade engagement - 18 November 19 – Trade sales strategy and marketing plan - 10 February 20– Trade cluster sessions - 2 April 20- International trade engagement and trade events (webinar)

Operators that participated in the trade mentoring program were:

- Beginners – Oshen Yeppoon, Keppel Explorer, Keppel Dive/ GKI Watersports - Intermediate – Stay Yeppoon, Rosslyn Bay Resort, Kortes Resort - Advanced – Capricorn Caves, GKI Hideaway, Pumpkin Island

[IMAGE 4 STR Global Workshop on accommodation Research]

BEST OF QUEENSLAND (BOQ) EXPERIENCES

Release of 19/20 program results were placed on hold due to COVID-19, with 52 Capricorn operators having achieved BOQ status in 18/19, which had grown from 37 operators in 2018 after the program was launched by Tourism Events Queensland.

MASTER REEF GUIDES

Congratulations to Sam Appleton from Keppel Dive and Max Allen Jnr from Freedom Fast Cats who were accepted into the 2019/20 GBRMPA highly acclaimed Master Reef Guides Program. They trained with national experts who are leaders in science, management and history in a bid to boost tourism and educate more visitors about the World Heritage Area of Great Keppel Island and the Capricorn Coast. [See IMAGE 6]

DIGITAL MARKETING TRAINING

Thanks to State government funding, administered by QTIC, delivered by Tourism Tribe, promoted by the RTOs, Capricorn Enterprise can provide mentoring programs for operators to assist their distribution channels. [See IMAGE 1] Three digital workshops: 1. Online booking and distribution – 12 February Facebook for tourism and events – 6 March 3. Instagram for tourism and events – 23 March (cancelled due to COVID-19) 36

TEQ CONVERSATIONS WITH INDUSTRY

The 2019 annual presentation was attended by nearly 50 operators from the three regions of the SGBR. It is a collaboration with TEQ, QTIC and the Queensland government. This provides our industry with an opportunity to talk with experts in key business areas of marketing, digital experience development, events in international markets. As well, there is presentations about latest industry research and trends for our region. [See IMAGE 5]

CAPRICORN DESTINATION EVENTS

Part of our role is to promote existing events as well as encourage and support the development of new events in the region.

GENERAL EVENTS SUPPORT

• Capricorn Enterprise worked closely with LSC staff and Events Consultant, Krista Hauritz in the creation of the Capricorn Coast Events Strategy which was launched at the end of 2019. • Events are promoted via our digital and social media platforms, letters of support provided for all funding applications, as well as provision of in-kind support via marketing advice and grant application guidance. • Usage of the EVERI event feed platform (this platform provides an aggregate of events loaded on various other online platforms and provides one single source for all events in the region). • All Major Events are included in the SGBR Destination Guide and Capricorn Coast Visitor Guide (print and online). • Full regional calendar of events is promoted in weekly enews, and available on website.

QLD Destination Events Program (QDEP)

Capricorn Enterprise provides detailed review of and support of applications submitted by all event organisers to TEQ. Round 14 and Round 15 saw a record amount of $175,000 funding received for five eligible events across Yeppoon, Rockhampton and the Sapphire Gemfields: • Rockhampton River Festival $25,000 – Destination • Fitzroy River Barra Bash $10,000 – Destination • Gemfest ‘Festival of Gems’ $30,000 – Significant level, one year of funding • CQUniversity Village Festival $100,000 – Significant level, three-year funding until 2022 • Capricorn Film Festival $10,000 - Destination

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2 Thanks Capricorn Enterprise for co-ordinating the Positive Leadership course. I really valued these last 2 days and have applied a lot of it in my area of work. It’s too easy to get ‘lost’ in an organisation, before realising you need to step outside of it and look back into, to see what changes need to be made and really lead effectively. Great presentation and fantastic presenter. A wealth of knowledge! I have shared some fantastic tips with the team to help develop any weaknesses/learned behaviours to create a more positive workplace. I would highly recommend this course to anyone in an organisation, in all areas of work because the changes made can positively change the way the whole team works. Danielle Dunne | General Manager Stay Yeppoon Group – July 2019

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Business Support & INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT

STORY TELLING WORKSHOP

Capricorn Enterprise commissioned world renowned travel writer, Christine Retschlag in August 2019 to conduct a Story Telling Workshop to assist members in understanding how to best tell their story and communicate with prospective customers. [See IMAGE 7 - PG 37]

YOUNG TOURISM ACHIEVER - JORDAN WHEELER

Jordan Wheeler, Assistant Manager from Capricorn Caves was accepted to participate in a numer of highly sought after programs including; Queensland Government Young Tourism Leader; Australian Regional Tourism (ART) - Emerging Tourism Proffesional program; and QTIC Young Professional Program. Jordan's involvement in these programs is to a) become an influential and inspiring role model to encourage young people to consider a career in the tourism industry; b) identified as an emerging leader who has the potential to make a significant contribution to regional tourism; c) gain professional development, knowledge and skills though the sharing of information and experience attched with a senior industry professional.

[See IMAGE 1 with Minister Shannon Fentiman]

COMMUNICATION TO CAREERS (C2C)

C2C events were hosted at Glenmore State High School (18th Sep), St Brendan’s College (17th Oct), The Cathedral College (27 Feb and 12 Mar). Late events were postponed due to COVID-19. [See IMAGE 5]

QUEENSLAND TOURISM AWARDS SUCCESS

Winning a Queensland Tourism Award represents an exceptionally high standard of consistent customer service and business practices including staff training, risk management, business and marketing planning. Entry can take up to 100 hours to complete a submission, Congratulations to the Capricorn winners:

Gold Awards: [See IMAGE 4]

• Empire Apartment Hotel Category - Deluxe Accommodation

Silver Awards:

• Empire Conference Centre Category - Business Event Venues • Fun Over Fifty Category - Cultural Tourism; Tour & Transport Operators

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Capricorn Enterprise again partnered with Central Highlands Development Corporation for their biennial Business Excellence Awards. Congratulations to Takarakka Bush Resort for taking out the coveted “People’s Choice” award from a field of almost 50 businesses across the entire region. 38 There were six finalists in the “Tourism, Hospitality & Events” category including two Capricorn Enterprise members - Miners Heritage Walk-In Mine (Rubyvale) and Takarakka Bush Resort (Carnarvon Gorge). [See IMAGE 6]

SHORT COURSE IN POSITIVE LEADERSHIP

The third Short Course in Positive Leadership by Rob Ritchie from Positive Difference was delivered in August 2020. Participants included: Fitzroy Basin Association, Capricorn Caves, Ecosure, Evans Edwards & Associates, Community Solutions, Livingstone Shire Council, Stage and Audio, Carinity – Wahroonga, Rockhampton Building Approvals, Foundations Care, LiveBetter.

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS TOURISM & EVENTS FORUM 2019

Collaboration, the changing tourism marketplace and storytelling were three key themes that emerged strongly from the Central Highlands Tourism and Events forum held in Emerald on 27 November 2019. Bringing together tourism operators, key leaders, industry representatives and event organisers, the forum discussed the best ways to tap into the changing tourism market and how we can all work together to leverage off these opportunities. Among the presenters was Kerry Kerr, Tourism and Marketing Manager at Capricorn Enterprise who joined with key Tourism industry representatives from TEQ and QTIC. [See IMAGE 3]

INAUGURAL CENTRAL QUEENSLAND INDIGENOUS TOURISM FORUM

Fifty people attended the inaugural CQ Indigenous Tourism Forum at the Dreamtime Cultural Centre, thanks to collaboration between Capricorn Enterprise, The Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning (DSDMIP), the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (DATSIP), Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC). [See IMAGE 2] The collective goal is to explore opportunities for expanded and new Indigenous Tourism experiences by linking our tourism operators with our local Indigenous peoples, to hopefully develop new tourism experiences for the Capricorn region and Southern Great Barrier Reef destination.

DESTINATION Q (6-8 NOV 2019)

Targeted events are hosted, as part of the DestinationQ partnership, to enable tourism businesses, government and industry to connect, collaborate and work together to strengthen the Queensland tourism industry. Capricorn Enterprise, along with a number of tourism members attend this annual event to ensure our region continues to be connected with government and industry.

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