The Destination Southern Tasmania (DST) team are back in the office and looking forward to a prosperous 2024 for our region. We are excited to work with you to deliver positive impact outcomes for the environment and our community, and assist you to maximise every opportunity available to leverage from the exciting Off-Season winter campaign. You can contact us during office hours on 6223 5650 or email dstadmin@southerntasmania.com.au
DST is encouraging Southern Tasmania tourism businesses to add up to three deals to their ATDW profiles. Offering unique Tasmanian experiences and deals can be done anytime, don’t wait until The Off Season. Deals appear on the Hobart & Beyond holiday deals page and are valid for three months. Deals can be discounts, value-adds, or packages. Get creative. Update your ATDW listing with a deal to attract more visitors today!
Automatic renewals of annual membership subscriptions for financial DST members commence on January 2, occurring 12 months from your last renewal date. We continue to use the secure Stripe credit card payment gateway as the majority of our members are happily using this easy service. Please ensure your credit card details are up-to-date when you receive your payment reminder email 7 days before your auto-renewal date.
Members who selected and prefer manual invoicing will receive their invoice via email 30 days before their membership expiry.
Not sure of your membership renewal date or if you wish to change your payment method please reach out to us via email at dstadmin@southerntasmania.com.au or phone our office on (03) 6223 5650.
New Member sign ups
New members are welcome to join DST using our Join Now button on southerntasmania.com.au, selecting either the auto-renew annual subscription option via Stripe credit card payment gateway or payment via invoice. Either way, our team will be in touch upon joining to set up a kick-start meeting so we can start working together ASAP.
Our current 2023/2024 Membership Prospectus outlining the full suite of membership benefits can be found here. An updated 2024/2025 Prospectus will be available and published on our website in March 2024.
Meet our new DST Members
Arden Retreat is a new boutique cabin style accommodation for individuals, couples or families set in quiet bushland on the outskirts of Richmond.
Established in 1994, Sullivans Cove Distillery is one of Australia’s oldest single malt distilleries, producing hand-crafted, single cask, single malt whiskies from 100% Tasmanian ingredients.
Blak Led Tours Tasmania is an AQF-accredited sustainable tourism business dedicated to sharing Tasmanian Aboriginal stories for those seeking to connect with and understand the rich history and culture of Tasmanian Aboriginals.
As we enter the summer season, it is timely to remember the importance of confirming bookings with venues or experiences, and similarly, advise of any cancellations. Workforce and supply challenges continue to add strain for operators, so adequate planning for small or large group arrivals is paramount. Without a booking, businesses cannot always deliver the experience that visitors expect. This impacts on the quality of your tour, but also unfairly on the business you are visiting.
NEWS FROM DST MEMBERS
The Henry Jones Art Hotel, has launched its newest art-fuelled experience, Palawa Connection: Stories with Allan Mansell.
The kunanyi Mountain Run has been selected as a key participant in the inaugural Golden Trail National Series, joining esteemed events in Victoria and Queensland.
Experience Tasmania Tours and Charters proudly announces the latest addition to its esteemed fleet, equipped with a cutting-edge wheelchair accessibility lift.
The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel has excelled on the national stage, taking out the Outstanding Community Service and Achievement award at the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) National Awards for Excellence.
Destination Southern Tasmania is always interested in your industry updates. Completing this form lets us know what’s happening in your business or region. Your news and information may be shared with Tourism Tasmania and throughout the Destination Southern Tasmania social, email and web channels.
TOURISM INDUSTRY NEWS
The Off Season 2024
Submit your Off Season offer by 31 March
Off Season planning is ramping up earlier this year, tapping into the 3 - 6 month lead time of prospective visitors planning their winter holiday.
Launching in April 2024, the Off Season campaign shows mainlanders that Tasmania has unique winter experiences like nowhere else. The campaign aims to reduce seasonality and drive winter visitation by encouraging Australians to book a winter holiday with a difference.
All tourism operators in Tasmania can submit an Off Season offer by 31 March, regardless of whether you have participated in the Offers Support Program. You can submit up to three offers for consideration that are bookable during the period 7th April to 31st August 2024.
There are limited spots still available, so secure one for your business right away by submitting an EOI today to lauren.cameron@tict.com.au or by applying via the TICT website. Read the FAQs & learn more on the TICT website
IMAGE CREDIT: Jesse Desjardins
Tourism Australia's Key 2024 Events
In 2024, Tourism Australia will host the following events for Industry:
Destination Australia Conference: 13 March 2024 - Sydney Darling Harbour/Tumbalong
Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE24): 19 to 23 May 2024 - Melbourne/Narrm
Australia Marketplace Japan: 26 to 27 August 2024 - Location TBC
Australia Marketplace Korea: 29 to 30 August 2024 - Seoul
Australia Next (previously known as Dreamtime): 8 to 11 September 2024 - Cairns/Gimuy
G'day Australia: Mid-October 2024 - Location TBC
Australia Marketplace United Kingdom & Europe: Mid-November 2024 - London
Southern Tasmania has an incredible line-up of markets and events over the coming month. These events drive strong visitation from local and interstate markets, so to help you get a piece of the action, here's a summary of what's on:
The Richmond Bicentenary festival continues from 18th January with a series of activations in the Valley, including the anniversary of proclamation of Richmond as a town on 27 February 2024. View full program here or sign up to volunteer here.
IMAGE CREDIT: B.Sheppard |Tasmanian Archives
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Free Sales & Marketing Advice
Would you like $1,500 of sales and marketing assistance for your business at no cost to you? If you're struggling with the what, why and how of a sales and marketing strategy for your business, Business South can help.
They've developed a "done WITH you" package, available under the State Government's Small Business Advice and Financial Guidance Program, which is designed to help you develop and implement a sales and marketing strategy for your business.
If you'd like help to take your business to that next level, shoot Sharon and Mikala an email at admin@businesssouth.org.au - before grant funding runs out!
View the upcoming course dates with VXT in Southern Tasmania.
A total of $1 million will be made available under Round 1 (2023-24) of the Grants Scheme through two Programs:
Conservation Program: Small grants of $5,000 to $20,000 to support state-registered property owners to undertake small but significant, heritage conservation and restoration activities.
Activation Program: Large grants of $20,000 to $200,000 to support heritage property owners, skills development organisations and the community to activate heritage places.
Through the support of the Tasmanian Government, the TICT is supporting tourism businesses in reducing their emissions by matching eligible tourism operators with one of two programs over 2023 and 2024.
Successful applicants will receive a grant of between $1,000 and $1,500 to obtain financial or business guidance services from a suitably qualified specialist/consultant.
Touring grants of up to $20,000 are available to eligible organisers of auto, motorbike, cycle or walking tours in Tasmania during the winter and shoulder season. Funding is based on the number of interstate or international participants staying in paid commercial accommodation for five nights or more, with 40 percent or more of the tour being held in regional areas.
The Scheme will provide no-interest loans of between $500 and $10,000 over three years to eligible households, residential landlords, small businesses and community organisations to fund investment in energy-efficient products.
