02 Sep 2013
74 ISLAND WONDERS
1000s OF STORY IDEAS.SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013
It's peak season in the Whitsundays and there's plenty of news, new products and lots happening. We've listed all the latest news as well as developed some story ideas that you're welcome to use, amend or expand on for your outlet.We distribute the top ten news and story angles every two months, please see below the latest from the Whitsundays for September/October 2013:
WHAT'S NEW
1. MAJOR WHITSUNDAY COAST AIRPORT EXPANSION
Whitsundays Marketing and Development Limited (WMDL) has welcomed the announcement by the Federal Government to commit $10 million to extending the runaway at the Whitsunday Coast Airport. The local tourism industry and WMDL are excited about this opportunity to grow aviation access to the Whitsundays region and ultimately to set the pathway for attracting international flights to the Whitsundays. The draft plans see the airport triple in size and the runway extension will boost local industries and will contribute to the overall growth of the Whitsundays region.
2. COMPLETION OF AIRLIE BEACH TOWN CENTRE UPGRADE
Airlie Beach is looking new and feeling fresh with its $20 million town centre upgrade almost completed. The new Main Street for Airlie Beach was officially opened and celebrated with a street parade as part of the Whitsunday Reef Festival on August 17. Residents and visitors alike are excited about the contemporary look of the main street and the new atmosphere of Airlie Beach. Businesses are embracing the new look of Airlie Beach with more and more restaurants, cafes and retailers spilling out onto the street, introducing al fresco dining options and creating a welcoming atmosphere for visitors. Minor beautification works are still being completed and the town centre upgrade will be fully completed on September 10, 2013.
YOU'RE INVITED!
Following the completion of the $20 million upgrade to Airlie Beach's town centre, all media are invited to visit the region and discover how Airlie has grown up from a backpacker town to a cosmopolitan, inviting and trendy place with everything from backpacker to 5 star accommodation, a gourmet selection of restaurants and plenty of activities you wouldn't expect in this marine based destination. Please see the attached media famil prospectus for details on the themed famils and register your interest today!
3. NEW TOURIST ATTRACTION - JETPACK ADVENTURES TO LAUNCH IN AIRLIE BEACH
Australian based firm Jetpack Adventures took off on its first flights in Airlie Beach during Whitsunday Reef Festival in August. Jetpack Adventures already holds successful operations in Sydney and on the Gold Coast and is launching it's third flight centre in Airlie Beach to become a regular attraction for visitors to the Whitsundays. The innovative water propelled Jetpack is an exciting adventure for young and old. The adventure-seeking can learn to take off, fly, turn, hover and land within minutes and will be up and flying on Airlie's foreshore.http://www.jetpackadventures.com.au/
4. NEW HIGH-SPEED CATAMARAN JOINS CRUISE WHITSUNDAYS FLEET
Cruise Whitsundays continues to upgrade its fleet with new, modern and clean vessels to provide a comfortable and pleasurable travel experience for visitors transferring between the Whitsunday Islands. Kingfish is the newest addition to the Cruise Whitsundays fleet. The high speed catamaran will be used for ferry transfers between the islands and can accommodate up to 200 passengers. http://www.cruisewhitsundays.com/
5. NEW AIRLIE BEACH WEBSITE
Airlie Beach, the hub of the Whitsundays, has now got its own website, making it easy for visitors to plan their trip to our beautiful region. Airlie Beach has grown in its reputation as the main launching pad for activities and adventures in the Whitsundays with many tour operators based in the coastal town. www.discoverairliebeach.com has got all the relevant information on where to stay, where to eat, what to do and other information that helps visitors book their Whitsundays holiday experience.
6. RIDE YOUR WAY TO SPECTACULAR ISLAND VIEWS
South Molle Island is set to become the newest and hottest mountain biking destination, with 14km of trails offering outstanding views across Whitsunday's famous islands and fringing reefs, now complete and officially opened for both walkers and mountain bikers. The South Molle tracks lead through grasslands, eucalypt forest and pockets of rainforest to lookouts at Mt Jeffreys, Spion Kop, Lamond Hill and Balancing Rock, and two pretty bays. The island has two small Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services camping areas which are the perfect launch point to explore the island's track network. No permits or fees apply to enjoy the track network.National Parks Minister Steve Dickson said the project would benefit existing operators including the nearby resorts, the camping transfer companies and other tourism operators. "It's a point of difference for the area - where else on the Great Barrier Reef can you mountain-bike?" Mr Dickson said.More information about the Molle Islands National Park is at www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/molle-islands/index.html.
STORY ANGLES
7. MORE HAPPY COUPLES SAY "I DO" TO THE WHITSUNDAYS AND "I DON'T" TO HOME
More than 60 percent of couples married in the Whitsundays flew long distances to realise their dream destination wedding, helping to inject millions of dollars into the economy according to a recent survey carried out by Whitsundays Marketing and Development Limited (WMDL).The June survey of 168 couples who married in the Whitsundays between 2009 and 2013 found that just under half of the respondents lived interstate, while another 14 percent lived in Brisbane more than 1,100 kilometres away. The natural beauty combined with the climate, romance and the desire to have an island wedding were listed as the most popular reasons for choosing the Whitsundays over a wedding in their home cities. As one respondent said, "The weather was fantastic and the scenery was breathtaking. (The Whitsundays) provided unique photography opportunities and all wedding guests felt especially honoured to attend a tropical wedding destination."Results of the survey also highlighted that 86 percent of respondents spent more than three nights in the Whitsundays while 57 percent invested more than $20,000 on their entire celebrations.
(For more details on this extensive survey, please contact WMDL and we are happy to help shape your feature story on this topic)
8. INCREASED FISHING OPPORTUNITIES AT PETER FAUST DAM
Recreational fishers have caught a great catch with fishing at Peter Faust Dam taking on a whole new level. As part of a State Government decision to re-stock Queensland dams with fingerlings, the Peter Faust Dam in Proserpine will receive a share in the funding to replenish fish species. This is fantastic news for the local fishing industry which is quickly becoming one of the Whitsunday's most dominant leisure activities. Peter Faust Dam on the Whitsunday Coast is well-known as a high quality fishing location, particularly for Barramundi, and with fish stocks being sustained it will become an even more attractive option for visiting fishermen.http://www.peterfaustdam.com/
WHAT'S ON
9. NEW WHITSUNDAY EVENTS CALENDAR
Whitsundays Marketing and Development Limited (WMDL) in collaboration with a number of various partners would like to introduce the brand new online event calendar for the Whitsunday region at a new site www.whitsundaysevents.com.au The Whitsundays online event calendar will feature both tourism and local events, making it the most comprehensive calendar for the region. Visitors to the Whitsundays can now plan their trip around the various events throughout the year. The calendar will also appear on a number of partner websites, as well as on www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au, the main portal for Whitsunday visitors.
10. MUSIC FESTIVALS TAKING UP THE STAGE IN AIRLIE BEACH
August has been a busy month of events in the Whitsundays which saw many visitors flock to the region to join in the fun and celebrations. October and November are set to continue the great vibe in Airlie Beach with Whitsunday Calling, a two-day music festival on October 5-6 and the Airlie Beach Music Festival from 8-10 November. Whitsundays Calling is the region's first major music camping festival nestled in the lush green hills and cane fields near Airlie Beach. Aussie Ash Grunwald, New Zealand reggae band Katchafire and The Dynosaurs are just some of the highlights of the festival.In November, a total of 74 bands will then take up the stage at the Airlie Beach Music Festival, rocking the hub of the 74 Islands. Artists including the Hoodoo Gurus, Diesel, Kasey Chambers and Ian Moss will perform at several different venues around Airlie Beach.
TID BITS OF NEWS
BEST JOBS CANDIDATE TO VISIT THE WHITSUNDAYS - The Whitsundays are excited to welcome Elisa Detrez, Queensland's Best Jobs Candidate, to the region in October. Elisa Detrez, an online marketer from France, was announced the successful candidate for Queenland's Park Ranger position as part of Tourism Australia's 'Best Jobs in the world' campaign. As part of her Queensland Park Ranger position, her job tasks will include snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef to measure its health, mountain biking the Ngaro Sea Trail and surveying rock wallabies on Hayman Island. Read about Elisa's experiences and follow her adventures: http://www.elisathebestjobintheworld.com/#!home-english/cjfd
BIGGEST BADDEST BUCKET LIST WINNERS COMING TO THE WHITSUNDAYS - Six months - two brothers - one bucket list. Marko and Alex have been the lucky winners of the Biggest, Baddest Bucket List competition run by the mydestination.com network. They have kicked off their six month trip around the world and will be heading to the Whitsundays at the end of November as one of only two Australian destinations that they will visit. 'See the Great Barrier Reef' was on their bucket list and surely the stunning scenery of Heart Reef and the Whitsunday Islands will leave them blown away. http://www.mydestination.com/bbb
YOU'RE INVITED!
UPCOMING MEDIA FAMIL OPPORTUNITIES
Following the completion of the $20 million upgrade to Airlie Beach's town centre, all media are invited to visit the region and discover how Airlie has grown up from a backpacker town to a cosmopolitan, inviting and trendy place with everything from backpacker to 5 star accommodation, a gourmet selection of restaurants and plenty of activities you wouldn't expect in this marine based destination. Please see the attached media famil prospectus for details on the themed famils and register you interest today!
IT'S FAREWELL FROM ME
After five years heading up the publicity for the Whitsundays, I'm finishing up at WMDL in mid-September. You'll still see me around though as I'm continuing to provide publicity services to tourism businesses in both the Whitsundays and Fiji. Thank you so very much for your support of the Whitsundays over the year and I hope to keep in touch with you all.
In the interim, for more information or images on any of the above story ideas, or anything on the Whitsundays, please don't hesitate to contact the WMDL team (details below).
Warm Whitsundays Wishes
Danielle Krista (nee Seymour)
Interim contact:
Chelsea Hauschka
Marketing Support
Ph. +61 7 4948 5900
support@wmdl.com.au
