EO Update

Message from Executive Officer

We are thrilled to welcome and congratulate Rosie Douglas on her appointment as Chair of TPDD, effective March 5, 2025. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to Cam Charlton for his incredible dedication and commitment to the organisation and the region over the past four years. We wish him all the best as he relocates further south to be closer to his family.

As part of our strategic marketing program to drive summer and shoulder visitation, we are delighted to announce the 2025 edition of Discover Paradise! This year, Discover Paradise will be published as a newspaper insert magazine in both print and digital formats in the Australian Financial Review on Saturday, March 29, 2025. With promotional support across the Nine platform, Discover Paradise will reach an affluent national audience of over 13 million. Advertising is now open and we encourage industry support for this key initiative.

We are also excited to welcome the TODAY Show to Port Douglas for live weather crosses on March 25 and 26, 2025. We will keep you updated on plans for the broadcast and encourage community involvement. This activity will complement the Summer In the Tropics and Summer Lives On campaign activities, and we will leverage these efforts to drive conversion into the shoulder season.

This fortnight, I hosted a roundtable discussion with TPDD's platinum members to address our advocacy efforts as the region continues to recover post TC Jasper. Recent news reports have unfortunately created a widespread perception that the Douglas region has been directly impacted by the flooding events in and around Townsville. Our thoughts are with the affected communities, and we are approaching our advocacy efforts with sensitivity. Despite this, we have experienced a significant drop in bookings and continue to face challenges in restoring confidence in travel to our region, particularly during the summer and shoulder seasons. TPDD has submitted a Recovery Funding Request to state and federal members of parliament and the federal candidates for Leichhardt, supported by DSC and TTNQ. This request forms part of an effort to secure recovery marketing funds for the region. Discussions with both the LNP and Labor parties are active and ongoing, backed by industry leaders.

Michela attended AIME last week in Melbourne to represent the Business Events Port Douglas group. This key trade show allows us to connect with the important business event and incentive market, driving lucrative outcomes for the region. Check out Michela's post AIME report which gives a great insight into the trade event and its importance on the calendar.

We thank you for your support as we continue to deliver important marketing outcomes and advocacy for the region.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead,

Emma