EO Update

Message from the Executive Officer

Wishing all our industry partners a Happy New Year! As we settle into January, I’d like to share some updates and insights to help us all get ready for a successful year ahead.

The festive period saw mixed reports in terms of occupancy across the region, with some areas performing strongly while others faced challenges. Thank you to those who have already shared your feedback—it’s invaluable as we continue to navigate the changing landscape. We're also keen to understand how February to May is tracking and how we can better support the industry over this traditional slow period.

Looking ahead, we’re excited about the Port Douglas and Daintree Experience Showcase on March 6. This event will provide a fantastic platform to highlight the unique offerings of our region.

In February we’ll see the return of AIME (Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event) in Melbourne. This is a key event for the business events sector, providing an opportunity to showcase our region and connect with national and international buyers. Michela will be representing Business Events Port Douglas and we look forward to sharing outcomes from AIME as we work to grow this important segment.

On the road works front, I’m pleased to confirm that there is no night works scheduled for the Captain Cook Highway during January. However, as repair works progress, it’s likely we’ll see additional night works scheduled in the coming months. I’ll keep you updated as more information becomes available.

On the campaign front, the Summer in the Tropics initiative continues to deliver strong results, driving interest in the region over summer and encouraging more high value visitation. This is important marketing to drive confidence in summer visitation and involves leveraging on TTNQ and TEQ's campaign activity to drive booking conversions.

Importantly, we've also been working closely with Douglas Shire Council on a new funding partnership with our current agreement expiring at the end of this financial year. We look forward to sharing updates as discussions progress.

I look forward to working with you in 2025 to make it a successful year for our industry. Wishing you a wonderful start to the year.

Emma