Business Events Geelong attended Australian Tourism Export Councils’ (ATEC) first trade event since 2019, on the 13th and 14th June. Explore Victoria, a trade engagement event, provided an opportunity for Victorian tourism products to connect with Inbound Tour Operators (ITO) and Online Travel Agency’s (OTA).
The event consisted of a network function hosted in Melbourne followed by a day of meetings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with ITO’s & OTA’s.
BEGeelong connects with ITO’s & OTA’s as they are responsible for planning and executing group incentive travel, especially within the International market. Explore Victoria provided us with the opportunity to host 38 meetings with such buyers. This time spent face-to-face was invaluable, allowing us to showcase our region, our broad and diverse offering and also all the exciting products that we have to offer.
Key members from our region joined us, further solidifying just how incredible our product offering really is. A big thank you to; The Q train, Novotel Geelong, R Hotel, Curlewis Golf Club and Visit Geelong who also hosted individual meetings on the day.
The Famil
Following the trade event that evening, 8 of the ITO’s/OTA’s took part in a famil focused on discovering Geelong and The Bellarine, hosted by Visit Victoria. First stop was the contemporary, innovative and elegant Curlewis Golf Club and Resort, where they checked into their eco-suites, nestled amidst indigenous native landscape, flanking one of the region’s most revered golf courses.
Famil Day 1:
It was a busy day from the get go. As soon as breakfast concluded it was time to discover Queenscliff and some of the incredible product that this small and historical town has to offer. First stop Sea All Dolphins Swim. A nature based offering, where the group enjoyed half a day cruise, discovering the local sea waterlife, in particular seal and dolphins and for those brave enough to enter the water, snorkelling. The cruise was enjoyed by all and also showcased the rich history of Port Phillip Bay.
It was then ‘all aboard’ The Q Train to indulge in the most unique fine dining experience that our region & Australia has to offer. Our guests travelled along the heritage rail line and were served local produce sourced from around the region, while enjoying the views of Swan Bay and The Bellarine.
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After a morning of indulgence on the train it was time to discover the newest offering in our region at Searoad Ferries state of the art ferry terminal; Tarra Queenscliff. Tarra is where the natural beauty of Queenscliff meets contemporary cuisine and an immersive experiences. The iconic building offers a range of spaces, including a restaurant, cafe & lounge, retail store, and event spaces, all designed to provide a sensory journey that reflects the environment around us. Here our guests enjoyed a cooking demonstration and an exquisite lunch.
After Tarra there were two more places and experiences to visit; The Whiskery cellar door at the Bellarine Distillery where the group enjoyed locally produced gin Teddy & The Fox. And last stop was Portarlington where our guests were treated to a bespoke 1 hour mussel tour with Portarlington Mussel Tours. The boutique and intimate bay tour, allowed our guests to enjoy a front row seat to the mussel farming process from the comfort of a restored and very comfortable 40-year-old Huon pine vessel. They were able to experience a cooking demonstrations and tasting, complemented by Bellarine wines and other local produce.
With time to freshen up after a day of discovery our guests later dined at the family owned and run Oakdene Vineyard restaurant.
Famil Day 2
First stop was The Range @ Curlewis for hit at the driving range. This was the perfect activity for everyone to enjoy. Our visitors were a mix of avid golfers with a few fun-seeking golfers alike. After The Range guests were transported into Geelong for a site inspection at The R Hotel.
A five-minute walk to Eastern Beach, R Hotel Geelong offers visitors to Geelong a deluxe self-contained apartment hotel experience with 128 rooms and apartments. The R Hotel is nestled within a heritage listed building, and offers guests stunning views overlooking Austin Park, Corio Bay and the Geelong CBD.
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With our guests now located within the Geelong CBD, they were able to take a moment to capture the beauty of the Geelong Waterfront and Eastern beach and all it has to offer. It was then time to enjoy some contemporary fine dining at the exquisite Alma Restaurant.
After lunch, guests took part in a walking tour of Little Malop St precinct. Little Malop St precinct is emerging as Geelong’s coolest spot to eat, drink and enjoy the good things about a city, so this was the perfect place for our visitors to get to know Geelong. After the walking tour, the famil came to a close it was then time to head back to Melbourne.
We would like to thank Visit Victoria for hosting an incredible famil within our region and showcasing the very best experiences, accommodation and services that our region has to offer.
