Tourism Consultancy and Development

The Tourism Group offers both insight and experience for tourism bodies and Local Government seeking direction on the delivery of their visitor services and identifying opportunities to enliven their local or regional tourism economy.

Every consultation project we undertake is unique and requires an individual assessment and response. What is common to all projects is matching the skills of our group of consultants to best meet the needs of our clients. Through briefings, consultation with industry and first-hand visits we gain a full understanding of the issues to consider.

Research of critical and current industry data from respected sources, engagement with relevant stakeholders and analysis of comparable business scenarios are all part of the processes we undertake for assembling an informed report with practical solutions and within agreed budgets and timelines.

Our recent tourism consultancy work includes:

• Tablelands Regional Council, Tropical North Queensland 

  A strategic review of the current network of the Council’s Visitor Information Centres (VICs) and how to make them effective operationally and co-operatively and improve engagement with local tourism operators and the LTO and RTO to build a cohesive tourism industry. The review also involved looking at current marketing strategies and how to develop key resources, development of products and experiences to be marketable and the potential for a key attraction as a catalyst for growing visitation.
  "You certainly delivered over and above the project brief and my colleagues were pleased with the result."
  Gwyneth Nevard, Coordinator Tourism Culture and Events

• Uralla Shire Council, New England Tablelands 

  Our task was to provide guidance for a total overhaul of the VIC – interior floorplan and layout, renewal of exterior and addition of features; staff and volunteer structure including roles and training, development of tours and events and industry liaison; review of all marketing assets and direction of future resources; brand identity and marketing strategies; business action plan and recommendations for new themed events and an icon attraction.

• Cooneana Heritage Centre, Ipswich City Council 

  Our consultant provided a comprehensive review of the historical assets of this heritage site, taking into account a heritage architect’s report, and developed a strategy for how the site could operate as a potential heritage attraction to complement Ipswich’s brand positioning and adding to the city’s tourism offerings. The report included a business plan, staffing structure and marketing strategies.

• Mackay Tourism

  Our task was to review Mackay’s existing visitor information centre and how to adapt to planned ring road developments that would further reduce the effectiveness of the existing site. We developed a strategy for a new location with a restored former railway station at Sarina as the gateway to the Mackay Region. The VIC was part of a strategy to incorporate it into a tourist precinct of other attractions. The newly restored station has opened having being transformed into a state-of-the-art VIC.