June 2010

DestinationQueensland.com for all Your Sales Tools Needs

Need more info on the Great Sunshine Way or some photos or footage to get a client across the line for a trip to the Great Barrier Reef?  Look no further than www.destinationqueensland.com.

From travel info and e-brochures to webisodes and podcasts, there’s everything to assist you in selling Queensland to your clients.

Click here to get started!

Reefsleep in the Top 10 Floating Hotels in the World

Askmen.com’s popular Top 10 page recently featured the Top 10 Floating Hotels in the World.  Finalists included landmark floating hotels such as the Lagoon Resort & Spa in Bora Bora and the Floating and Rotating Hotel Tower in Dubai.  Fantasea’s unique accommodation, Reefsleep, where only six guests a night have the unique experience of staying right on the Great Barrier Reef, came in strong and finished second in the world!  Askemen.com is one of the top men’s website in the US with over 10 million unique visitors a month.  Read the full list here

“Love the Wildlife” $30,000 Campaign Prize - We Have a Winner!

Earlier this month, the agents who qualified for the Love the Wild Life famil finally made their way across the Pacific to experience all that Brisbane and the Great Sunshine way had to offer.  Let’s just say that there were countless koalas cuddled and numerous kangaroos hand-fed!

Feedback on the famil was very positive, and the agents enthusiastically came back home to the US and Canada to think up strategies they would use to promote the region to their customers.

As a result of their inspiration, we had many fantastic ideas, but we could only choose one… *drumroll* and it’s Tracey Haug from Downunder Travel in Toronto, Canada.

Her fantastic idea is going to be transformed to a $30,000 advertising campaign with her travel agency as the call to action for consumers!

Watch this space as in September we bring this dedicated travel agent’s fantastic idea to life.

Highlights of the famil

Click here to read more about the great experiences the agents had on the Love the Wildlife famil blog that you could pass on to your clients.  Here are some of the highlights of the trip to southeastern Queensland…

• In Brisbane: those on the famil got familiar with the city on a JPT Tours; cuddled a koala at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary; had a lunch with a view at the Summit Restaurant on the top of Mt Coot-tha; took a segway tour of the city with xperiences; took a helicopter flight to Tangalooma Island Resort, where they hand-fed wild dolphins.
• On the Gold Coast (1hr south of Brisbane): the agents sailed in a Tall Ship to McLarens Landing on South Stradbroke Island; stayed in Q1 Resort and Spa – the world’s tallest residential building; have a ‘wild night’ at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary; a Hot Air balloon ride over the hinterland; a treetop walk at the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk; some entertainment Aussie style at the Australian Outback Spectacular.
• On the Sunshine Coast (1hr north of Brisbane): the group got up close to some crocs at Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo; took a Fraser Explorer Tour to World Heritage listed Fraser Island and stayed the award winning eco resort, Kingfisher Bay Resort; visited the popular Eumundi markets; took a Sunair Bus Service tour through the beautiful glass house mountains.

Register for the Official Queensland Corroboree Fam Trips Today!

As hosts of this year's Corroboree on Hamilton Island, Tourism Queensland are very excited to give Aussie Specialists who are attending the chance to be a part of one of two famil opportunities to see more of Australia's Great Barrier Reef state!

The two trips Tourism Queensland are hosting are Reef & Rainforest in Tropical North Queensland and Brisbane and the Great Sunshine Way in Southern Queensland.

Both of these famils start off on the last night of Corroboree with an amazing night under the stars on the Great Barrier Reef - a never been done before experience!

Spaces are limited to only ten Aussie Specialists per famil, so after you register for Corroboree, make sure you get in early and make the Tourism Queensland famils your number one and two preferences!

Rainforest, Cruise and Reef Island Package -  luxury and indulgence

Australian and family owned operators Orpheus Island Resort, Coral Princess Cruises and Thala Beach Lodge have launched a brand new tropical escape like no other, epitomizing extravagance by infusing luxurious and diverse experiences to create seven days of pure indulgence with the Rainforest, Cruise and Reef Island Package.

With an unrivalled selection of accommodation and activity inclusions, this unbelievable package epitomizes luxury and allows complete immersion into the diverse experiences available in Tropical North Queensland.

Click here for more details on this amazing reef experience. 

East Coast Discovery Tour…a World Heritage Experience – Brand New Tour!

The Discovery Group, Australia's leading tour group, offers a unique vacation experience showcasing the very best of Queensland.

Over 7 nights enjoy the boutique resort town of Noosa, the pristine wilderness of Fraser Island, the village atmosphere of Port Douglas and the wonders of the world famous Great Barrier Reef.  The East Coast Discovery offers a premium vacation package in one of the world's most beautiful playgrounds.

For more information on the East Coast Discovery Tour, and The Discovery Group's other tours, click here . 

Valentino, Retrospective - Past/Present/Future, Aug 7 2010 to Nov 7 2010

Exclusive to Brisbane, Valentino, Retrospective: Past/Present/Future is a major exhibition by Paris's renowned decorative arts museum, Les Arts Décoratifs. The exhibition explores the work of the celebrated Italian fashion house Valentino, known the world over for its sophisticated, timeless and glamorous clientele.

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, Aug 20-21 2010

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) is Australia's only art fair dedicated to showcasing the best contemporary and traditional art work by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists born or based in Queensland.

CIAF will present a diverse program which will celebrate the art work from Queensland's best known and yet-to-be-known Indigenous artists with an art fair, exhibition, contemporary and traditional dance and music performances, artist talks, workshops, children's art station and symposium.

Name: Michael Healy

Title: Group Director of Sales & Marketing

Company: The Quicksilver Great Barrier Reef Group

Located in: Cairns and Port Douglas

Nickname: Heals

How can Michael help you: Having lived in Cairns for over 20 Years, I'd be keen to share my knowledge and experience of, not just the beautiful and amazing Great Barrier Reef, but this most unique part of our planet, a place I'm so proud to call my home.

Favorite Queensland vacation: Sitting on the beach at Green Island Resort with my faimly and a cold beer in my hand watching the sunset over Cairns. It's just so beautiful! ( By that I mean, my family, the beach at Green Island, the Sunset and the cold beer)

Claim to fame: Tried to teach Kevin Bacon to surf and had a great discussion with Ted Kennedy a few Years back.

Email: michael@quicksilvergroup.com.au