Tourism Alliance Victoria held its 5th Annual Tourism Alliance Victoria AGM and Member’s Luncheon on 14 October 2009. Following the success of last year's event, this year's AGM and Luncheon was once again held in regional Victoria at the Chateau Yering Historic House in the Yarra Valley.

Over 70 delegates from around the state gathered to hear a thought provoking presentation by Kiff Saunders, Director of Global Ballooning, on his own experience during the Black Saturday fires and the recovery process he is continuing to go through.  He also spoke about the ways in which we as an industry can assist and prepare for future disasters. 

The winner of last year's Lynette Bergin Fellowship, Matt Jones, from the Royal Botanic Gardens, provided a brief summary of his fellowship project. Matt's project took him to the USA and Canada where he conducted a study tour of some incredible botanic gardens and national parks.  The project enabled Matt to increase his awareness of the North American tourism market and begin establishing the Royal Botanic Gardens' tourism products within this market.

Click here to view these presentations Note: this is 7mb pdf file.

A feature of the lunch was also the announcement of the 5th Lynette Bergin Tourism Fellowship receipient.

Lynette Bergin Tourism Fellowship

This year the Lynette Bergin Tourism Fellowship was awarded to Merran Fyfe from Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village.

Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village is a heritage attraction based on the Great Ocean Road Victoria. Building a sustainable tourism model in a “climate changing” world is a challenge for heritage attractions, the Great Ocean Road region and the wider Victorian Tourism Industry.

This project will allow Merran to attend the International Conference on Sustainable Tourism, attend similar heritage attractions to meet with suitable mentors, look to regional sustainable tourism development models, professionally develop skills in international marketing and assist in the launch of new products for Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village.

The project will allow Merran to build professional skills, build relationships both commercially and professionally that will help position Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, the Great Ocean Road region and the wider Victorian tourism industry as leaders in sustainable tourism development.

If you did not know Lynette, you can view a short tribute to her put together by some of her industry colleagues - Click here to view this tribute

Merran is picture here with Kevin Shinners

Tourism Alliance 2009 AGM

Chairman Roger Grant welcomed and thanked everyone for attending this meeting. He provided an overview of the organisations activities in 2008/2009 (as outlined in the 2009 Annual Report). These included our key events the Victorian Tourism Conference and the VIC Summit and project work such as the United Approach to Tourism.

We would like to again thank our sponsors Prime Television, Melbourne Airport, Mitchelton Wines, William Angliss Institute and OAMPS Insurance Brokers / TRIP and welcome a new sponsor the City of Melbourne.

Roger also acknowledged our industry partners for their support

• Regional Victoria Conference Group
• Young Tourism Network
• VECCI
• Victoria Tourism Industry Council
• Service Skills Victoria
• Destination Melbourne
• Outdoor Recreation Centre
• Japanese Tourism Council
• Accommodation Getaways Victoria
• Cultural Tourism Industry Group

David Eaton was acknowledged for his long service on the Boards of VTOA and Tourism Alliance and his contribution to the industry.

The newly elected Tourism Alliance Victoria board is:

• Roger Grant, Geelong Otway Tourism – Chair
• Sue O’Brien, (re-elected) Chateau Yering Historic House Hotel – Deputy Chair
• Terry Robinson (re-elected), Destination Gippsland
• Chris Buckingham (elected), Destination Melbourne
• Bryan McGoldrick, Dive Industry Victoria Association
• Matthew Noble, Australian Wine Tour Company
• Barbara Chalkley, Ballarat Tourism
• Tracy Hore, Huon Hospitality
• Tony Hogarth, Prime Television
• Matt Jones, Chair, Young Tourism Network
• Tom Smith (Observer), Tourism Victoria

Click here to see a copy of the 2009 Tourism Alliance Annual Report