ABiC 2006 Conference Program
So where the bloody hell are we? Join the Adventure & Backpacker Industry Conference to take stock of where the sector is heading — and where the opportunities are.
Pre-conference options — Wednesday 8 November 2006
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 6:00pm – 7:30pm | Delegate Welcome Drinks — meet and mingle with other delegates over drinks and nibbles at Wake Up! Sydney Central, 509 Pitt Street. Sponsored by Wake Up! Sydney Central. |
| From 7:30pm | Party On — the party continues with a cash bar at Wake Up! Sydney Central. |
Conference day — Thursday 9 November 2006
Theme: "So where the bloody hell are we?"
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 7:30am | Registration and Coffee |
| 8:30am | Welcome by Host State Sponsor — John O'Neill, General Manager – Tourism, Tourism New South Wales |
| 8:40am | Official Opening — The Hon Fran Bailey MP, Minister for Tourism and Small Business |
| 9:00am | Competing on the international tourism stage — Matthew Hingerty, Managing Director, ATEC |
| 9:30am | So who the bloody hell are we? — Lance Batty, General Manager, Connections |
| 10:00am | Morning Tea / Trade show |
| 10:30am | Annual "State of the Industry" review — Julian Ledger, Chairman, Backpacker Tourism Advisory Panel |
| 11:00am | If the Koreans are here and we don't know where they are — what else don't we know! — Chris Flynn, Regional Director – Pacific, PATA |
| 11:30am | Research and Statistics – we need better information to track, manage and grow the sector — Keith Suckling, Tourism Australia; Martin Lane, TNT Magazine Australia |
| 12:00pm | Global Roundup — a snapshot from visiting overseas delegates |
| 12:30pm | Lunch / Trade show — lunch sponsored by AAA Tourism |
| 1:30pm | Working Holidaymaker Scheme update and other employment options in Tourism — Julie Campbell, Director, Tourism Delivery Section, DIMA |
| 1:50pm | What are we doing to attract Working Holidaymakers from countries in the Scheme? — Al Grundy, Southern Cross Sailing Adventures; Andrew McEvoy, Tourism Australia |
| 2:20pm | The increasing reach and effectiveness of low-cost airlines — Jon Marshall, General Manager Sales, Jetstar Airways |
| 2:40pm | WYSTC 2006 — Outcomes, international trends and expectations — Greg Zammit, Director, Adventure Tours Australia |
| 3:00pm | Managing change in the Industry — Online channel distribution methods (Scott Rigby, VIP Backpackers International) · The changing world of hostel accommodation (Campbell Shepherd, Base Backpackers) · With change comes opportunity (Charlie O'Connell, Paddywagon Tours, Ireland) · Open Forum |
| 4:00pm | Afternoon Tea / Trade show |
| 4:30pm | Space travel at last — one giant step forward for adventure travel — Gil McLachlan, MD Harvey World Travel Manly & Mosman, Accredited Space Agent for Virgin Galactic |
| 5:00pm | Conference Close — Leigh Kealton, Conference Director, Exhibitions & Promotions |
| 6:30 for 7pm | Conference Dinner — Dockside, Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour |
Where to stay
The Rock Group U2 performs in Sydney the weekend after the conference, with hotels receiving higher-than-usual enquiries — we suggest you commit early!
Park Regis Hotel, Park Street — newly renovated, 200m from the Town Hall, walk to the Maritime Museum or take the monorail. $119 per room per night — quote "Adventure & Backpacker Industry Conference" when booking. Tel: 02 9267 6511.
Check www.wotif.com for alternative accommodation.
Where to park
Park at the Harbourside Carpark, opposite the Museum, for just $11.50 — validate your ticket at the Museum ticket desk.