Top End General Meeting 25th September 2012 The Charles Darwin, Darwin Harbour Cruises

MINUTES

Meeting commenced at 6.32pm

1. Welcome

President Scott Russell welcomed members and guests including:

Special Guests: Tourism NT CEO John Fitzgerald, City of Palmerston Alderman Heather Malone, City of Darwin Alderman Helen Galton, ’s Office Tony Clementson.

Executive Members: Mike Scott, Rachel Beaumont-Smith, Steven Noble, Julian Barry, Brett Binns, Malu Barrios, Kelly Vrolyks.

Life Members: Graeme Lewis

Acting : Helen Galton Minutes: Leah Roebuck

2. Apologies

Apologies: As listed prior to the meeting and from the floor are John Hart and Carmel Hutt.

President: Scott Russell advised a break in the normal meeting procedure:

Scott acknowledged and thanked the outgoing General Manager Tony Clementson for his contribution and commitment as General Manager and to the Association members over the last 8 1/2 years. Tony was presented with a gift and card from the Association.

Tony thanked the members and the Executive for their support.

3. Minutes of the General Meeting held on 28th August 2012 (as circulated)

Motion: “That the Minutes of the 28th August 2012 Meeting be accepted as a true and accurate record”

Moved: Rachel Beaumont-Smith Seconded: Steven Noble CARRIED

4. Business Arising from the Meeting held on 28th August 2012

4.1 Cruise Ship Lists and Dates: Website to view Cruise Ship Schedule: http://www.darwinport.nt.gov.au/cruise-shipping/cruise-ship-schedule

4.2 As requested our General Meeting Agenda can be added to our TTE website on the Monday before the next General Meeting. The minutes of the previous meeting can be placed on the website in Draft Format only as they need to be ratified at the next General Meeting

4.3 Any questions from the members either for the General Manager or the Executive Committee are to be sent to the General Manager prior to the Executive Committee Meeting on the 3rd Thursday of the month.

5. Correspondence

Correspondence was presented for consideration.

Motion: “That the incoming correspondence be accepted and the outwards correspondence be endorsed”

Moved: Malu Barrios Seconded: Jason Yule CARRIED

6. Treasurer’s Report – Presented by Rachel Beaumont-Smith

Rachel’s last report as new Treasurer Richard Hartshorn will be reporting at the next General Meeting

TRADING REPORT – August 2012

Trading revenues are slightly below Budget for the six months to date. Year to date expenditures continue to be well within reach of necessary outcomes for the period with a saving of $52,972 against budget. In summary, the results for the month are as follows:

August 2012 August Actual August Budget YTD Actual YTD Budget

Revenue 128,463 159,962 1,357,498 1,415,555

Expenditure (152,988) (159,502) (1,052,665) (1,105,637)

Net Result (24,525) 460 304,833 309,918

FINANCIAL POSITION as at 31 August 2012

Liquid Current Assets $ Cash on Hand and at Bank 992,323 Trade Debtors 59,788 Total Current Liquid Assets 1,052,111

Total Payables 718,696 Trade and other payables 281,090 Grants received in advance 437,606

Net Liquid Current Assets 333,415

These figures indicate that the Association continues to be in a satisfactory liquid position, and well able to meet its commitments.

Motion: “That the Financial Report be accepted”

Moved: Rachel Beaumont-Smith Seconded: Michael Scott CARRIED

7. General Manager’s Report – Presented by Acting General Manager Helen Galton

What a fascinating four weeks the tourism industry has had since our last meeting. We have a new government, a new Tourism Minister, a new Tourism NT CEO, a new change of location for Tourism NT and Tourism Top End has advertised for a new General Manager!

Congratulations are extended to the Hon Matt Conlan MLA, the new Minister for Tourism. Tourism Top End looks forward to working with Minister Conlan and we will welcome him to our General Meeting on Tuesday October 30.

Minutes 25 September, 2012 - General Meeting Page 2 of 7 Sadly, Tony Clementson has left Tourism Top End and is now the Senior Ministerial Advisor to the Minister for Tourism. Congratulations are extended to Tony on his new role and a huge thank you to him for his dedication and commitment to TTE for the past eight years. Tony was an enthusiastic advocate for the tourism industry and we wish him well in his new endeavours.

Visitor Centre Booking Activity

Booking activity during July compared to last year 2011 2012 Total Bookings 1194 1324

Booking activity during August compared to last year 2011 2012 Total Bookings 965 1011

Visitor Numbers Comparison from 2007 to 2012– Door Count of City VIC

July Aug 25,721 2007 21,671 22,189 2008 18,264 27,952 2009 23,628 29,722 2010 21,554 36,299 2011 29,406 34,690 2012 27,115

Tourism Top End Strategic Plan As reported in August, Tourism Top End has commissioned EC3 Global as our consultant to develop a Strategic Plan of our region and our tourism industry. The TTE Executive has received the first draft of the new Strategic Plan and the Executive Committee participated in the first planned Workshop on September 14. The discussion was lively and powerful and we have now received the 2nd edition before the final plan is delivered at the end of November / early December.

General Manager’s position Applications for the General Manager’s position close COB this Friday 21 September. There has been considerable interest in the position and I have spoken with a number of potential applicants regarding the role. It is anticipated that interviews will take place in the next two weeks and the appointment of the new General Manager announced within three weeks and to start their employment as soon as possible thereafter

The TTE team has been hard at work finalising our 2012 Brolga Award entry for the Visitor Information Centre.

Our current intra-territory marketing campaign activity for October and November is for the Litchfield/Batchelor/Adelaide River Region and members have had buy in for this campaign.

The new look TTE Website is now launched and we urge members to take a look and update their product page ASAP.

Destination Darwin & the Top End Visitor Guide Nov-Apr Edition is currently in production with a rollout due 1 Nov 2012.

Motion: “That the General Manager’s report be accepted”

Moved: Helen Galton Seconded: Rachel Beaumont-Smith CARRIED

8. Membership Standing Committee Report – Presented by Michael Scott

Membership report was presented by Mike Scott. The following new members were welcomed and invited to say a few words about their product.

8.1 New Members

Minutes 25 September, 2012 - General Meeting Page 3 of 7 *Full Members

About Darwin Owned and operated by Brian and Julie-Ann Waites Offering a new, small group day tour from Darwin. Including a light lunch. 10.30am – 3.30pm. Visitors experience a morning guided tour to the Adelaide River Flood Plain specialising in wildlife and nature. Visiting Howard Springs Nature Reserve, Fogg Dam, Window on the Wetlands and enjoying a Jumping Croc Cruise on the Adelaide River with Spectacular Jumping Crocs. Operating 7 days a week (passenger no’s permitting) and all year round. in the air-conditioned comfort of a Toyota Commuter taking a maximum of 13 passengers.

Berry Creek Bush Retreat Owned by couple Kaye Muir and Tim Godbold. Come enjoy the Territory Life in your own private bush land staying in a 3 bedroom rustic country house on 22 acres in Darwin Rural Area. 50kms from Darwin located on Stuart Hway 10kms south of Noonamah. A perfect base for day trips to Berry Springs, Territory Wildlife Park, Lake Bennett and Litchfield NP. Fully furnished self contained house on private block, complete with: outdoor spa, bbq, bar, bar fridge and outdoor setting for 6. There is no neighbour within cooee; just a couple of buffalo, bird’s chorus at dawn and wallaby’s hopping in the dusk. The perfect stay for families or as an adult retreat. Only guests on property self check in. Pets are welcome.

*Associated Members

Action COACH General Manager NT Matthew Anderson Is the world’s number 1 business coaching firm, started in 1993 with offices from Singapore to Sydney to San Francisco. Business coaching helps owners of small and medium sized businesses with their sales, marketing, management, team building and so much more. Most importantly, just like a sporting coach, your Business Coach will make you focus on the game. The role of a Business Coach is to coach business owners through guidance, support, accountability and encouragement.

*Interstate Members

Lady Musgrave Cruises Australian owned and operated family business offering day cruises to Lady Musgrave Island Reef from the Town of 1770/Agnes Waters for over 16 years. Located 5.5 hours drive north of Brisbane, 1.5hrs drive north of Bundaberg and 1.5hrs drive south of Gladstone QLD. Lady Musgrave Island and Lagoon is a true coral cay situated only 32 nautical miles from the Town of 1770. The island is set on 3000 acres of living reef with a 1000 acre coral lagoon that is unique to the entire Great Barrier Reef. It's the only coral island & navigable lagoon of its kind on the Great Barrier Reef. The lagoon is home to over 1300 varieties of tropical fish and 350 species of colourful hard and soft coral. The lagoon is a protected Green Zone and has never been fished and therefore offers an abundance of large & rare marine life. Swim with turtles, snorkel, walk on the white coral sands and explore the tropical Pisonia forest, abundant with bird life. It is the closest point to access the Southern Great Barrier Reef and is free from stingers so one can swim & snorkel all year round without stinger suits in this unique, protected lagoon. Lady Musgrave Cruises departs daily on the ‘Spirit of 1770’ which is a purpose built 22 meter high speed Catamaran, and is 1770’s premier day cruise vessel which takes approximately 90 minutes by sea to the Island in air-conditioned comfort, with capacity of 140 people. ‘Reef Sanctuary’ is a 20metre floating pontoon Reef Sanctuary; it has a carrying capacity of 150 people & is located with-in Lady Musgrave lagoon, only 350m from Lady Musgrave Island. Offering showers, dressing rooms, two water-line snorkeling dive platforms, snorkel gear, floatation vests, wetsuit fitting areas, underwater observatory, and undercover seating/tables from which to enjoy a buffet lunch in the lagoon on the Reef.

8.2 Super Deeds Award Nominations Name Company Number of Nominations Harry Bowman Adelaide River Cruises 7 Damien Kalinski Adventure Tours 1 Jennifer Boxschall Boomerang Tourist Park 1 Robert Wood Goanna Eco Tours 1 James JJ’s Car Hire 1 Katrina Katherine Visitor Info Centre 2 Bruno Litchfield 1

Minutes 25 September, 2012 - General Meeting Page 4 of 7 Dennis Lowe NT Chinese Museum 1 Mike Petty Oasis Tourist Park 1 Pat Wallaroo Eco Tours 1

*Winner for September: No super deed trophy winner *

Motion: “That the Membership report be accepted”

Moved: Mike Scott Seconded: George Parkyn CARRIED

9. Katherine Region Standing Committee – Presented by Kelly Vrolyks

This is the first report from the Standing Committee’s inaugural meeting held in Katherine on Mon 13th August 2012. Kelly will report at the General Meeting following each bimonthly Committee Meeting. Kelly confirmed the Committee has been established for members in the Katherine Region It is a strategic advisory Committee made up of 11 members and created for better open communication for members in the Greater Katherine Region reporting directly to the Executive Committee. Topics raised at their 1st meeting were: *Consumer Show Attendance *Collective Feedback on TTE’s Strategic Plan Survey *Developing a Katherine Region Specific Marketing Plan *Tourism NT’s Drive Campaign Feedback *Tourism NT’s SLA *Recent Katherine promotions/events *Signage in Katherine *Mataranka Maps *Savannah way Guides & Savannah Way Ltd

Motion: “That the Katherine Region Standing Committee report be accepted”

Moved: Kelly Vrolyks Seconded: Rachel Beaumont-Smith CARRIED

10. General Business from the Floor______

10.1 John Fitzgerald, CEO of Tourism NT addresses the members

*Acknowledge and thank you Rachel for hosting the meeting on The Charles Darwin *Congratulations to Tony Clementson on his new role as the Senior Ministerial Adviser in the Office of the Hon Matt Conlan MLA *Welcome back to Helen Galton in the Acting General Manager’s role assisting TTE again while they recruit for a new GM. *Acknowledge attendance of Graeme Lewis Life Member of TTE *Apologies for Hon Matt Conlan MLA not attending tonight’s meeting as he has been in cabinet all day today. The Minister has given a commitment to attend the October general meeting.

*Refer the members to the Tourism NT Industry Update email issued every 2 weeks. Please subscribe if you have not already. Today’s update includes a message from the Minister refer to link below for further information http://www.tourismnt.com.au/e-news/industry- information/vw/1/itemid/392.aspx?skinsrc=%5bg%5dskins%2fcorporatev2%2fcorporate_content_news_article

Important points from that message are listed below:

“Tourism NT CEO John Fitzgerald and the incoming CEO Tony Mayell (commencing 03/12/2012) are undertaking a functional analysis of Tourism NT in consultation with the senior management team, with input right across the team. The objective is to ensure that resources and focus are directed in the most effective manner for the industry and the Northern Territory Govt. They have committed to Tourism NT’s head office being operational in Alice Springs from 4 February 2013 with the transition of the identified functions and resources to be completed by 28 June 2013. Legislation to bring in a tourism commission should be enacted in October-November, whereupon Chair Designate, Michael Bridge, will bring together Board Members with both Territory and national expertise and experience. The Commission will deliver Minutes 25 September, 2012 - General Meeting Page 5 of 7 on the government’s agenda by setting the strategic direction for Tourism NT, and also make recommendations to me. “

John confirmed not all Tourism NT roles and staff will be located in Alice Springs and no Tourism NT staff will be forced to move. John confirmed the functional analysis he will undertake is to help determine the structure and location of roles within Tourism NT in both Darwin and Alice Springs. John reassured members that Tourism NT marketing programs are in place til 31/12/2012 and the new Director of Marketing Adam Coward and his team will be in charge of this beyond Dec 2012.

Question from Thijs Bors, Barrier Air Charter. In the past there has been a history of the Tourism Minister not attending TTE General meetings and it is disappointing that the new Minister is not here at this meeting tonight.. John advised that the Minister was disappointed he was not able to attend tonight’s meeting but has committed to the October general meeting. John will pass on this question to the Minister.

Question from Shelly, Litchfield Tourist Park… What is the economic and strategic benefit of relocating Tourism NT Head Office to Alice Springs? John answered: The Minister feels the move will help the social and economy in Alice Springs and create confidence in the Business Community in Alice Springs. He doesn’t believe there will be any cost savings but also no great cost increase. On the short term yes there will be expenses to set up the office and new roles.

10.2 Questions from members received prior to the meeting- presented by Acting General Manager Helen Galton 5 Questions received from Heather Brown di CROCO.

1. What implications for the tourism industry and for the operation of TTE, does TTE see for the relocation of the Head Office of Tourism NT to Alice Springs? Could the management of TTE outline the benefits that Tourism NT sees in making this move, considering the challenges that the tourism market has in both the short and long term. We are concerned about the business momentum being disturbed with the move to Alice Springs, especially the momentum in the business that has been good for all operators in our industry. We are anxious that progress not be disturbed.

As per our comments to the press on Friday (7 September) Tourism Top End (TTE) does not believe relocating Tourism NT (TNT) to Alice Springs will improve the tourism situation in Central Australia. TTE has concerns in relation to recruiting and retaining TNT staff if it were based in ASP. The Executive met with the new minister the Hon Matt Conlan MLA on Thursday September 13 and had the opportunity to introduce ourselves and to discuss our genuine concerns regarding the relocation of Tourism NT, the announcement of the new CEO and ongoing funding for TTE.

The minister responded with: a) The importance of decentralising the government departments out of Darwin and into the regions. b) Supporting a suffering Central Australian Tourism industry, and to c) Give Alice Springs an economic boost. d) The minister did ask the amount of face to face time the industry spent with TNT? We responded that it varied but they would be missed especially the Convention updates

2. We have seen the announcement in the press regarding the intended (re) formation of the Tourism Commission. What are the implications for Tourism NT and TTE?

The Minister explained the new governance structure and that a Tourism Commission chaired by Michael Bridge and made up of members with tourism experience would be established. Legislation will be introduced in the October Legislative Assembly sittings for this to happen. The Minister assured us that there would be no implications for TTE.

3. Would it be possible/feasible for TTE to coordinate with Tourism NT to give a short update on its strategies, plans, achievements at each TTE General Meeting. Also to include briefing of any opportunities (from Tourism NT) that may be available to TTE members?

Tourism NT is allocated time at every TTE General Meeting to give an update. This is ongoing.

4. Would it be possible/feasible for TTE to coordinate with NT Convention Bureau to give a short update on their strategies, plans, achievements at perhaps every 2nd TTE General Meeting. I realise that the NT Conv

Minutes 25 September, 2012 - General Meeting Page 6 of 7 Bureau has its own updates but not all TTE members go to those and there are many initiatives that the convention bureau are undertaking or conventions booked that TTE members should be aware of.

Members do have the opportunity to attend the NT Convention Bureau updates. If Members are interested in the many activities they can make contact with the Bureau. TTE attends the Bureau’s updates. The NT Convention Bureau has the opportunity to attend the TTE General Meetings at any time and also has the opportunity to utilise the time allocated to Tourism NT for a general update.

5. Could TTE marketing dept update members at each meeting of forthcoming coop advertising opportunities on a 6 monthly rolling basis? The coop advertising is a great initiative and could be improved for members if we can coordinate with our own media exposure in a more strategic, rather than adhoc way.

Yes this is possible and TTE is currently finalising its Activity Plan for the next 12 months. There are occasions when opportunities arise during the year that have not been planned and Members express a desire to participate.

Request members continue to raise questions to the General Manager’s email address by the Thursday prior to the General Meeting.

10.3 Executive Committee meeting with the Tourism Minister Matt Conlan MLA

Acting GM Helen Galton confirmed the Executive Committee Members met with the new Tourism Minister Matt Conlan MLA on Thursday 13th September 2012. This allowed a great opportunity to introduce the members of the Executive to the Minister and to voice positively our association’s views on the relocation of Tourism NT to Alice Springs. Overall the Minister has explained he has an open door policy with Tourism Top End and his office and looks forward to working closer with our association.

Nil questions from the floor

Meeting Closed at 7.57pm

Minutes 25 September, 2012 - General Meeting Page 7 of 7