China Our Tourism Salvation

THE Sunshine Coast's increasing focus on the Chinese tourism market has been given the seal of approval by an international expert.

Dr Scott Richardson, an advisor to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, said new figures showed Chinese international tourism receipts rose 38 per cent last year.

Overall international tourist numbers jumped from 939 million in 2010 to 980 million in 2011 and were expected to reach the one billion mark this year.

This number will continue to grow and is expected to reach 1.8 billion international tourist arrivals by 2030.

With those sorts of figures in mind, the Sunshine Coast tourism industry has been heavily involved with Tourism Queensland pushes into the Chinese market and worked closely with council to host a string of delegations.

The Hyatt Regency Coolum resort last year introduced Chinese language brochures, menus and maps as well as employing a Chinese-speaking guest liaison officer as part of a broad-ranging bid to break into the lucrative market.

Noosa Chamber of Commerce has called for all school students to be taught Mandarin while direct flights to China will be one of the first priorities once Sunshine Coast Airport is upgraded to international standard.

A visit last November by officials from the Shaanxi Province of Tongchuan to discuss tourism and business opportunities prompted Sunshine Cost Destinations CEO Steve Cooper to proclaim the region was on the brink of "boom times".

Dr Richardson agreed, saying the Coast was poised to take advantage of a massive market.

"The potential to capitalise on an influx of Chinese tourists is huge and being part of the Asia-Pacific means Australia is in a perfect position to take advantage of their close proximity," he said.

"It also creates amazing opportunities for tourism graduates over the coming years, whether they are in the Australian tourism industry or pursuing the array of opportunities in China itself."

While the tourism industry had gone through a tough few years, Dr Richardson said his last quarterly Sunshine Coast tourism report to the UNWTO indicated an increase in revenue and activity.

"Last quarter was very positive for the industry, with things starting to settle down and people feeling freer to travel and spend their money," he said.

"The people I've talked to across the Sunshine Coast are noticing this."

View Source

Metro Hotel Ipswich International gets ‘green’ stamp of approval

Metro Hotel Ipswich International has been awarded Green Star Accreditation in recognition of its commitment to the environment through the implementation of a range of rigorous eco-friendly initiatives.
The Green Star Hotel Rating system was developed by AAA Tourism, the peak Australian tourism body traditionally recognized for assessing accommodation under the STAR accommodation system. ‘Green STAR Accreditation’ was recently developed by AAA Tourism in partnership with Green Globe, an internationally recognised certification and performance improvement program.
To be awarded the Green Star, each property must meet strict guidelines in several key environmental criteria relating to rooms, facilities, grounds and office management, demonstrating that the hotel has shown a genuine commitment to the environment and to reducing their environmental footprint.
After an assessment process that resulted in every aspect of the hotel and its services being scrutinized, Metro Hotel Ipswich International is proud to have been awarded a very healthy eco-score, enabling it to claim Green Star Accreditation.
Hotel General Manager Alex van Kersen said the hotel staff were thrilled to have achieved this goal and were extremely motivated to maintain this high standard of environmental commitment.
“Being located in a Queensland regional city, we are part of a community which relies heavily on the health of the land for our existence,” Mr van Kersen said. “We are therefore conscious of the need for water conservation and recycling of waste materials. The Green Star rating is an assurance to our guests that the choices we now offer are part of a serious commitment to the environment.”
Guests at the hotel are now offered options such as hanging their towels up to be reused; not having their linen changed daily; and encouraged to recycle materials. They will also be asked not to smoke; to turn off lights when possible; and will only be given a newspaper on request.
The hotel itself has complied with a rigorous list of essential criteria, including supplying energy-efficient fixtures, water-saving showerheads, water-saving toilets, paper recycling throughout the facility, biodegradable dishwashing detergent and a large number of other initiatives.
Metro Hotels has apartments, hotels, inns and resorts in Sydney, Brisbane, Ipswich, Gladstone, Melbourne, Perth, Albany and Groote Island. To book accommodation at Metro Hotels, visit the website at www.metrohotels.com.au or call the toll free Central Reservations line on 1800 004 321. Metro Hotels is the public face of Transmetro Corporation, an Australian owned public company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. The Group currently provides a national accommodation network of properties, with over 800 rooms in key locations and major cities across Australia.

Peattie Public Relations

November 2, 2009