The Whitsundays Tourism Day & AGM

Tourism Whitsundays’ inaugural Tourism Day brings our industry together for a morning of big ideas and insights from leading voices in tourism and digital innovation. Explore how AI is shaping the future of travel discovery, dive into the latest tourism and travel trends, and hear from Tourism and Events Queensland’s CEO and Group Executive Events on the statewide outlook.

Tourism Whitsundays will also share updates on international visitor data, destination marketing, the Love Whitsundays – Regeneration program and exciting upcoming opportunities for your business. The day will finish with the Tourism Whitsundays Annual General Meeting, followed by lunch and networking.

EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Friday, 23 October 2026.
Time: 8.30am - 1.00pm (come and go as needed)
Location: Elementa Whitsundays. 26 Mount Whitsunday Drive, Airlie Beach.
Cost: Free with your Tourism Awards ticket. $25 for additional tickets.

PROGRAM:
8.30 am - Arrival. Coffee will be served
9.00 am - Welcome | Tim Booth. CEO, Tourism Whitsundays
9.10 am - Tourism and Events Queensland Update | Craig Davidson. CEO, TEQ
9.30 am - Events in Queensland | Richard Clarke. Group Executive Events, TEQ
9.50 am - The Latest Tourism Trends | Robbie Dalton. Founder and CEO, Localis
10.10 am - AI and the Future of Travel | George Pappas. Managing Director, GammaDX
10.40 am - International Visitation Update | Laura Knipe. Head of Marketing, TW
11.10 am - Reforest 'Love Whitsundays - Regeneration' | Tim Booth
11.30 am - Marketing Update | Laura Knipe
11.45 am - Tourism Whitsundays Update | Tim Booth
12.00 pm - Tourism Whitsundays AGM
12.30 pm - Lunch
1pm - Event concludes

TICKETS:
Entry to Tourism Day is included with your Tourism Awards ticket. Additional Tourism Day tickets are available for $25 and can be paid at the door (EFTPOS available).

PARKING & TRANSPORT:
Parking at Elementa Whitsundays is extremely limited, so we encourage attendees to consider alternative transport where possible.

Courtesy vans: Two courtesy vans will operate from the bottom of Mount Whitsunday Road up to Elementa from 8:10am–8.45am, with an 8-seater available throughout the event for transfers as required.

AGM ATTENDANCE:
Unable to attend the full Tourism Day? You are still welcome to attend the Tourism Whitsundays Annual General Meeting at 12.00pm on Friday, 23 October, at no cost.

No Tourism Day ticket is required to attend the AGM. 

Please ensure you RSVP for the event and indicate whether you are attending full Tourism Day or the AGM only.