Atherton Tablelands Promotion Bureau Ltd (ACN: 010 684 241) Trading as Tropical Tablelands Tourism 2014 - Annual General Meeting Minutes Thursday 11 th December 2014 6:00 pm Item 1: Welcome and Apologies Present: Michael Trout Bram Collins, Undara Experience Rob Matthews, Kuranda Hotel Michael Bowmaker, Australian Farm Tourism Fran Herriott, Atherton Antiques Laurence Jones, Rainforest Gems Michelle Bell-Turner, Mungalli Creek Dairy Nick Watling, Atherton Antiques Elaine & Bob de Brueys, de Brueys Boutique Wines Tami Boehim, Foxwell Park Judy Cooper, Historical Village Herberton Alan Gillanders, Allan s Wildlife Tours Darrin & Fiona Griffith, Tablelands Tours & Transfers Narelle Burns, Atherton Visitor Information Centre Kahlia Pepper, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Cr Rod Marti, Tablelands Regional Council Aura Jones, Rainforest Gems Sheila Tait, Tait s Wongabel Stables Apologies: Minutes by: Cr Mary Graham, Mareeba Shire Council Michael Lawrence Tanya Snelling Patrice Fletcher, BIG4 Atherton Woodlands Tourist Park Ron Livingston, Michael Nelson, Alice Irvin & Deb Ferguson, Pinnacle Tourism Marketing Bronwyn Cant, Executive Officer Meeting opened by Chairman Michael Trout 6:05 pm Tropical Tablelands Tourism Page 1
Item 2: Minutes of 2013 Annual General Meeting Distributed as attachment 1 to members with Notice of AGM. Resolution: That the minutes from the 2013 minutes are a true and accurate record of the meeting proceedings. Moved by: Rob Matthews Seconded by: Sheila Tait Carried Item 3: Chairman s Report - presented by Michael Trout It is hard to believe that a year ago we were all here at the AGM celebrating TTT s win at the 2013 TNQ Tourism Awards for destination marketing. Congratulations to all members who took home awards; were finalists in their category and to every operator that took the time to prepare a submission for the 2014 TNQ Tourism Awards. This report is based on the activities from the 2013 2014 financial year. TTT again delivered a successful schedule of marketing, media and industry leadership for the benefit of the Atherton Tablelands region. All of the action items defined in the Marketing Plans were either delivered or progressed over the year. Significant achievements include: Participation at the 3 major Caravan & Camping Shows under the banner of Drive North Queensland at Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne and the region was also promoted in a secondary booth at these shows and all consumer shows held across Australian under the Caravanning Queensland banner. Attendance at ATE held in Cairns. Consistent engagement and training of domestic and international wholesale agents has continued and a heavy focus on self-drive itineraries showcasing the diversity of the region, the presence of the Atherton Tablelands has significantly increased. The result of this work is the destination being promoted as a stand-alone holiday destination on travel websites and traditional wholesale brochures. The Atherton Tablelands was also well showcased in the 2013 Corroboree Europe Post famil. This trade famil included agent visits to Herberton Historic Village; Undara Lava Tubes; Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat; Millaa Millaa Falls; Lake Eacham; Yungaburra; Skybury; Rainforestation before returning to Cairns. TTT worked with TTNQ and other strategic partners to deliver the contestable funding project Drive North Queensland. The fourth drive route Cape York Epic was added to the Drive North Queensland App which was developed the previous year by TTT and ownership still falls with TTT. This single destination promotion initiative by TTT has leveraged to a half a million dollar TNQ regional strategy targeting our key market, the self-drive traveller. September last year, TTT and Tablelands Regional Council worked in partnership with Cycle Queensland to deliver packages for riders participating in the Mission Beach to Port Douglas adventure ride. A selection of tour packages were developed, showcasing the diversity of the region including the scenery (Hot Air Ballooning tour); Food & Wine tour; Heritage Tour and Nature & Wildlife. These tours were provided to Cycle Qld in conjunction with their online registration deadlines and bookable online. Destination information, imagery and an A4 flyer were provided to the event organisers. Details of these initiatives and more will be re-sent to members in the next Newsletter. Look out for link to the TTT Activities Report 2013/14. Tropical Tablelands Tourism Page 2
I wish to thank all the members who served on the Board during 2013/14: Patrice Fletcher BIG4 Atherton Woodlands Tourist Park Rob Matthews Kuranda Hotel Carolyn Sandaver Mareeba Lodge resigned April 2014 Michelle Bell Turner Mungalli Creek Dairy Bram Collins Undara Experience Michael Lawrence Inspire Business Consulting Alan Gillanders Alan s Wildlife Tours And our 2 Councillors appointed by Council: Cr Rod Marti Tablelands Regional Council & Cr Jenny Jensen Mareeba Shire Council Each of them has brought to the organization a strong, consistent and experienced approach to achieving our goals. Many of the Directors have been involved with the organisation longer than the standard two year term. This is a credit to the organisation as all Directors are volunteers. On behalf of the Board, thank you to our team of resources that continually show the dedication and professionalism beyond what is asked of them: Pinnacle Tourism Marketing Team - Ron Livingston, Michael Nelson, Debra Ferguson, & Alice Irvin Media & PR Tanya Snelling Executive Officer Bronwyn Cant In conclusion, TTT is delivering some significant deliverables for the tourism industry and in accordance with Bill Cummings Economic report the value of the industry to this region is approximately $170 million. TTT Directors and our resources engage with local Council; TTNQ and our neighbouring LTO s to strengthen partnerships and leverage strategic activity to ensure we have a sustainable tourism industry and a strong local tourism organisation. We are constantly faced with many challenges throughout this lobbying process including the deamalgamation of Councils, limited funding and limited resources. Despite these hurdles, TTT s role and key objective has not changed. Visitors do not care where the shire boundaries lie and therefore it is still the Atherton Tablelands as a standalone holiday destination TTT will continue to promote and market to the world. Thank you. Chairman Resolution: To adopt the 2014 Chairman s report. Moved by: Michael Trout Seconded by: Bram Collins Carried Tropical Tablelands Tourism Page 3
Item 4: Treasurer s Report including 2013/14 Audited Financial Reports Audited financial statements distributed to members with Notice of AGM as attachment 2 Treasurer s report presented by Bram Collins on behalf of Michael Lawrence The 2013/14 financial records were audited by Jessup s Accountants, Cairns. No discrepancies were raised by the auditor. Income generated from membership fees, council contributions, interest and website and other marketing initiatives totaled $110,431 (previous year $110,522). Operational expenses for this period were $31,383 and total marketing expenses $88,966. The 2013/14 financial year also carried previous years marketing expense incurred in July 2013 of $4,039. The organisation reported a loss of $13,956.38 just under half of the previous year s loss. Please note the audited statement includes Discover production as part of general operations where in fact, TTT has built the Discover project into a self-funded standalone project and recorded internally separate to general operational and marketing expenses. There were no significant expenses incurred outside the planned activities set out in the 2013/14 Marketing Plan. As highlighted at last year s Annual General Meeting, the priority for this organisation is to secure other income streams to enable more activities to be delivered for our region. As the trend for consumers to purchase their holiday accommodation and activities prior to arriving to the destination increases, it is crucial that TTT continues to grow into a strong and sustainable local tourism organisation for the benefit of both members and the entire region. Resolution: That the audited 2013/14 financial statements be endorsed. Moved by: Bram Collins Seconded by: Michelle Bell-Turner Carried Item 5: Resolution to appoint 2014/15 Auditor Resolution: To appoint Jessups Accountants to prepare the 2014/15 financial statements. Moved by: Bram Collins Seconded by: Laurence Jones Carried Item 6: Announcement of vacant Board positions Patrice Fletcher end of 2 year term - Southern region Director representing zone #1 Michelle Bell-Turner end of 2 year term - Southern region Director representing zone #3 Rob Matthews end of 2 year term - Kuranda region representative Northern region Director representing zone #1 Northern region Director representing zone #2 Tropical Tablelands Tourism Page 4
Item 7: Nominations and appointment of Board members Southern region Director representing zone #1 includes members in towns and surrounding areas of Tolga; Atherton; Tinaroo; Kairi; Herberton; Wondecla and Irvinebank. Narelle Burns nominated Judy Cooper All in favour carried Seconded by Alan Gillanders Southern region Director representing zone #3 members in towns and surrounding areas of Millaa Millaa; Ravenshoe and the Tablelands gateway of the Cassowary Coast. Michelle Bell-Turner nomination All in favour carried Seconded by Cr Rod Marti Kuranda region Director Bram Collins nominated Rob Matthews All in favour carried Seconded by Cr Rod Marti Northern region Director representative zone #1 - members in the towns and surrounding areas of Chillagoe; Dimbulah; Mareeba; Julatten; Mount Carbine and the Tablelands gateways of Mossman/Port Douglas; Daintree & Cooktown Nomination form received from Michael Bowmaker, Australian Farm Tourism Nominated by: Michael Trout Seconded by Bram Collins All in favour - carried Northern region Director representative zone #2 - representing members in towns and surrounding areas of operators within the western side of Kuranda to Mareeba and the Tablelands gateway of Cairns) No nominations received Item 9: Business arising No new business tabled Meeting closed Tropical Tablelands Tourism Page 5
DIRECTORS SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES Thursday 11 th December 2014 following AGM Purpose: Present: Apologies: Minutes by: For the election of Office Bearers Michael Trout; Bram Collins; Michelle Bell-Turner; Rob Matthews; Judy Cooper; Cr Rod Marti; Michael Bowmaker; Alan Gillanders Michael Lawrence Bronwyn Cant Record of Proceedings 1. Appointment of Chairman Bram Collins nominated Michael Trout Seconded by Michelle Bell-Turner Michael Trout accepted the nomination All in favour Carried 2. Appointment of Vice-Chairman Michael Trout nominated Michael Bowmaker Seconded by Alan Gillanders Michael Bowmaker accepted the nomination All in favour Carried 3. Appointment of Treasurer Bram Collins nominated Michael Lawrence Seconded by Judy Cooper All in favour Carried 4. Appointment of Secretary Bram Collins nominated Bronwyn Cant Seconded by Alan Gillanders Bronwyn Cant accepted the nomination All in favour Carried Summary Chairman Vice Chair Treasurer Secretary Michael Trout Michael Bowmaker Michael Lawrence Bronwyn Cant MEETING CLOSED Tropical Tablelands Tourism Page 6