Driving the Visitor Experience
The Victorian Visitor Information Services (VIS) Summit is the yearly meeting place for all VIS personnel, economic development staff and regional tourism bodies. Delving deep into the customer experience, the Summit program features professional development sessions, case study presentations, keynotes and opportunities to learn from others.
Held from Wed 22 to Fri 24 August 2018 in inimitable City of Greater Bendigo, delegates will discover how the region provides an abundance of diverse visitor experiences.
The 2018 Summit program will delve deep into what makes an accredited VIS successful by exploring what future visitor information servicing will look like, how customer connection will remain front and foremost and how you can drive economic growth to your region.
For the complete package, delegates will benefit from the multi-choice workshops along and regional study tours showcasing the host region to gain product knowledge, share ideas, experiences and best practice.
Register HERE to secure your place at this years Summit.
PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES:
WEDNESDAY 22 August
Join one of our full day Regional Study Tours showcasing the best of the Bendigo Region
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
All tours depart from the Capital Theatre, View Street, Bendigo and will come together at the unique Bendigo Art Gallery welcome drinks before an exclusive tour of the gallery spaces. Coaches will return to the three profiled hotels (The Barclay on View, The Quest Bendigo Central and The Quest Schaller Hotel) where delegates can dine at leisure.
Tour 1 | Heritage Evolution
Experience Heritage Evolution, delve deep beneath the surface at Central Deborah Gold Mine, sit back and relax on a Bendigo Blues Tram taster, hear from local legends converting a manufacturing business into a tourism mecca at Bendigo Pottery, experience a little piece of China right here in Bendigo at the Golden Dragon Museum, enjoy a sumptuous morning tea and learn how a grocery store became a local café hotspot at Percy & Percy, be swooned at Bendigo’s award winning steak house and redgum char-grill for lunch @ The Woodhouse.
Tour 2 | Local Legends
Meet our Local Legends, beginning with the Bendigo Art Gallery discover how they consistently punch above their weight, hear the stories of local makers at fashion, homeware and collectible stores, discover the secrets behind the success of the La Trobe Visual Art Centre, Living Arts Space and Post Office Gallery, take an Artist Walk Tour to unearth street art and eclectic shopping in the heart of the CBD, enjoy a magnificent morning tea at The Gallery Cafe and be warmly welcomed at Rocks on Rosalind to enjoy share platters featuring local produce that will rock your world.
Tour 3 | Grand Architecture Produce
If Grand Architecture and Produce, is your thing, then this is the tour for you. Behind the scenes tours of three Bendigo architectural masterpieces, the Historic Post Office, Town Hall and Ulumbarra Theatre will leave you gasping in wonder and stories to share Meet the makers behind our local food stores, taste their best creations, from fresh cheese and nuts to chocolate to coffee to sourdough and don’t forget lunch at the award winning Mason’s of Bendigo.
THURSDAY 23 August
9:00 – 9:30 – Welcome to Bendigo
Cr Jennifer Alden – Councillor, City of Greater Bendigo
9:30 – 10:30 – Customer Focus Vs Customer Service
Rum Charles – Human Communications Specialist
10:30 – 11:00 – MORNING TEA
11:00 – 12:00 – PechaKucha Time!
A new concept for the Summit, a PechaKucha gives each region a chance to share what they have been up to – with only 2 minutes and 4 slides each!
12:00 – 12:45 – The Challenges of Volunteer Management
Panel Session featuring Puffing Billy, Volunteering Victoria and more.
12:45 – 13:15 – Visit Victoria Visitor Servicing Review
13:15 – 14:00 – LUNCH
14:00 – 14:45 – Breakouts: Round 1
1. Local Government Health Check (Paul Albone – DEDJTR & Kate Rickwood – VTIC)
2. Rethinking Funding Sources – Traditional, Social, Community and Cuteness (Peter Abbott – Bendigo Heritage Attractions)
3. Visitor Information Servicing Survey Results (Grace Maynard – Australian Tourism Accreditation Program)
14:45 – 15:15 – Parks Victoria
Industry Update
15:15 – 15:45 – AFTERNOON TEA
15:45 – 16:15 – Transforming Visitor Services
Rob Kelly – City of Melbourne
16:15- 18:00 – Return to hotels and prepare for dinner
18:00 – 18:30 – Shuttle bus collects all from designated hotels
18:30 – 23:00 – DINNER
Venue: Villa Fortuna. Theme: Gatsby Style. What lies ahead? A night of fun, laughter and reinforcing your industry relationships.
23:00 – Shuttle bus returns to hotels
FRIDAY 24 August
9:00 – 9:45 – Onsite Visitor Information Centre Case Study
Live and interactive – Bendigo Visitor’s Centre (Award Winning)
10:00 – 10:45 – Visitor Information Servicing = the match.com of Tourism
Peter Turner – CUSTOMER FRAME
Karen Oliver – Murray Regional Tourism
10:40 – 11:00 – MORNING TEA
11:00 – 11:45 – Breakouts: Round 2
Select your second choice from the three session offering
11:45 – 12:15 – Transport for Victoria Industry Update
12:15 – 13:15 – Reference Group Workshop
Your opportunity to formally join the Reference Group-led workshop to express your ideas, concerns and areas for growth.
13:15 – 13:30 – Closing formalities
We will snap a last minute pic of the group, grab a lunchbox to take away and begin the journey back home.
REGISTRATIONS:
Registrations are now OPEN – Click HERE to register now.
ACCOMMODATION:
The Bendigo Visitor Centre team are proudly supporting the VIS Summit and have secured great rates for delegates, all within walking distance of the Summit venue. Choose from three participating hotels – The Barclay on View, The Quest Bendigo Central or The Quest Schaller Hotel. For those that require something a little different or have special needs, call the friendly team to secure something suitable.
Special ‘Summit-Only’ rates are available for 1, 2 or 3 night stays and can be processed online via the link below or call the Bendigo team if you need to process via a purchase order on 1800 813 153.
Click HERE to book.
ENQUIRIES:
Olivia Bowden
VTIC Relationship Consultant and Events Manager
E: OBowden@vtic.com.au
Ph: 8662 5343
