Parker Travel Collection and Sunlover Holidays have released the latest
2009/10 Hot Deals brochure. Focused on inclusive packaged holidays and
general tourist information, the 16 page brochure will make the agent an
instant expert on Queensland holidays, with a focus on TNQ. To see a copy of
the brochure, click here.

For brochure orders, agents can e-mail  hotdeals@trav.com.au

Stunt riding and an Australian BBQ add to the true-blue flavour of the $10 million tourism venture opened near Port Douglas on Thursday (May 28).

Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Steve Wettenhall and Member for Cook Jason O’Brien officially opened the spectacular show to a select audience of 180 VIPs.

The Australian Muster experience will provide its visitors with an up close and personal view of daily life on a cattle station – enjoying spectacular entertainment from the sidelines as stockmen deftly muster cattle and brave bucking bulls.

Owned and managed by Mossman-based cattleman Gordon Pringle and marketed by Parker Travel Collection, the Australian Muster Experience is staged at a purpose-built facility backing on to the beautiful rainforest of Daintree National Park at Miallo, a short drive north of Port Douglas.

With seating for 400 people, the $10 million tourist venture is also targeting the lucrative business events tourism market with its unique outback dining experience within easy reach of Cairns and Port Douglas.

“An authentic Australian outback experience on a cattle station is a must on many travel itineraries following the interest generated by the movie Australia,” said Mr Pringle, who runs cattle on several nearby properties.

“The Australian Muster Experience allows visitors to experience the excitement of life on a working cattle station while visiting the twin World Heritage areas of the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest in Tropical North Queensland.”

The Stockman’s Lunch Muster and the Grand Outback Experience for dinner operate Wednesdays to Fridays at the 19th century inspired outback cattle station, uniquely framed by rainforest and with spectacular views to Port Douglas.

The Australian Muster Experience is also part of Port Douglas Carnivale with extreme bull riding and some of the best bucking bulls in the country featuring on the Saturday night program (May 30).

Two people can experience the Australian Muster Experience for the price of one as an opening special until the end of June. For more information go to www.australianmusterexperience.com

Left to Right: Sharon Issack - AOT Account Manager Victoria, Emma O’Brien – AOT Account Manager Victoria, Todd Cornford – National Sales Manager, Parker Travel Collection and Jill Lance – AOT Account Manager Victoria.

Always at the forefront of developing innovative ways to market Queensland, Parker Travel Collection steps up to the plate once again with the launch of its biggest ever domestic retail campaign: 2009 QUEENSLAND HOT DEALS TO COOL PLACES.

Kicking off this month with the launch of its eighth season, Hot Deals to Cool Places is a campaign focused on selling Queensland holidays to Australians. Key to its success is capturing the attention of travel agents with a user-friendly brochure or guide to Queensland.

For the coming 2009-2010 travel season, Hot Deals to Cool Places campaign has been built around the launch of its 16 page, full colour brochure of special offers and value-added packages to key destinations within Queensland.

“This brochure is designed to be the travel agents’ quick-sell bible to Queensland. While compelling the agents’ call-to-action with hot deals and packages (strategically aimed at boosting visitation at various times throughout the year), we place high priority on its destination information and content.

“This season, like never before, the brochure is bursting at the seams with tips, tricks and general hints on how to get the most out of each region, city, town or village featured,” he said.

Mr Parker said Australia’s travel industry is now being flooded with 60 000 brochures via brochure distribution and personal mail systems – as well as sales calls on travel agencies throughout Melbourne, Sydney, Country NSW, Brisbane and south east Queensland.

“Our sales call mission has already begun and will continue over the coming months while garnering extra profile through industry advertising campaigns promoting HOT DEALS integrity as an effective sales tool for Queensland.

“This will be our biggest campaign ever with 5000 retails sales calls conducted over the next six months with more campaigns to come. Our message is simple, ‘c'mon Australia, come to Queensland - it really is beautiful one day and perfect the next!

“It’s imperative we remain aggressive in the selling Queensland as a holiday destination - targetting Australia as our most important market,” he said.

While continually striving to bring Queensland - via interesting and exclusive products and packages - to the market, Parker Travel Collection is proud to include several new experiences in this year’s campaign. As follows: 

• Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club; opened in March, the resort is Australia's newest golf course accommodation.
• The Australian Mustering Experience; ‘live’ outback mustering experience operating three days and nights a week out of Port Douglas.
• New DFO shopping tours in Cairns; opening this month.
• Boutique, 84 room Portal Hotel in Brisbane city; opened in March and with the very chic O bar & restaurant.

Parker Travel Collection’s Hot Deals to Cool Places campaign secured its place in the Tropical North Queensland’s Tourism Award’s Hall of Fame in 2007 for Product Marketing.

Todd Parker, Managing Director, Parker Travel Collection celebrates the launch of first ever dedicated QLD campaign in Guam with David Kendall, Director of Micronesia Sales and Marketing, Continental Airlines.

The team at Parker Travel Collection have notched up another first with the launch last week of Guam’s first ever dedicated Queensland campaign.

Entitled Queensland Hot Deals (GUAM), the campaign was created by Parker Travel Collection in conjunction with Continental Airlines to essentially support the carrier’s five flights weekly between Guam and Cairns.

Speaking about the campaign, Mr Parker said the campaign is designed to compel Micronesia’s visitor market with a series of pay/stay offers and packages that are commissionable to travel agencies.

“This campaign is innovative in several respects, not the least of which dictates a percentage of every sale goes back to Continental Airlines to assist with the development of tourism business into Guam.

“These flights are fundamental to the future sustainability of Tropical North Queensland’s tourism industry as they provide a convenient travel option for both Japanese and Micronesians visitors. And I believe this trend will continue with Guam’s US military that is destined to increase significantly with the planned relocation of Japan’s Okinawa US military base,” said Mr Parker.

Queensland Hot Deals with Continental Airlines is just one of many campaigns created by Parker Travel Collection to develop new markets and service them over the long term.

Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club opened today with guests booked in at the 4.5 star, 96-room golf course accommodation.

To celebrate the opening, Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club is offering a special of $99 per night for a minimum two-night stay. The rates are on sale until April 30 for travel until September 30 and do not include housekeeping services.

Developed at a cost of $20 million by HS Vision Group, Paradise Palms’ resort accommodation is destined to become a sought after destination for golf tours, weddings, corporate events, conferences, or those in need of an idyllic getaway within the picturesque confines of one of Australia’s top 100 golf courses.

Situated adjacent to Paradise Palms’ impressive Queenslander clubhouse, the new resort accommodation will provide guests with their own exclusive precinct and private access to a range of quality recreation/resort facilities set within tropical gardens and swimming pools.

Designed to suit the needs of both discerning leisure and corporate guests, accommodation includes a choice of hotel rooms and one or two bedroom self-contained apartments.

The resort’s interior décor has been designed to be sympathetic with the surrounding environment while providing all the comforts and practicality of a resort lifestyle. Quality furnishings and a contemporary fit-out are conveyed in subtle earthy hues set against bright white, metallic artworks and modern timber and leather furniture.

Guests will enjoy close access to the clubhouse’s newly opened 59 Restaurant and Bar, pro-shop, conference centre and the 18-hole golf course. The facilities will be further expanded to include a day spa, health club, 2000sp. M themed children’s playground and mini golf.

Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club is situated on Cairns’ northern beaches just 20 minutes north of the city and 30 minutes south of PortDouglas. The 126ha property is framed by rainforest covered mountains with a picturesque undulation landscape affording panoramic ocean views.