Published on : Thursday, July 31, 2014
Destination Port Stephens will bolster the economic driver of the region, tourism, by slashing membership costs to enable every business in the area to join the organisation and its campaign to make Port Stephens the leading regional destination in NSW.
A flat, low annual membership fee of just $100 is now available as part of Destination Port Stephen’s new 2014/15 Membership and Marketing Prospectus, with the organisation also moving its office and seeking a new CEO as part of a restructure and fresh, new look for the body, which is owned by business members, supported by Port Stephens Council and autonomously managed by a board of nine industry representatives.
Membership of Destination Port Stephens previously cost from $300 to $5000 per year, depending on the size of the business, but Chairman, Michael Aylmer, said the new, flat fee of $100 would encourage all businesses in the region to join the organisation and reap the huge benefits that tourism brought to the area.
“Tourism is the economic driver and lifeblood of Port Stephens, with more than two million visitors generating more than $400 million a year for the region,” Mr Aylmer said. “Tourism benefits all sectors of our economy and its everybody’s business so we are inviting every business in Port Stephens to join our organisation so that we can expand our vital visitor economy and make Port Stephens the number one regional destination in NSW.
“Our new membership model, which includes an annual investment of just $100, allows any businesses to reap the benefits of our comprehensive marketing, training and business development programs which are designed to build our brand and the demand for our compelling tourism product so that more people across NSW, Australia and the world fall in love with Port Stephens.
“Membership of Destination Port Stephens also allows businesses to enjoy exposure through our popular consumer website, portstephens.org,au, which is now attracting more than 100,000 unique visitors a month,” Mr Aylmer said. “We are also working to attract more events and conferences to Port Stephens to boost visitation throughout the year, especially outside peak holiday periods and the benefits of this will ripple throughout our local economy.
“Stronger links between the general business community and tourism will help secure an even stronger economy for our region in the years ahead.”
Mr Aylmer said the new-look Destination Port Stephens was being led by interim General Manager Janelle Gardner, an experienced marketer, and her team while a CEO for the restructured body was being sought. The organisation had also moved its offices from the Visitor Information Centre to a dedicated space inside the Nelson Towers complex across the road in Nelson Bay.
Tags: Destination Port Stephens, Travel Destination News
|
||
   
|
||
