Explore the Tourism Week program
Three days. Three big events. Plenty to be part of.
Explore the programs for DestinationIQ, DestinationQ and the Queensland Tourism Awards, and see what’s happening across Tourism Week. Simply choose an event below to jump straight to that day’s program.
Day 1: DestinationIQ Program
SESSION
Registration and coffee
Arrive early to collect your delegate pass, download the event app and grab a
coffee while you connect with colleagues.
Welcome to Country
The next generation of storytellers
Young First Nations creatives are bringing fresh perspectives to how visitors experience Country and culture. Hear how they’re using contemporary storytelling and creative practice to reach new audiences, challenge perceptions and create deeper connections to people, place and culture.
Beyond the usual itinerary
First Nations-led experiences are giving visitors more reasons to venture further and stay longer. Explore the opportunity to draw visitors into regional and remote Queensland while ensuring local communities remain at the heart of how their stories are shared and tourism development.
Tourism that gives back to Country
As more visitors seek experiences that give back to the places they visit, regenerative tourism is gaining momentum. Hear how First Nations-led approaches are caring for Country, strengthening culture and supporting local communities, with practical ideas you can take back to your own business and practices.
Putting culture on the itinerary
Festivals, events and live cultural experiences can be powerful reasons to travel. Explore how First Nations culture can bring destinations to life, inspire visitors to make the journey and create meaningful experiences that build a stronger connection to place.
New ways to share ancient stories
Technology is opening new ways for visitors to experience and connect with culture. Explore how emerging tools can bring First Nations stories to life, deepen visitor engagement and create memorable experiences, while keeping cultural knowledge, ownership and authority firmly in the right hands.
Designing experiences for everyone
What does a more inclusive visitor experience look like? Explore how Country-led thinking can inspire practical approaches to accessibility, inclusion and connection to place, with ideas that any tourism business can take away and embed into the way they welcome and engage visitors.
Networking drinks & canapés
While all endeavours are made to ensure event information is accurate, please note that times and sessions are subject to change.
Day 2: DestinationQ Program
SESSION
Registration and coffee
Arrive early to collect your delegate pass, download the event app and grab a
coffee while you connect with colleagues.
Welcome to Country
Master of Ceremonies welcome
Tim Davies
Journalist and television presenter
Opening keynote - Setting the scene: Queensland tourism & the future visitor
Demographer and trends analyst Simon Kuestenmacher opens DestinationQ with a look at the forces reshaping our industry, from how people live, work and travel to the changing ways visitors discover and choose destinations. Then, put your questions directly to Simon in a live Q&A and dig deeper into what these trends could mean for your business and region.
Simon Kuestenmacher
Co-Founder & Director at The Demographics Group
Premier's Address: Queensland's tourism growth agenda
Hear directly from the Premier on the Queensland Government’s vision for tourism and the priorities driving Destination 2045, including the ambition to more than double visitor expenditure to $84 billion. Discover what this direction means for our industry and the opportunities ahead.
Hon David Crisafulli
Premier and Minister for Veterans
Tourism Cabinet Committee: Whole-of-Government alignment
Step inside the big conversations shaping the future of Queensland tourism. This facilitated panel with Queensland’s Tourism Cabinet Committee will explore what’s ahead for infrastructure, better connections, major events, workforce and regulation, and what it all means for our industry.
Hon Andrew Powell MP
Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation
Hon Tim Mander MP
Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Hon Steven (Steve) Minnikin
Minister for Customer Services and Open Data and Minister for Small and Family Business
Hermann Vorster MP
Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs and International Student Attraction
Deputy Premier’s address
The Deputy Premier takes the stage to share how Queensland’s bigger plans for growth and investment connect with the future of tourism, and what that could mean for our industry.
Hon Jarrod Bleijie MP
Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations
Industry capability, accreditation & measuring success
Tourism operators take the stage to share how accreditation and practical business programs are helping them lift the bar, strengthen their businesses and deliver better visitor experiences. Discover what’s working for operators of all shapes and sizes across Queensland.
Director-General ‘Ask me anything’
Back by popular demand following last year’s success, this candid conversation puts operators at the centre. Raise the issues that matter to your business, get clarity on government programs and put your questions directly to senior departmental leaders.
Patricia O'Callaghan
Director-General at Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science & Innovation
Damien Walker
Director-General at Department of the Premier and Cabinet
Bronwyn Blagoev
Director-General, Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers
Andrew Mahon
Deputy Director-General at Department of Transport and Main Roads
Experience Gold Coast - Destination presentation
Get the latest on the Gold Coast’s visitor economy, from major infrastructure projects and tourism performance to what’s coming next. Experience Gold Coast will also explore opportunities to work together and grow tourism across Queensland.
The world is watching: How major events transform destinations
Discover how the world’s biggest events can transform a destination long after the crowds leave. Drawing on Eurovision, London 2012 and Birmingham 2022, Martin Green shares what it takes to create a defining moment, before a live Q&A brings the lessons home to Queensland and Brisbane 2032.
Brand Queensland, destination marketing & regional positioning
Discover what’s changing the way visitors choose where to travel and how Queensland is responding. Explore how operators, destinations and Tourism and Events Queensland can work together to tell a stronger Queensland story, with practical examples of what’s working and why.
Susan Coghill
Chief Marketing Officer at Tourism Australia
Kim McConnie
Group Executive Marketing at Tourism and Events Queensland
Workforce, AI & the future of service delivery
Explore how AI and changing workforce expectations are reshaping the way tourism businesses work. Hear practical ideas from operators on attracting and keeping great people, building their skills and using technology to deliver better experiences.
Greg Yong
Group Chief Executive Officer at Coast Entertainment Holdings
Experience development, tourism investment & innovation pathways: RTIF & TIIF in action
See how Queensland tourism investment is turning big ideas into new and improved visitor experiences. Hear directly from grant recipients about their journey from concept to delivery, with practical insights and an audience Q&A to help demystify the funding process.
Regenerative tourism, sustainability & climate resilience
Discover how sustainability can become a real competitive advantage. This panel explores regenerative tourism, changing global expectations and how stronger environmental and cultural practices can build resilience, strengthen your brand and appeal to tomorrow’s travellers.
Amanda Jackes
Managing Director and Co-Founder at Woodfordia Ltd
Stewart Moore
Chief Executive Officer at EarthCheck
Brisbane 2032 & tourism legacy: The green and gold runway - “The countdown is on!”
Get ahead of Brisbane 2032 and explore what the Games could mean for tourism across Queensland. This relaxed in-conversation session looks at the opportunities ahead and what operators can do now to be part of the 2032 journey, followed by an audience Q&A.
Andrew Liveris
President at Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee
Closing panel: Key takeaways - over a wine
Wrap up DestinationQ over a wine with a relaxed conversation about the ideas and insights that stood out. Share your thoughts, ask questions and reflect with industry on what we can take forward from the day.
Networking drinks & canapés
While all endeavours are made to ensure event information is accurate, please note that times and sessions are subject to change.
Day 3: Awards Gala
Queensland tourism's night of nights
The Queensland Tourism Awards bring our industry together to celebrate the people and businesses making their mark across the state. The full program for the day will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Tourism Week Sponsors
Principal Partners
Destination Partner
