Queensland revamps online agent training

Tourism Queensland is seeking to up its trade profile with a relaunched online agent training scheme.

The Queensland Specialist Programme is being run in conjunction with Tourism Australia.

Originally launched in June 2001, the scheme has been updated to ensure agents receive up to date information in a user-friendly format.

The new module is exclusively available to qualified Aussie Specialists, offering them the chance to deepen their knowledge of Queensland and the diversity of the destination.

The online training scheme is free of charge to agents and is available in English, French and German.

The first 50 agents in the UK to qualify within the first two weeks of the scheme going live will receive a gift from Tourism Queensland.

The Queensland Specialist Programme is the latest Australian state module to launch after Western Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.

The new Queensland module will complement Tourism Australia’s Aussie Specialist Programme, which has been running for nearly a decade, and has more than 1,400 qualified agents in the UK. A further 1,941 agents in the UK are in training.

The new Queensland module focuses on key areas of interest, including Tropical North Queensland, the Whitsundays, Southern Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef, the islands and the world heritage listed rainforest. Agents will also receive regular product updates from the state’s tourism industry, as well as invites to special events.

Tourism Queensland has employed Sueanne Carr as UK/Ireland and Nordic region market development manager.  She has moved to the UK from Tourism Queensland’s office in Brisbane where she has spent nearly six years working in the destination marketing department. Her key areas of responsibility will be managing trade marketing, training and development activities.

Amy Sullivan, Tourism Australia manager, partnership development (UK, Ireland, Nordic, Netherlands), said: “The state specific contributions have been very well received by agents, and we are delighted to welcome Queensland on board with their updated module. It adds depth to the Aussie Specialist Programme giving agents a great reason to carry on learning about Australia.

“With consumers using the internet more to plan their holidays, this programme provides agents with in-depth information to answer any tricky questions clients may ask”.

*To register online as an Aussie Specialist/Queensland Specialist visit www.specialist.australia.com, or if already qualified then log on and visit the State and Territory section to begin the Queensland Specialist Programme.

Report by Phil Davies