Qld Country Tourism
DESTINATION EVENTS ELEVATOR PROGRAM
Website: queenslandcountrytourism.com.au
PARTICIPATING EVENTS
Esk Garden Fair eskgardenandlifestylefair.com
Miles Back to the Bush backtothebushfestival.com.au
Laidley Spring Festival laidleyspringfestival.com
Hampton Festival hamptonfestival.com
WHY THEY NEEDED OUR SUPPORT AND WHAT THEY WANTED TO GAIN
Australian Centre for Regional Events partnered with Queensland Country Tourism to design and deliver an event transformation program to upskill the region’s event and festival organisers, with the aim of ensuring event competitiveness and long-term sustainability across the region.
This bespoke 12-month program combined online e-learning, group networking sessions, one-to-one mentoring with event experts, and access to practical tools and resources. The program took a deep dive into all aspects of event planning and empowered event organisers with the knowledge, tools and inspiration to elevate their regional events.
The program included:
Signature 12-week training program from July to September 2024
16 hours of one-to-one mentoring with an event expert
10 hours of strategic planning support
5 hours of post-event review
5 hours of “phone a friend” support
WHAT THEY GAINED FROM PARTICIPATING
Strengthening event competitiveness
The program helped participants:
Enhance the event experience through curated programs aligned with the destination brand.
Strengthen event marketing through new imagery, video, improved listings and strategic use of digital channels.
Increase accessibility, inclusion and sustainability through targeted design and operational improvements.
Improve user experience through clearer communications, user-friendly websites and refined site layouts.
Boost local business and tourism linkages through engagement and activation strategies.
Support event professionalism and succession planning through robust planning tools, detailed run sheets and post-event review processes.
Stimulate growth in the event calendar through successful event delivery and the development of new satellite events.
Building long-term sustainability
The program helped participants:
Strengthen strategic foundations through updated plans, improved governance and clearer organisational structures.
Support succession and continuity through detailed project plans, role clarity and robust documentation.
Secure long-term support through stronger relationships with councils, new sponsors and successful grant applications.
Improve risk management, compliance and operational systems to support safer, more resilient events.
Enhance volunteer and team management through structured programs, recruitment systems and collaborative tools.
Foster lasting legacy and community value through legacy projects and meaningful local partnerships.
Embed continuous improvement through post-event reviews, data collection and reflective processes.
Being part of this mentoring experience has been a learning experience for me. If you want to know how to run a successful festival/event you need to sign up for these mentoring sessions. A wealth of knowledge from Cathy Treasure was shared and no question was a stupid one so for that, thank you.
It is great to have 5 of us on the same page and understand where we are coming from. I feel I have benefited greatly from this program.
The Event Transformation program is an outstanding opportunity for anyone involved in regional events. Even for those of us who have been running events for many years, it provides a fresh perspective. The program is excellent at helping refine existing processes and procedures, while also challenging you to think creatively and explore new approaches. It’s not just about improving what you already do—it’s about transforming the way you think about events. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to take their event planning to the next level.
