A godsend in tough times

SOME of the city’s most battle-worn retailers are about to get a much-needed boost with Queensland’s largest annual tourism conference confirmed for the Glitter Strip.

Assistant Tourism Industry Development Minister Meaghan Scanlon today will announce registrations open for DestinationQ to be staged at Broadbeach on November 15.

The master classes and market briefings at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre will provide more than 400 delegates with a 12month forecast on the tourism industry, attracting academics and tourist board members as well as industry “big hitters”.

The Gold Coast Bulletin has been told the event would attract several ministers from the Palaszczuk government along with celebrity speakers includng retiring NRL legend Johnathon Thurston.

“This event brings together the leaders of Queensland’s tourism industry to work on strategies to grow this sector and create more tourism jobs,” Ms Scanlon said.

Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said the forum was the leading industry event for the tourism sector in Queensland.

Other Coast events in November include the 8th Annual QTIC Tourism Indigenous Employment Forum and the 34th Annual Queensland Tourism Awards gala event.

The conferences are expected to ease concerns about the so-called Broadbeach blues where some struggling retailers in the mall in the past week called for rent relief.

Surf Parade restaurateurs and cafe owners have battled through nine months of city council road works and a flat Commonwealth Games.

Area councillor Paul Taylor told the Bulletin: “It’s been a bit slow. During the Games the convention centre was virtually closed down for six months (for new conferences). It hurt a lot of Broadbeach traders. This will be fantastic for them.”