Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism Board is thrilled to announce that Go Beyond Melbourne has been named a finalist in the prestigious Partner of the Year category at the 2024 Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) Excellence Awards. This recognition highlights Go Beyond Melbourne’s outstanding contribution to international destination marketing and collaboration within the Australian tourism sector, particularly for its international trade readiness and innovative partnerships.
To qualify for this esteemed award, Go Beyond Melbourne demonstrated exceptional success across several key criteria, including the trade readiness of products and experiences, strategic partnerships with suppliers, and significant investment in trade engagement activities. Additionally, Go Beyond Melbourne’s leadership, fostered through close collaboration with regional tourism boards and state authorities, exemplified the ‘hunting in packs’ approach—a collective effort to promote our region as a premier international tourism destination.
The Go Beyond Melbourne initiative is supported by a strategic partnership of four regional tourism boards: Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, Phillip Island, Geelong & Bellarine, and Visit Victoria. This regional cooperation reflects each partner's dedication to showcasing the rich diversity of Victoria's tourism experiences, making the region highly attractive to international visitors.
Alva Hemming, Marketing Manager of Go Beyond Melbourne, has played a pivotal role in steering these efforts. She ensures that the region’s suppliers are internationally trade-ready and aligned with the collective goal of driving inbound tourism. Her dedication and hard work have been crucial in securing this finalist position.
Angela Cleland, Chief Executive Officer of Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism Board, expressed her excitement at the nomination:"We are immensely proud of Go Beyond Melbourne’s recognition as a finalist for Partner of the Year. This nomination underscores the tireless work of our entire region and industry partners, who have united to prepare our destination for the global stage. Our ‘hunting in packs’ approach to destination marketing demonstrates that when we collaborate, we succeed together. We’re excited to continue showcasing the best of our region to international audiences.”
The ATEC Excellence Awards will soon open the final stage of voting to current financial ATEC members. The winner will be announced during the Meeting Place conference plenary program on Wednesday, 30 October 2024, at the Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast.
Go Beyond Melbourne is the only Victorian brand to be recognised and is honoured to be named alongside other major contenders, including Brisbane, Destination NSW, Northern Territory, The Whitsundays, Southern Great Barrier Reef and Tasmania. This nomination affirms the region's appeal and the strength of its international partnerships.