The 2022 Queensland Information Centre Association (QICA) conference, hosted by Tourism Noosa, has concluded with the 65 delegates heading home to all parts of Queensland.
The association is a young and progressive organisation with the purpose of establishing a strong network through Visitor Information Centres (VIC) across Queensland.
Each year the QICA conference is held for its members, hosted by a different region every time.
This year Tourism Noosa was lucky enough to welcome a number of delegates from across Queensland to experience a few days in beautiful Noosa.
The event finished on a high with a gala dinner and awards ceremony at the Noosa Waterfront Restaurant, where Parkyn Hut volunteers won QICA VIC of the year.
Tourism Noosa’s acting chief executive officer Susan Ewington said, “A huge congratulations to the volunteers from Parkyn Hut who have won the QICA award for Visitor Information Centre of the year.“
“What a wonderful achievement and acknowledgement of the dedicated Tewantin volunteers who operate this incredible establishment.”
On day one, QICA members were treated to a Creative Tours Noosa Hinterland trip heading to Pomona and Cooroy for a brewery and distillery tour before heading to the welcome event at Bounce Noosa.
Day two featured breakfast at the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club, followed by sessions at Noosa Boathouse which included an update from Tourism and Events Queensland, a Tourism Noosa sustainability presentation, a customer service session, an update from the Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s Tourism Indigenous Employment Champions Networks, and a Queensland VIC accreditation update.
Following this, delegates boarded the Noosa Ferry for a sunset cruise to Noosa Heads for a viewing of the Welcome to Kabi Kabi Country virtual audio-visual experience at the Noosa VIC, before the QICA Service Awards at Peppers Noosa Resort.
The final day of the conference began with yoga on the Noosa River foreshore and breakfast at the Noosa Heads Surf Club followed by talks from the Noosa World Surfing Reserve and Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation at the Noosa National Park.
QICA members then headed to Heads of Noosa Brewing Co for a variety of sessions including, the Department of Tourism’s update on Accessible Tourism, a presentation on Sustainable Tourism and the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympic Games.
Congratulations to the Tourism Noosa team including each of the VIC volunteers, visitor services manager Anna Macklin, membership manager Cathy Mitchell, head of Tourism Sustainability and Program Design Juanita Terry-Bloomfield and Plastic Free Noosa program manager, Peita Otterbach for executing such a successful event.
For more information about the QICA organisation head to qica.com.au
