Money can’t buy Queensland experiences up for grabs
Posted by editor (editor) on Jun 10 2010
2010 >>

Cooking with MasterChef’s Matt Preston at the Audi Noosa Food & Wine Festival and staying in the sold-out Birdsville Hotel during the Birdsville Races, are just two of the ‘money can’t buy’ experiences up for grabs in Tourism Queensland’s, Queensland Holidays Ultimate Auctions, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor announced today.

Mr Lawlor said the Ultimate Auctions, which go live online from 3pm, Tuesday, April 27 offered holidaymakers the unique opportunity to bid for 10 Queensland experiences they would not be able to get anywhere else.

“As well as the chance to cook with Matt Preston and be a part of the Birdsville Races, punters will have the chance to bid on stargazing at Charleville, a tropical Port Douglas romantic escape, a Whitsunday site-seeing getaway, taking five mates to a five star Magnetic Island villa, having some family fun in the Whitsunday sun and escaping to Brisbane’s scenic countryside,” Mr Lawlor said.

“From Port Douglas to Brisbane, the Great Barrier Reef to Queensland's Outback – these are experiences that can’t be found anywhere else.”

Mr Lawlor said Queensland Holidays Ultimate Auctions showcased the unique experiences Queensland holidaymakers could enjoy.

“Who wouldn’t want to mix with the locals in the Birdsville Races VIP marquee and judge the Akubra Fashions on the Field before a 'rockstar' helicopter flight over the iconic Big Red and the Diamantina Cattle Country?,” he said

“If food’s your thing, you have the chance to bid for the opportunity of mixing with Australia’s best chefs, cooking with MasterChef’s famed cravat-wearing judge Matt Preston and attending VIP events.

“It’s access all areas travel and to top it all off the proceeds from many of the items on offer go to charity.

“Bidding starts as low as $1, but the competition can mean that some experiences end up selling for top dollar.

“If you miss out however, all bidders will be given the opportunity to purchase the same experience at the regular retail price following the auction.”

Tourism Queensland CEO Anthony Hayes said the user-friendly Ultimate Auctions site was modeled on the popular eBay platform, making it familiar and easy to use.

“By tapping into the popularity of eBay-style shopping and the popularity of the internet to book holidays, Ultimate Auctions presents a convenient way for Queensland tourism operators to sell their products,” Mr Hayes said.

“These offers will go out to the 350,000 subscribers to Tourism Queensland’s www.queenslandholidays.com.au e-newsletter so there’s no doubt the bidding war will be fierce.”

Mr Hayes said Tourism Queensland was at the leading edge of destination promotion in the digital sphere.

“Over a period of seven or eight years, including the huge splash made internationally by the ‘Best Job in the World’ campaign, TQ has proved itself to be a force to be reckoned with globally.”

ENDS
For more information on the auctions and to bid visit http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/travel-tools/auction/auction_home.cfm.

Last changed: Jun 10 2010 at 2:44 PM