Chief Executive Officer, Queensland Tourism Industry Council
Welcome to Queensland Tourism Week 2026
Together with our partners, the Queensland Government and Tourism and Events Queensland, I am delighted to welcome you to the Gold Coast for a week of ideas, connections and celebration.
I acknowledge the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather, and extend that acknowledgement to Traditional Custodians across the Gold Coast region. I pay my respects to Elders past and present and recognise the First Nations peoples whose cultures, stories and leadership enrich visitor experiences across Queensland.
Tourism Week reflects a Team Queensland effort. It brings together tourism and events operators, regional tourism organisations, industry associations, government and partners with a shared ambition: to build a thriving visitor economy that delivers lasting benefits for our communities.
It is wonderful to be back on the Gold Coast. I fondly remember the energy when we last gathered here, not only within the events themselves, but throughout Broadbeach as conversations continued in cafés, restaurants and along the beachfront. Those connections are such a valuable part of what this week offers.
My sincere thanks to our destination partner, Experience Gold Coast, for helping us bring Tourism Week to this exceptional destination. Bringing events to our regions depends on the support and commitment of the people and organisations who call them home. I also extend a special thank you to The Star, QTIC’s largest strategic partner and a major supporter of this week.
Across DestinationIQ, DestinationQ, our new EventsQ forum and the Queensland Tourism Awards, we have the opportunity to learn from one another, tackle shared challenges and celebrate the people and businesses moving our industry forward.
From growing First Nations tourism and creating more accessible experiences to strengthening our events sector, embracing innovation and preparing for Brisbane 2032, there is much we can achieve together. Our success will depend on turning that ambition into practical outcomes for businesses and destinations across the state.
Thank you to our Corporate Partners, event sponsors, speakers, the DestinationQ Steering Committee and Working Group, and the QTIC team for your contribution to this week. To every delegate, thank you for bringing your experience, ideas and ambition to the conversation.
Each of us has an active role to play in shaping Queensland’s tourism and events future. This week is an invitation to help steer that journey: share your perspective, ask the question, make a new connection and take home an idea you can put into action. Your contribution matters, and together we can turn the opportunities ahead into a future we are proud to have helped create.
I look forward to sharing the week with you.
