North America’s biggest annual event for Aussie Specialist travel agents heads to Malibu, California

Los Angeles, California – Tourism Australia’s annual training convention for North American Aussie Specialist travel agents, Corroboree, is taking inspiration from Baz Luhrmann’s epic film, Australia, and going all Hollywood.

From August 12-15, 2008, 160 travel agents from America and Canada will come together with more than 70 Australia tourism suppliers for Corroboree – The Movie: Aussie Specialist Casting Call.

Aussie Specialist travel agents have been hand picked and trained by Tourism Australia as the final word in excellence when planning an Australian vacation. Each year, Tourism Australia invites Aussie Specialists to attend Corroboree, an event which includes face-to-face training with Australia’s finest tourism operators, workshops on the latest sales and marketing techniques, and seminars from travel industry leaders. At the conclusion of Corroboree, agents are invited to experience Australia first-hand, with more than a dozen famil trips showcasing the very best tourism experiences Australia has to offer.

Taking center stage in the glamorous Malibu Hills, this year’s event has been created by the Tourism Australia Americas team to provide inspiration and information using the concepts of Baz Luhrmann’s new film to put a spotlight on Australia’s romantic and adventurous experiences.

“Corroboree is our biggest event for the travel trade and this year a not-to-be-missed opportunity for the Aussie Specialists to learn all about how they can maximize the great opportunity presented to us by this multi-million dollar film,” said Michelle Gysberts, Tourism Australia’s vice president, Americas.

“The movie’s central themes of romance, adventure, the Aboriginal culture and journeys will be the focus of the event and of the experiences presented by the suppliers who will fly in from all States of Australia to educate the Aussie Specialists,” Gysberts added.

Scheduled for a November release, Australia, is set in the Australian outback and stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. The film is set to become the focus of a multi-million dollar marketing campaign aimed at getting Americans to see the film and then visit the country.

The signature event of Corroboree that all agents look forward to, the Opal Awards Gala dinner, is being appropriately renamed this year. The Opal Academy Awards will be a night to remember with eight Aussie Specialist travel agents awarded for their expertise in selling Australia to Americans and Canadians.