the mackay region in social media spotlight...the mackay region in social media spotlight an image...

PRESSRELEASE*ForImmediateRelease*Tuesday,2August2016

TheMackayRegioninsocialmediaspotlightAnimageofawallabyinfrontofabeautifulsunriseatCapeHillsboroughBeachhastakenthesocialmediaworldbystorm,beingsharedfarandwideacrossthenation.BelindaMcMahon,aMackay-basedphotographer,capturedtheimage,whichreceivedover45,000‘likes’withinthefirstfewhoursontheofficialTourismAustralia’sInstagramaccount.BelindasaidtheimagewascapturedatCapeHillsboroughBeachduringarecentInstameeteventwhichwasattendedbyMackayInstagrammers–agroupofpeoplewhoarepassionateaboutcapturingandsharingsomeoftheregion’smostbeautifulscenery.“Ithinkanypromotionwecandotoshowcasethisareaisagoodthing,”MsMcMahonsaid.“There’ssomuchtodointhisregionandwearekeentocollaboratewithbusinessesaroundtowntocreateawarenessthroughsocialmedia.”BelindasaidtherewillbeanumberofupcomingInstameets,includingoneorganizedbyherselfandCherrieHughesinconjunctionwithMegaforceCharters,wherephotographerscancaptureascenicroutetoKeswickIsland.InOctober,MackayTourismLtdwillalsosponsoranInstameetattheBig4MackayMarineTouristParkonHarbourRoadforsunsetphotoopportunities.MeanwhileGoldCoastphotographerJulesIngallhasalsogeneratedmoretourismattentionaftercatalogingherweekendinTheMackayRegiontoover15,600followers.Themother-of-twowasoneof20finalistsintheChoiceHotelsTravelGrammerCompetitionandstayedattheComfortResortBluePacificatBlacksBeach.ShevisitedthePioneerValleyandCapeHillsboroughBeach,aswellastriedlocalrestaurants.“IfIamhonest,IhadneverthoughtofMackayasadestinationtotravelto.Yetnow,havingexperiencedtheregion,theamazingbeaches,rainforests,thefood,Iamnowalreadyplanningatripbackwithmyfamily,”MsIngallsaid.“MackayissuchahiddengemandoneofthethingsIlovedbestwasthatitwasn’tovercommercialisedortoobusy.”ThebigwinneroftheChoiceHotelsTravelGrammerCompetitionwillbeannouncedonFriday,withthewinnertospendathree-dayweekendatHerveyBaywithtravelinfluencerandsocialmediaexpertLaurenBath.MackayTourismLtdGeneralManagerTasWebbersaidwordofmouthisoneofthemostvaluablewaystopromotetourisminMackay.

“Ifwecangetpeopletosharetheirphotosandtheirgreatexperienceshere,itwillmakeahugedifferencetovisitornumbersandhaveaflow-oneffecttotherestoftheregion,”MrWebbersaid.“SocialmediaisprovingtobeaverypowerfultoolandagreatwaytocaptureandsharethebeautyofTheMackayRegiontopeoplewhomaynothavethoughtaboutvisitingpreviously.”ForthoseinterestedinsharingtheirfavouriteMackayimagesoractivitiestopromotetotherestoftheworld,jointheMackayInstagrammersFacebookpage,andregisterforanInstameetevent.CheckoutBelindaMcMahon’simagesonInstagrambyfollowing@stormybeachbelleorvisitTourismAustralia’shandle@australia.YoucanalsoseeJulesIngall’sweekendinMackaybyvisitingherInstagrampage@julesingallCheckoutMackayTourism’ssocialmediapagesonInstagram@visitmackayorVisitMackayonFacebook.*Ends*MEDIACONTACTSMelissaWoods|CommunicationsOfficer|melissa@mackayregion.com|0409622877NeleHahne|MarketingOfficer|nele@mackayregion.com|0437330473TasWebber|GeneralManager|gm@mackayregion.com|0439873726