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

PRESS RELEASE *For Immediate Release* Tuesday, 2 August 2016 The Mackay Region in social media spotlight An image of a wallaby in front of a beautiful sunrise at Cape Hillsborough Beach has taken the social media world by storm, being shared far and wide across the nation. Belinda McMahon, a Mackay-based photographer, captured the image, which received over 45,000 ‘likes’ within the first few hours on the official Tourism Australia’s Instagram account. Belinda said the image was captured at Cape Hillsborough Beach during a recent Instameet event which was attended by Mackay Instagrammers – a group of people who are passionate about capturing and sharing some of the region’s most beautiful scenery. “I think any promotion we can do to showcase this area is a good thing,” Ms McMahon said. “There’s so much to do in this region and we are keen to collaborate with businesses around town to create awareness through social media.” Belinda said there will be a number of upcoming Instameets, including one organized by herself and Cherrie Hughes in conjunction with Megaforce Charters, where photographers can capture a scenic route to Keswick Island. In October, Mackay Tourism Ltd will also sponsor an Instameet at the Big 4 Mackay Marine Tourist Park on Harbour Road for sunset photo opportunities. Meanwhile Gold Coast photographer Jules Ingall has also generated more tourism attention after cataloging her weekend in The Mackay Region to over 15,600 followers. The mother-of-two was one of 20 finalists in the Choice Hotels Travel Grammer Competition and stayed at the Comfort Resort Blue Pacific at Blacks Beach. She visited the Pioneer Valley and Cape Hillsborough Beach, as well as tried local restaurants. “If I am honest, I had never thought of Mackay as a destination to travel to. Yet now, having experienced the region, the amazing beaches, rainforests, the food, I am now already planning a trip back with my family,” Ms Ingall said. “Mackay is such a hidden gem and one of the things I loved best was that it wasn’t over commercialised or too busy.” The big winner of the Choice Hotels Travel Grammer Competition will be announced on Friday, with the winner to spend a three-day weekend at Hervey Bay with travel influencer and social media expert Lauren Bath. Mackay Tourism Ltd General Manager Tas Webber said word of mouth is one of the most valuable ways to promote tourism in Mackay.

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Page 1: The Mackay Region in social media spotlight...The Mackay Region in social media spotlight An image of a wallaby in front of a beautiful sunrise at Cape Hillsborough Beach has taken

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.

Page 2: The Mackay Region in social media spotlight...The Mackay Region in social media spotlight An image of a wallaby in front of a beautiful sunrise at Cape Hillsborough Beach has taken

“Ifwecangetpeopletosharetheirphotosandtheirgreatexperienceshere,itwillmakeahugedifferencetovisitornumbersandhaveaflow-oneffecttotherestoftheregion,”MrWebbersaid.“SocialmediaisprovingtobeaverypowerfultoolandagreatwaytocaptureandsharethebeautyofTheMackayRegiontopeoplewhomaynothavethoughtaboutvisitingpreviously.”ForthoseinterestedinsharingtheirfavouriteMackayimagesoractivitiestopromotetotherestoftheworld,jointheMackayInstagrammersFacebookpage,andregisterforanInstameetevent.CheckoutBelindaMcMahon’simagesonInstagrambyfollowing@stormybeachbelleorvisitTourismAustralia’[email protected]’sweekendinMackaybyvisitingherInstagrampage@julesingallCheckoutMackayTourism’ssocialmediapagesonInstagram@visitmackayorVisitMackayonFacebook.*Ends*MEDIACONTACTSMelissaWoods|CommunicationsOfficer|[email protected]|0409622877NeleHahne|MarketingOfficer|[email protected]|0437330473TasWebber|GeneralManager|[email protected]|0439873726