Every podcast needs a Christmas episode right? No need to get your sleigh bells in a knot, we have you covered with special guest Brian Hennesy visiting the studio to take over the reigns for this very festive edition. That’s right, Brian is back and has been newly anointed as our “Foreign Correspondent” – in this episode he not only asks the questions of Ben, Nikki and Chambers but also takes his mic on the road all the way to North America.

This episode includes some chats from across the Globe with much loved industry legends who are working in the North American market. Listen to Jeff Adam, Josh Basir, Kelly Miller & more!

We hope you are all on Santa’s “good list” and can’t wait to bring you more of “Inside Downunder” in 2025 with some very special plans for Season 2!

We’d love it if you connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inside_downunder

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsideDownunderPodcast

Do you want to be a guest or a future sponsor? Contact one of our hosts:

Ben Woodward: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benwoodward77/

Lisa Chambers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-chambers-84650a22/

Nikki Giumelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkigiumelli/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is all about the Western state of our beautiful country where we chat with tourism legends Ash Munn and Michael Collins. We explore all the wonderful opportunities and some of the challenges of the tourism landscape in WA and leave no icon of the state unmentioned, you can be sure of quokka, WACA and wine stories aplenty! Both Ash and Michael are leaders within the Skål community in Australia, with Ash serving as the current National President and Michael as the President of Perth. If you are a Skålleague, enjoy some robust conversation about the vision and values both leaders have for driving Skål International Australia forward and if you have only heard whispers about this club called “Skål”, tune in to learn more about what it means to be a Skalleague ….. (Disclaimer – Ben, Lisa & Nikki are all Skalleagues and think it’s an awesome networking organisation to be a part of!)

We’d love it if you connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inside_downunder

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsideDownunderPodcast

Do you want to be a guest or a future sponsor? Contact one of our hosts:

Ben Woodward: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benwoodward77/

Lisa Chambers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-chambers-84650a22/

Nikki Giumelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkigiumelli/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 5, we sit down with tourism legends and all-around larrikins, Ron Livingston and Robbie Bastion. With decades of experience in inbound tourism and the travel trade, these cherished industry figures bring a treasure trove of stories from the days before the internet and the Euro, when tourism was an adventure fuelled by friendships and genuine connections. Their light-hearted charm and wealth of experience infuse this episode with vibrant energy and intel, making their reflections not just interesting, but truly captivating. As passionate advocates for selling Australia, Ron and Robbie skilfully weave tales that capture the spirit of this stunning country, inspiring the industry, just as they have for years. Tune in for an unforgettable journey filled with laughter, insight, and nostalgia!

We’d love it if you connect with us on our socials and join in on conversations with tourism industry legends:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inside_downunder

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsideDownunderPodcast

Do you want to be a guest or a future sponsor? Contact one of our hosts:

Ben Woodward: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benwoodward77/

Lisa Chambers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-chambers-84650a22/

Nikki Giumelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkigiumelli/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 4, we delve into the wonderful world of destination marketing, sports, creativity and QLD’s new “Bluey’s World For Real Life” with guest Kim McConnie. We discuss Kim’s career journey from the wonderful world of international sports to leadership and marketing at Tourism and Events Queensland and enjoy banter-filled discussions around the impact and opportunities of the Olympic Games, the importance of events and the outlook for destination marketing in the future.

We’d love it if you connect with us on our socials and join in on conversations with tourism industry legends:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inside_downunder

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsideDownunderPodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inside-downunder-podcast

Do you want to be a guest or a future sponsor? Contact one of our hosts:

Ben Woodward: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benwoodward77/

Lisa Chambers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-chambers-84650a22/

Nikki Giumelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkigiumelli/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Step into the vibrant world of Australian tourism with Inside Downunder, your passport to the heart of the industry. Produced in the vibrant city of Cairns (Gimuy), hosts Ben Woodward, Lisa Chambers, and Nikki Giumelli invite you on a journey deep into the inner workings, captivating stories and evolving trends of Aussie tourism. Join us as we shine a spotlight on remarkable professionals and enthusiastic newcomers, celebrating their dedication to crafting unforgettable experiences for visitors to Oz!

In Episode 3, we delve into the stellar career of JOS – doesn’t require much of an introduction as he is well known within our industry. Heading up Tourism Australia for 5 years before stepping into the CEO role at Experience Co.

John O'Sullivan, fondly known to the industry as JOS is here with us today to talk about his journey, which is an interesting one and how he got to where he is today, the leader he is today and everything in between. JOS, welcome our show and thank you for joining us.

In this episode, JOS’ journey to leadership and his memorable tenure at Tourism Australia take centre stage, along with interesting and banter-filled discussions on the nuances of the Aussie tourism industry. Strap in for lots of laughter and some absolute pearlers of insights in this episode!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Step into the vibrant world of Australian tourism with Inside Downunder, your passport to the heart of the industry. Produced in the vibrant city of Cairns (Gimuy), hosts Ben Woodward, Lisa Chambers, and Nikki Giumelli invite you on a journey deep into the inner workings, captivating stories and evolving trends of Aussie tourism. Join us as we shine a spotlight on remarkable professionals and enthusiastic newcomers, celebrating their dedication to crafting unforgettable experiences for visitors to Oz!

In Episode 2, we explore the realm of Destination Marketing with special guest Susan Coghill, Chief Marketing Officer at Tourism Australia. Tune in as we dive into the nuances of the current Tourism Australia “Come and Say G’Day” campaign, delve into Susan’s illustrious career journey with global marketing giants, unpack the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the industry and discuss charting pathways to success within the industry. Susan’s infectious warmth and wit light up the conversation, making this episode a must-listen for anyone in the sales and marketing arena or anyone fascinated by the impactful work of Tourism Australia.

For more information on how industry can connect with and work with Tourism Australia please follow this link https://www.tourism.australia.com/en/resources/industry-resources/building-your-tourism-business/working-with-tourism-australia.html

Throughout the series, we’ll dissect the latest trends, tackle pressing industry issues, and share the stories of industry legends from coast to coast. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or an eager newcomer, we invite you to listen in!

You can connect with us and join in on conversations with other tourism industry legends on our socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inside_downunder

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsideDownunderPodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inside-downunder-podcast

Do you want to be a guest or a future sponsor? Contact one of our hosts:

Ben Woodward: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benwoodward77/

Lisa Chambers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-chambers-84650a22/

Nikki Giumelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkigiumelli/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Inside Downunder, the podcast that takes you deep into the heart of the Australian tourism industry. Produced in the vibrant city of Cairns (Gimuy), hosts Ben Woodward, Lisa Chambers and Nikki Giumelli delve into the internal workings, stories and trends of the Aussie tourism industry, spotlighting remarkable professionals & bright-eyed newcomers and celebrating their stories, passion and dedication to providing unforgettable experiences to visitors from around the globe.

Wanting to get an exclusive sneak peek into this year’s gAyTE, with a hint on some of the participants vying to become the Queen Of Victoria? Then tune in to a brand new podcast – Inside Downunder – which will take you deep into the heart of the Australian tourism industry. This first episode delves into the wonderful world of ATE and gAyTE with special guest Brian Hennessy, aka Coral Spawn – the reigning Queen of Queensland Tourism! Brian shares insights of his memorable 2023 gAyTE performance, as well as drawing on his experience in over 40 years in travel and tourism.

Connect with Inside Downunder on

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inside_downunder

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsideDownunderPodcast

Do you want to be a guest or a future sponsor? Contact one of our hosts:

Nikki Giumelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkigiumelli/

Ben Woodward: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benwoodward77/

Lisa Chambers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-chambers-84650a22/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.