Tourism online - e-kit the latest download!

by Susan Hamilton
Acting Marketing Officer, Penrith City Council

I get a little confused at times with all the technical opportunities we have at our fingertips these days…and I know (or at least hope) I’m not the only one. I mean if you asked me to check out your blog a year or two ago I would have politely excused myself and fled. And really Facebook, My space, Twitter… where will it end! Unfortunately for those that hoped they were all just another craze, online marketing is here to stay.
Those that don’t embrace this technology may just get left behind. Who was it the publicly said “the internet will never take off”? I’d guess they have moved to a community that still has no electricity, and wake up every night in a sweat screaming http://www.what/?.
The Tourism E kit may make it a little easier for you (and I) to understand and embrace the world of online marketing. It was created by Tourism NSW, in partnership with the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) and all the Australian State and Territory Tourism Office. Its intention was to help you, as a tourism operator, understand and get involved in online marketing. You might find it useful for just a few topics, or want to download each tutorial.
The e-Kit tutorials are FREE (yes free!) and are intended to provide tourism operators access to a range of information about how to maximise online marketing opportunities.
The tutorials cover a range of topics including website and emails, search engine optimisation, e-marketing (including social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter), analysis and statistics.
You can access the e-kit at the following link: http://corporate.tourism.nsw.gov.au/Tourism_e-kit_p3313.aspx
Photo courtesy of Western Weekender newspaper.

Penrith is throwing a party and you're invited!

by Peter Lang

Marketing Officer, Penrith City Council

In November Penrith is throwing a 50th Birthday Party and like the hading suggests, you're all invited to it.

Over the next few months, this blogspot will be updated time and time again letting you know just how you can get involved in these wonderful celebrations.

One of the things I'm going to tell you about this week is a free concert starting at 8pm on Friday, November 13 at the Q Theatre called Beat Magic Concert, it's a night of drums, percussion, rhythm and a whole lot more! Tickets available from JSPAC Box Office from October 12 but remember there are only 380 seats available so to avoid disappointment, make sure you get in early.
Another free concert, which will be on the next day, is called Drums n Dance, it's in keeping with the theme of 'Beat Magic' except with some dance performance thrown in!
The venue 'Drums n Dance' is Memorial Hall, Penrith Valley Cultural Precinct, Mamre Road, St Marys 10 am.
Doors open at 9.30am, there are no tickets but only limited seating so it's first in, first served!

Family Fun Day a success!

by Peter Lang, Marketing Officer, Penrith City Council.
Well I enjoyed myself and so did an estimated 3,000 other people who turned up, 'snuck a peek' and had some serious fun at the recent Penrith City Council Family Fun Day On August 8.
It was a beautiful, clear and brisk winter Saturday morning which greeted myself and dozens of other Council employees as we set up our displays and awaited for the public to sample all the things we had on offer.
There was a stage which featured some of the areas most promising young talent. Tree shrubs were given out by the thousand and hundreds of children got their chance to sit inside and experience some of the 'big trucks' their local Council uses to help keep the city clean.
There were rides and slides and even snakes....yeah...I kept away from that guy plus giveaways galore.
It was one of those days where you were entertained but also learned something as well. I, for one, enjoyed talking to all the people who stopped by the 'Information Stand', picked up a Penrith Valley Experience magazine and then went on their way with a big smile on their dial.
I look forward to doing it all again next year! I'll certainly be back, will you?

Nepean River Holiday Village wins Award

Congratulations must go to the Nepean River Holiday Village (NRHV) in Emu Plains which last week was awarded the prestigious Award of Excellence for the Best South Coast Holiday Park (31/2 – 4 Stars) at the Caravan and Camping Industry Association of NSW (CCIA) Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner.
However the good news didn’t stop there with two of the NRHV’s trainees, Rebecca and Melissa Smith, also receiving Awards of Excellence in the Trainee of the Year Park category.
The Awards of Excellence recognise caravan and holiday parks, manufactured home villages and estates, caravan and RV manufacturers, their range of accommodation and friendly, helpful staff. Congratulations again to owner Mark Lindsay, the management team of Phil & Paula Ward and all the staff on such a fine award and excellent achievement.
by Peter Lang
Marketing Officer
Penrith City Council

Photo caption; (Staff from NRHV celebrate on the night with their Award)