Magical Escapes Vacations wins Tourism Queensland Marketing Challenge

Michelle Mangio of Magical Escapes Vacations wins Tourism Queensland's Marketing Challenge for North American Premier Aussie Specialists who were selected to attend the Australia Tourism Exchange (ATE), held this year in Brisbane, Australia.

Tourism Queensland, as hosts of the ATE, showcased the best businesses and experiences Queensland had to offer. The week prior to the ATE, select Premier Aussie Specialists from North America (of which Michelle Mangio was one) were taken on a press event throughout southern Queensland to experience first-hand the hotels, tours, restaurants, and other experiences of the region.

"The point was to let us really experience it all, so we could take that back home to our clients and future clients," Mangio explained. "Once you've experienced something yourself, it's easier to share with your clients - and to know what is right for them."

The Press Event Tour was a whirlwind affair over seven days, and the agents were on the road from early morning until late evening. "It was grueling, yet amazing. I saw so much that I can't wait to go back to do it all again… at a more leisurely pace, of course!"

At the end of the Press Event, the Premier Aussie Specialists joined the other international buyers, as well as the Australia tourism businesses, at the five-day ATE forum. At the end of the special event, Tourism Queensland presented its challenge to the Premier Aussie Specialists.

"The contest was to take what we had just experienced and learned, and to create a marketing plan from it," Mangio explained. "How would we promote Queensland back home?"

"I chose to focus on Honeymooners," Mangio explained, "because Queensland offers something for every type of romantic couple: beaches, private islands, rainforest, wildlife, outback, cruising, city experience with great nightlife, food, and shopping… you name it, you can probably experience it in Queensland."

Queensland Tourism apparently felt the same way, as they announced that Michelle Mangio was selected as the grand prize winner of the Marketing Challange. For her creativity and efforts, they are awarding $2500 towards her winning marketing plan to promote Queensland Australia as a perfect honeymoon destination to couples throughout the US.

Magical Escapes Vacations is a travel agency specializing in creating personalized travel experiences to destinations throughout the world. Michelle Mangio, owner of Magical Escapes, is a Premier Aussie Specialist and a certified Honeymoon and Destination Wedding Specialist.

Tourism Queensland is the tourism authority responsible for promoting travel to the cities and regions of the state of Queensland in Australia.