Tourism Business Adviser program
registrations open for 2025
Fast-track the opening of your tourism business when you work with susan lee, The Tourism Business Adviser. work with the leading regional tourism expert, and author of Booked Out! How to Start and Grow a Successful Tourism Business, a finalist in the 2024 Australian Business book awards.
Starting a business can be overwhelming and takes a lot of coordinated effort and action. If you are in a region well, there's a whole host of barriers you face. A lot of business advice is generic, and given the complexity of tourism many people get lost and lose money and motivation, fast. Working with a tourism specialist, will help. Many people say they benefit from a coach for an accountability partner, to get through the hard stages, ask all your questions and get guidance on where focus your time, energy and budget, to achieve your tourism goal.
Who is it for?
The Tourism Business Adviser Program is for is for aspiring and 'early years' tourism entrepreneurs, anywhere in regional or remote Australia. If you have an internet connection, and love self guided learning with regular coaching sessions, we can make it work! This is perfect for farmers, producers, Indigenous landowners, private investors, gallery owners, wineries, museum owners, tour operators, attractions and people serious about diversifying income, attracting sales, and committed to capital builds or rennovations. We deliver coaching in person, by phone and Google Meet, with strong focus on conversation, finding structure and frequency that works to keep momentum.
What will I learn?
All programs start with setting a clear and achievable objective: what you want to achieve by the end of the program? Consider what your achievable goal is by the end of the year? This will be different for everyone. It may be "I want to register a business, set up all my marketing and start trading." Or "I want to build new huts ready by next season." Or "I want to add another revenue stream to my existing business."
You will learn to:
- identify your main objective by the end of the program, that we work towards
- develop a business and operational plan and timelines
- build a marketing plan with identified customers and methods to capture sales
- learn when your business will be viable, and adjust
- learn the essential tourism marketing you need, such as branding, websites, social media, customer databases and booking systems
- learn what things really cost, and what can wait
- build a financial plan and budget to plan for future spend
- set prices for your products and learn how to sell the experience
- manage customer reviews and public 'touchpoints' to protect your business brand
- be introduced to a network of suppliers in graphic design, eco-huts, website development, and more.
Successful applicants will be onboarded with a program schedule, and step-by-step resources to work through the tourism entrepreneur's journey, to start and grow a successful tourism operation.
What's included?
When you join the Tourism Business Adviser Program you will recieve:
- a copy of Booked Out! How to Start and Grow a Regional Tourism Business
- a step by step package of worksheets, templates and resources
- regular coaching sessions and unlimited phone calls with Susan Lee
- marketing and business templates, budgets and worksheets to use
- introduction into our regional tourism networks nationally
- support to brief and engage with contractors
- an optional site visit during the year
- promotion on our social media channels, to boost your brand and business profile
- we celebrate your launch party with you!
What does it cost?
The TBA program is a fixed fee for program of support. Fees can be discussed when we meet to discuss your tourism goal.
Apply now
In 200 words or less in the text box below, tell me a little about you and why you want to do this program.
- Where do you currently work and what skills do you have?
- What do you want to get out of this program?
- Why tourism?
- What is your tourism business idea? Who is your ideal market?
- What motivates you?
- What support systems do you currently have, or are you looking for?
Next steps
We will review your application and then schedule a time to meet for a strategy session, to discuss expectations and answer questions. We discuss all the essential elements for your success in our tourism journey.
