The GALTA networking function hosted by Phil & Glenn at The Rainbow Connection in Alice Springs on Friday 18th May was a stunning success!!
The 15 German, Swiss & Austrian travel agents in attendance joined with several local GALTA members including Gary Fry (Alice Springs Desert Park), Don Wait (Wayoutback Desert Safaris), Chris Chambers (Centre Highlights), Stephanie Seibert (Discovery EcoTours), Denis Maher (Harvey World Travel Alice Springs), Ollie Berst (Frangipani Holidays Darwin), Kalikamurti Suich (Beyond Breathing Space), Ron Thynne (Aurora Alice Springs) and our very own GALTA GM, Jeff Aquilina.
Over 40 guests (including some local ‘language speakers’) complimented the evening brilliantly with a few of the international ‘stayers’ remaining until just before midnight!! An excellent evening was had by all with a concerted consumption of some very fine wines (generously supplied courtesy of Voyages Alice Springs Resort and Aurora Alice Springs) and three delicious platters of antipasti (supplied by Aurora Alice Springs). Local restaurateur, Beat Keller, and his amazing young cohort chef Alex Brown (she runs her own business Yum Sushi) prepared a stunning collection of sushi that incorporated emu, kangaroo & camel on one platter and also a whole platter of seafood sushi. Needless to say, the entire contents of both platters were thoroughly enjoyed. Again, very many thanks to our local GALTA member suppliers and Tourism NT for their support of the evening.
Of course, the networking went extremely well and it was cleverly complimented with a PowerPoint presentation prepared by Jeff Wahl from www.communigayte.de in German so our international guests could have access to this great marketing company that works at building the profiles of gay & lesbian businesses globally.
Over the next few weeks, GALTA will be a presence at Darwin Pride Fair Day (next Saturday 26th May) with Phil, Glenn, Ollie, Danni and Wally available to distribute copies of the current TSD and answer questions on gay & lesbian travel. GALTA is also a sponsor at Tourism Australia’s gAyTE event in Brisbane on 31st May and we will also be at Brisbane Pride on 15th June.
Phil Walcott
NT Regional Director
21st. May 2007
