More than 200 visitor economy professionals from across the Hunter and surrounding regions gathered at Bannisters Port Stephens on 24 July for the 2026 Hunter Tourism Industry Event.

The event reinforced the importance of collaboration, capability building and industry leadership in growing the NSW visitor economy.

Hosted by Destination Port Stephens in partnership with regional tourism organisations, the event brought together accommodation providers, tour operators, attractions, local government representatives and visitor economy stakeholders to connect, share ideas and explore future opportunities for regional tourism.

The evening featured keynote presentations from Experience Co. CEO and former Tourism Australia Managing Director John O'Sullivan and Salter Brothers Hospitality CEO Tash Tobias.

Drawing on their extensive national and international experience, both speakers shared valuable insights into emerging visitor trends, investment opportunities, the evolving expectations of travellers and the importance of delivering high-quality visitor experiences.

Beyond the keynote presentations, the event provided an important platform for strengthening industry relationships and encouraging collaboration across destinations. As tourism continues to evolve, opportunities to share knowledge, build partnerships and learn from industry leaders remain critical to supporting resilient and competitive visitor economies.

The strong attendance and engagement throughout the evening reflected the Hunter region's ongoing commitment to collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.

By investing in industry capability, fostering meaningful connections, and preparing for opportunities associated with major infrastructure developments such as Newcastle Airport, the region is well positioned to continue delivering exceptional visitor experiences while contributing to the long-term growth of the NSW visitor economy.

Pictured main: Experience Co. CEO and Executive Director John O’Sullivan, Salter Brothers Hospitality CEO Tash Tobias, Mayor of Port Stephens Leah Anderson, Destination Port Stephens CEO Jo Thomas, CoastXP owner and Newcastle Tourism Industry Group Chair Dominic May, Newcastle Airport Senior Airlines and Partnership Manager and Destination Port Stephens Chair Matthew Borger.