Destination NSW policies

  1. By participating in a NSW First Program initiative, event or activity, I acknowledge I have read the following Destination NSW policies:

2. By registering or applying to participate in a NSW First Program initiative, I consent for my personal information to be shared with Destination NSW’s NSW First Program delivery partners, including third party delivery partners as published on the Destination NSW website, Destination Riverina Murray Ltd, Destination North Coast Ltd, Destination Sydney Surrounds South Ltd, Destination Sydney Surrounds North Ltd, Destination Southern NSW Ltd, Destination Country and Outback Ltd and Destination Central West NSW, for any of them to contact me with correspondence, and promotional and marketing materials.

3. By accepting attendance at the Destination NSW event, I consent to receive updates and information from Destination NSW. I acknowledge I can unsubscribe to stop receiving updates.

4. Business participation details in NSW First Program initiatives, such as publicly available business name, destination and region, may be included in program reports that are provided to Destination NSW stakeholders supporting NSW First Program and related business capability activities, such as local councils and relevant NSW Government departments and agencies as part of the NSW First Program reporting, for the purpose of program alignment and business support. Personal information and contact details are not included in program reporting.

5. To protect the privacy of all participants, participant recording including AI note-takers will not be permitted in any NSW First Program events, such as workshops, group mentoring sessions and virtual pitch events. Destination NSW will provide relevant information such as resources to participants relating to the above sessions.

6. AI note takers may not be used in one-on-one mentoring or check-in calls without prior express Destination NSW agreement.

NSW First Program participant conduct

7. It is mandatory for you to conduct yourself in a responsible, respectful and professional manner throughout your participation in NSW First Program initiatives and events, including at all mentoring appointments, site visits, virtual and in-person events, networking receptions and briefings organised for the benefit of NSW First Program participants. Aggressive or otherwise inappropriate behaviour, as determined by Destination NSW in its sole discretion, towards Destination NSW staff, its delivery partners or other program participants will not be tolerated and may result in immediate removal from the program.

NSW First Program digital and in-person events

8. Unless otherwise specified, NSW First Program digital and in-person events are suitable for visitor economy businesses, including accommodation, tours and activities, restaurants and visitor attractions including galleries, museums, zoos and wildlife parks, wineries, distilleries, breweries, farm gates, restaurants and dining experiences.

9. Unless otherwise specified, tourism supporters and other relevant representatives such as Visitor Information Centre staff, local government tourism staff, and district coordinators for Purple Flag Precincts, Uptown Districts and Special Entertainment Precincts, are welcome to attend digital and in-person events to support businesses in their destinations.

10. If you do not fall into any of these categories, please contact workshops@dnsw.com.au to discuss if or how the event is relevant for your business.

NSW First Program application-based initiatives

These include mentoring, coaching and partner-delivered activities.

Eligibility: all application-based programs

11. The following eligibility criteria apply to application-based initiatives including NSW First Program mentoring and partner-delivered activities.

a. Must operate a NSW tourism businesses

b. Must meet the eligibility criteria published on the Destination NSW website for the initiative to which it is applying or registering.

c. Must have the intent and capacity to fully complete the activity for which they have registered as per the published inclusions and actions.

d. Be an established visitor economy business (operating for a minimum of 12 months) based in NSW with an ABN

e. Have appropriate licenses and permits to operate (ABLIS), including with land holders on which your products operate, such as NSW National Parks, NSW Forestry, Crown Lands; and meet local planning and council requirements.

f. Offer a bookable experience (scheduled or on-request), such as a tour, attraction ticket, or accommodation.

g. Hold public liability insurance to a minimum of $20 million

h. Have an up-to-date, live ATDW-Online listing in the tour, attraction, accommodation, food & drink, hire or transport category.

Additional Eligibility: Global Distribution Mentoring only

i. Have a business website with secure online booking software - If you run groups or private charters, these must be bookable online for set or scheduled tours

j. Be new to selling experiences (e.g. accommodation, visitor attraction, tour or activity or tourism transport) through the Australian inbound travel trade and interested in expanding into international markets

k. For tours, activities and attractions, offer a set schedule of frequent operation (minimum of one departure a week)

l. Be currently connected with an online travel agent where applicable

m. Be able to offer 25-30% commission to work with global trade distributors, including willingness to review products and pricing.

NSW First Program applications & selection criteria

12. Applications must be submitted during the published application period. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

13. Applications will be reviewed against the criteria to determine final participation.

14. After applications are assessed, the business will be notified of the outcome via email by this date.

15. Participant capacity limits will be published on the Destination NSW website where they apply. Where places are limited, Destination NSW reserves the right to select the participating businesses based on best fit to the eligibility criteria based on the application.

16. If the number of interested businesses exceeds the number of places, Destination NSW has the right to apply its discretion to select a balanced mix of participant businesses with consideration to destination and product type, business readiness, and alignment to focus experiences in the Visitor Economy Strategy 2035.

17. Businesses that meet the eligibility criteria but are not selected will be placed on a waitlist.

NSW First Program activity participant terms and conditions

18. Group online mentoring and workshop sessions may be recorded for Destination NSW staff training purposes only, and will not be made available to participants or other parties.

19. Places are allocated to the participating business, not to an individual representative. Participating businesses may substitute a representative by notifying Destination NSW in writing.

20. Maximum participants per applicant business will be published on the Destination NSW website. Where more than one participant per business is able to under the same business application, a primary participant must be nominated to represent your business and complete the program in its entirety. A second participant can be nominated to participate in and complete the online elements of the program.

21. All participants need to meet all deadlines for requested materials including the provision of public liability insurance certificate of currency.

22. Participants agree to complete all modules, activities or events scheduled for the program in which they are participating, as published on the Destination NSW website.

23. Non-attendance or non-completion of scheduled activities must be advised in writing to product@dnsw.com.au within 24 hours.

24. An evaluation and feedback survey must be completed within the timeframe requested. This will be provided by Destination NSW at the conclusion of the event or initiative.

25. Destination NSW reserves the right to cancel, suspend or reschedule an activity or your involvement in it for any reason at any time, including for significant non-attendance or non-completion of scheduled activities.

Photography and videography

26. You authorise Destination NSW and its relevant third parties to use the photographs obtained / videotaping taken / audio recorded / quotes obtained of you, for all publicity and marketing purposes including but not limited to publications, promotional flyers, news articles, websites, newsletters, e-newsletters, presentations, books and magazines, on a free-of-charge, royalty free and worldwide use basis in perpetuity. No future consent is required.

27. You release Destination NSW and its relevant third parties, their officers and employees, and each and all persons involved, from any liability connected with the taking, recording, reproduction, or publication of said photographs taken, video footage recorded, audio recorded or written quote provided.

28. You waive all rights you may have to any claims for payment or royalties in connection with any exhibition, televising, or other publication of these materials, regardless of the purpose or sponsoring of such exhibiting, broadcasting, or other publication irrespective of whether a fee for the event or film rental is charged.

29. You also waive any right to inspect or approve any photograph, video, audio or written quote taken by Destination NSW or the person or entity designated by it.