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Visit Sunshine Coast – SHINE 2.0 Digital Transformation Program 2023

September 2023 – January 2024

Learn essential digital skills to grow your business, work smarter​ and shine digitally

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Program Overview

Visit Sunshine Coast has partnered with Tourism Tribe to offer the SHINE 2.0 Visit Sunshine Coast Digital Transformation Program. The focus of the VSC SHINE 2.0 Digital Transformation program is to equip tourism businesses in the Sunshine Coast region with the necessary knowledge and skills to thrive and shine in a digitised visitor marketplace.

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The Visit Sunshine Coast SHINE 2.0 Digital Transformation Program covers essential topics such as consumer and technology trends, optimising online conversion, enhancing online reputation and presence, and recalibrating social media strategies.  The final workshop will also include an introduction to TikTok as a potential platform for small tourism businesses. Through these workshops, operators will learn how to shine in the digital landscape, leverage social media effectively, and deliver outstanding customer experiences in the online realm.

The Program

Workshops

This program includes an introductory online workshop, plus three in-region half-day training workshops designed to cover trending strategies and technologies, which offer tourism businesses the greatest advantages in digital marketing.

Online Workshop – Introduction to Your Program

Date: 7 September at 11am – 12pm
Location: Via Zoom – meeting link will be emailed to you

Workshop 1 – Consumer and Technology Trends
Date: Monday, 16 October, time 9:00-12:00
Location: University of the Sunshine Coast International, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs Queensland 4556
Key Takeaway: Must Knows to Shine in a Digitised Visitor Marketplace

  • Consumer preferences for engaging, searching and booking
  • Big business strategies for small tourism businesses
  • Shining through the Best of Queensland Experiences program

Workshop 2 – How to Make Your Business Shine Online
Date: Thursday, 26 October, time 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Location: University of the Sunshine Coast International, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs Queensland 4556
Key Takeaway: Identify Ways to Optimise Online Conversion

  • Strategies to enhance your online reputation
  • Identify opportunities to improve your online presence
  • Tactics to enhance your customer’s user journey on your website

Workshop 3 – Shining a Spotlight on Social Media
Date: Tuesday, 7 November, time 9:00-12:00
Location: University of the Sunshine Coast International, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs Queensland 4556
Key Takeaway: Recalibrate Your Business Social Media Strategies

  • What’s working for tourism businesses on social channels
  • An introduction to TikTok – is it right for my business and how do I start?
  • Identify your priorities on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok

Tourism Tribe Digital Academy and Course Library

During this whole program, you’ll have access to the extensive Tourism Tribe Digital Academy and Course Library to help you to improve your knowledge and digital skills.  As a member of the Digital Academy you will have access to expert coaches’ support, fortnightly online group coaching sessions, and a vast number of short courses that can be found on your Dashboard.

Privacy notice

Any information collected by Tourism Tribe on behalf of Visit Sunshine Coast about you and your business will be used solely for the Digital Transformation Program. If your application to be part of the program is unsuccessful, all information collected will be destroyed.

Program Dates

  • 5 September 2023: Participants receive Tourism Tribe login details
    • Digital Academy and Course Library access starts
  • 7 September, time 11:00-12:00 Online Workshop – Introduction to Your Program
  • 16 Oct, time 9:00-12:00 Workshop 1 Consumer & Technology Trends
  • 26 October, time 9:00-12:00: Workshop 2 How to Make Your Business Shine Online
  • 7 November, time 9:00-12:00: Workshop 3 Shining a Spotlight on Social Media
  • 5 January 2024: Access to Digital Academy and Course Library ends

What’s included


  • 3 workshops

  • Access to the online course library

  • Fortnightly coaching calls

Liz Ward

Liz is the co-founder of Tourism Tribe and a recognised expert in business strategy and digital transformation, with over 25 years' experience across large and small businesses. Today, she is focused on helping tourism operators understand how AI is reshaping marketing, from automating repetitive tasks to using AI-driven insights to find the right customers at the right time.

As a coach, Liz brings big-picture thinking to every conversation. She helps operators map their objectives, identify their ideal customers, and spot opportunities where AI and smart digital strategy can give them an edge. She is highly sought after as a presenter, mentor and workshop trainer.

Tourism Tribe launched in 2015 and now supports over 1,600 tourism operators across Australia and the world. It was recognised in the Queensland Tourism Industry Innovation Awards (2016) and the UNWTO Innovation Awards (2015).

Liz is also Managing Director of Digital Coaching International, a network of specialists who guide businesses through digital and AI transformation of their marketing and operations.

Liz is a Fellow of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Australian Institute of Management. She has served on several boards, including Tourism and Events Queensland and Women Chiefs of Enterprise, Australia.

Can I access the training at my own pace?

Absolutely. All our self-paced courses are available online anytime, so you can learn when it suits you – even during your quiet season or in between guests. You can ask a question at any time at the bottom of each lesson and we’ll get back to you super quick!

Are there live sessions or just recorded content?

We offer both! Join our live webinars and group tourism tech coaching sessions, or check out the recorded content at your convenience.