Have You Heard Y.E.T? – October 2024
We’re celebrating a big win in our November edition of ‘Have You Heard Y.E.T?!’
This month’s newsletter features our recap of the 2024 Victorian Tourism Awards, a marriage proposal on the Great Ocean Road, and a bride touches base 2 years down the track. We look at Jenny McAulay’s bucket list destinations and our feature destination experience is The Family Day in the Yarra Valley.
What’s happening at Your Exclusive Tours?
It has been an action packed several weeks over October and November for the Your Exclusive Tours team. From trade shows to industry updates, the Victorian Tourism Awards, and of course out touring with our wonderful guests.
Your Exclusive Tours attended the ATEC Meeting Place 2024 event on the Gold Coast and what a fantastic opportunity to connect with agents, suppliers, industry stakeholders, and fellow operators. It was a hybrid event of business-to-business meetings, industry roundtables, and networking events across the Gold Coast which highlighted how diverse and amazing this destination is. I experienced parts of the Gold Coast that I had not seen before.
One of the highlights from ATEC Meeting Place 2024 was networking and connecting with fellow operators. On the Tuesday night, I ended up enjoying a few beverages with several tour operators from Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, and myself from Victoria. We spoke about the challenges of running our businesses, product offerings, guest experiences & expectations, revenue management, and distribution channels. All our businesses were completely different, from how we operate, to our level of skill, knowledge and areas of expertise. Our catchup concluded with a cheers and food for thought for improvements within our own businesses.
Our highlights this month include:
We toured with a returning corporate client who has been out with us several times over the years. From the Great Ocean Road to the Mornington Peninsula, this year it was the Yarra Valley’s turn.
We were delighted to help facilitate a marriage proposal on our Great Ocean Road Full Day Private Experience. Our guest Raymund wanted to pop the question to his partner Michelle at Gibson’s Steps. A covert operation commenced between YET and Raymund to make this happen. Michelle did not see it coming, and of course she said YES!
Your Exclusive Tours wins Bronze in the Victorian Tourism Awards!
We’re thrilled to announce that we have won Bronze in the Tour and Transport Operators Category of the 2024 Victorian Tourism awards! This was YET’s first year entering the awards, and we’re very proud that we were not only selected as a finalist, but that we’ve also been awarded a finals position.
We’d like to extend our congratulations to all this year’s winners and look forward to seeing how the Victorian winners fare in the national competition in March next year.
Rachel and James touch base on their 2 year anniversary
We’ve received a lovely email from Rachael and James, who engaged our Wedding Transport service in October 2022. It was a big day for the Your Exclusive Tours team, moving over 80 guests throughout the course of the event.
We were thrilled to hear from Rachael on her second anniversary and we’d like to thank her for checking back in with us.
Review of the Month
This month’s feature review is from one of our mixed destination experiences, with Jai and the family exploring the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley. They enjoyed a ride on Puffing Billy, a tractor tour and fruit picking at Rayner’s Orchard and finished up with a chocolate tasting at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie. We’d like to thank Jai for leaving this kind review.
Destination of the Month – The Yarra Valley Family Experience
Your Exclusive Tours has recently added a new experience to our Yarra Valley range – The Family Day in the Yarra Valley.
When people think of the Yarra Valley, they naturally think of fine wines, boutique breweries and award winning distilleries. But there’s far more to explore.
It doesn’t matter what age you are; the Yarra Valley has an activity for you and your family to explore and experience. The philosophy behind Family Day in the Yarra Valley is to have an activity or experience that caters to one and all. We’ll visit the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, meet iconic wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary, enjoy a farm & tractor tour and pick your own fresh fruit to taste and purchase, and finally, enjoy a wine tasting at one of the many of the Yarra Valley’s excellent cellar doors.
The Family Day in the Yarra Valley is a truly multi-generational experience. You can find out more about it here.
Bucket List Destinations
Our ‘Bucket list destinations’ feature continues with Chauffeur Guide Jenny – where would she go if money, time and logistics were no barrier?
- What is your YET bucket list destination / experience and why?
Phillip Island! There’s just so much to do there, for different ages and interests. I’ve visited family and holidayed there many times and never get tired of the Island. And the Penguin Parade is an amazing experience – stunning scenery, getting to see animals up close, and a late night coffee stop.
- What is your personal bucket list destination / experience?
If I could go anywhere at all, it would be I would love to rent an RV and drive across Australia. We live in such a stunning country, and there’s so much more I want to explore!
Stay tuned for more news in our next edition of ‘Have you heard Y.E.T?!’ and in the meantime, if you haven’t yet subscribed, you can do so here: