The passion and excitement in Caddie Marshall’s voice is infectious. The Phoenix sat down with her last week to discuss her new role as General Manager of the newly created Orange Region Tourism which encompasses the Orange, Blayney and Cabonne Regions.
This new overarching tourism entity for Cabonne, Blayney and Orange will take a regional approach to it’s marketing. Membership fees will be tiered based on each businesses individual needs and will provide benefits such as training and exploring funding opportunities.
It will seek to raise the profile of some of the regions best kept secrets including Canowindra’s own Age of Fishes Museum and the Amusu Theatre in Manildra. It will seek to promote country drives and cycling events throughout the region. As well as still showcasing the region at the famous Sydney events like last month’s Taste Orange @ Barangaroo.
“The focus for me in the new year is to be highly visible around all the towns and villages of the region and be available to discuss with business owners how they can maximise the resources of the Orange Region Tourism organisation,” said Caddie.
An Orange Region Tourism Famil was held last week with volunteers from Blayney Shire Information Centre and The Age of Fishes Museum in Canowindra joining village representatives and local business information outlets including Vine Venture Tours, Ironbark Espresso Bar and Greens Mandurama.
The bus tour to explore the local villages and connect with the customer relations teams within Cabonne, Orange and Blayney Visitor Information Centres is part of a regional development program to encourage greater collaboration and crosspromotion throughout the Orange Region to improve the visitor experience.
In the New Year a Q & A Tourism Forum will be held in Canowindra by Caddie and a member of the Orange Region Tourism board to share the vision of the newly formed entity and also to answer any questions no matter how curly – all businesses will be invited to attend.