If you have a unique accommodation business and/or provide real outback experiences, you could benefit from becoming a member of Outback Beds.
History
Outback Beds was formed in 2002 primarily as a source of supplementary income during difficult farming times. Over the past 20 years we have evolved into a dynamic and varied group of members. Our member’s establishments now range from caravan parks, station stays, boutique hotels, farm stays, family run pubs, BnBs, motels and a few things in between! Outback Beds now have a fluctuating membership of between 20 and 25 members. Our members are located throughout western NSW and south west QLD. We are interested in also having members from NW Victoria.
Since inception, Outback Beds has won many awards which has helped us with Grant approvals and has led to television commercials and print media advertising:
- 2005 Department State and Regional Development Business Enterprise Award
- 2006 Inland NSW Tourism Award winner – Destination and Product Development
- 2007 Inland NSW tourism Award, Distinction – Destination Marketing
- 2007 Tourism NSW Distinction – Destination Marketing
- 2012 Outback Tourism Symposium – in recognition of 10 years in Foundation, “Outstanding contribution to Tourism in Outback NSW”.
We are now a peak body representing Outback NSW, SW QLD and NE Victoria.
Our Mantra
Our mantra is “Stay in the Outback with friends” and it means a great deal to us. Does your business fit with our mantra? All our members have one very important thing in common – they are either owner operated or have passionate managers who genuinely care and look after their guests.
We want our members to provide unique accommodation and authentic experiences and we want our guests to experience real outback Australia and get in touch with authentic people who live, work and flourish in the outback. Outback Beds is a network of independent businesses but we work together as a networking team. As a network, we offer people travelling between our Outback Beds destinations a mantle of safety. This is a very important concept to us and is valued by many of our guests who may not be familiar with driving in the Outback or who may be concerned about the distances and unknown driving conditions. As a networking team, we are able to enjoy a much greater cost-benefits for our advertising dollar.
Benefits of Being an Outback Beds Member
- Amplifies your business profile and enhances cost the effectiveness of collaborative advertising and marketing.
- Your property or business is included on our Outback Beds website which is updated annually.
- Inclusion in our very popular and widely distributed touring map which is updated every 2-3 years.
- Developed Intra-regional marketing across shire and state jurisdictions. Government and agency liaison and lobbying.
- Became involved in co-operative marketing programs to target the mainstream markets.
- Progressive and dynamic management team.
- Cross support and information sharing between members.
- Referrals between members.
- Joint communication strategies including Facebook and Newsletters.
- A 1800 information number.
- Advertising in a wide range regional visitor guides, magazines and regional organisations.
Membership
It is simple to become a member but there are a few criteria to meet such as:
- Being located within the area covered by our touring map
- Family run business operating for at least 6 months.
- Agreement to participate in Outback Beds strategies to promote Outback Beds.
- Pay an annual marketing and membership fee ($720 pa for the 2024-25 financial year – and a discounted honeymoon rate of $545 for the first 2 years for new members). Outback Beds is a Not For Profit organisation. All your fees go back into advertising or running Outback Beds.
Associate Membership
Outback Beds associate membership is available to non accommodation businesses.
Associate membership is worth considering if you have a different kind of business that isn’t accommodation and think that it may have a interconnectivity with Outback Beds.
Associate membership could be suitable for a wide range of businesses including camping and hire business, restaurants and café’s pubs and breweries or distilleries, mechanic or tyre services, other tourism services and destinations within our region.
Sign me up.
For more information please contact:
Membership officer: Denise Stalley
President: Liz Murray