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TOURISM: Auction Items Sought for Online Tsunami Appeal
Launching a charity appeal to raise funds for victims of the tsunami disaster, a collective of Australian tourism operators is seeking further products and services from industry partners for an online auction. All proceeds will be donated directly to aid organization World Vision Australia.
Commencing Monday January 3rd, 2005 a collective of Australian tourism operators will launch an online charity appeal to raise funds for victims of the tsunami disaster with all proceeds to be donated directly to aid organization World Vision Australia
Appeal co-ordinator Mr Matt Halloran says products and services donated by Australian tourism operators will be offered to the public via online auction website www.Ebay.com
Details of the appeal and items available thus far for auction can be viewed at:
www.accom.com.au/appeal
With South East Asia's tourism region decimated by the tsunami disaster, Mr Halloran says the collective is still seeking further products and services for the auction.
"Our appeal aims to raise much needed ongoing financial assistance for disaster relief efforts", says Mr Halloran, managing director of Accom.Com.Au Pty Ltd. "Clearly such relief will be required for many weeks, if not months, to come".
Mr Halloran said he had notified Paul O'Mahoney, Corporate and Donor Relations Manager (NSW) World Vision Australia of the appeal launch out of professional courtesy to not only the aid organisation but tourism industry participants as well.
The online charity appeal kicks off with 10 family tickets donated by Oceanworld, Manly in Sydney, New South Wales.
Karen Ballantyne, Operations Manager of Oceanworld, Manly said the donation was a unique way to encourage tourists to contribute to a worthy cause.
"Oceanworld would be delighted to assist with fundraising and can offer 10 family passes for 2 adults & 2 children, which usually retail for $41.95 and include all daily shows and feeds, valid till end July 2005".
"The scale of this disaster feels quite overwhelming so it's important to remember that every little bit helps whether people can give $1 or $100", said Mr Halloran
Mr Halloran confirmed other donations had been received from Swiss Grand Hotel Bondi Beach, Coogee Bay Boutique Hotel, Sydney Boulevard Hotel and Salamander Shores in Port Stephens. A number of other operators are also putting packages together.
Business operators within the Australian tourism industry that wish to participate may view further information on the accompanying Q & A sheet provided below.
Accom.com.au Pty Ltd and Wise Words Information Services are donating their combined resources to this appeal.
Contact details
Appeal Co-Ordinator
Matt Halloran,
Managing Director
Accom.Com.Au Pty Ltd.
mhalloran -AT- accom.com.au
0425 344 124
www.accom.com.au
Sean McIntyre
Wise Words Information Services
seab.mcintyre -AT- wisewords.com.au
0413 397 441
www.wisewords.com.au/staging
Karen Ballantyne
Oceanworld Manly
02 8251 7877
www.oceanworld.com.au
ABOUT ACCOM.COM.AU
Accom.com.au operates a number of travel & tourism websites, including www.accom.com.au and www.frogandtoad.com.au (which has been online since 1999, and generates over 2.5 million hits per month, putting it amongst the top 10% of visited websites throughout the world).
ABOUT WISE WORDS INFORMATION SERVICES
Wise Words Information Services offers commercial services in media and communications. Specialising in consumer finance, Wise Words also services clients within the tourism and arts sectors. Further details and samples of commercial services are available at www.wisewords.com.au and www.wisewords.com.au/staging
FACT SHEET - Auction Items Sought For Online Tsunami Appeal
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS APPEAL?
To help those disadvantaged by the recent earthquake and tsunami disaster in South East Asia.
I RUN A TOURISM BUSINESS - WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?
We are urgently seeking donations of products and services from tourism industry suppliers to be auctioned on eBay with the express purpose of raising funds for ongoing relief efforts.
WHEN DOES THE APPEAL COMMENCE?
Starting January 3, and with your assistance, we will be conducting and managing a series of online charity travel auctions on eBay.
WHO HAVE YOU ENGAGED TO RUN THE ONLINE AUCTION?
The appeal is being co-ordinated by Matt Halloran, managing director of Accom.com.au Pty Ltd.
We have also approached eBay to assist us with listing fees and online promotion of the auction event through the eBay site.
HOW MANY ITEMS DO YOU PLAN TO AUCTION?
At this stage, we do not have a precise figure on the amount of items to be auctioned, as we are still approaching many industry partners for donations.
However, we anticipate that there will be quite a number of items to be listed, and we plan that the auction will proceed on an ongoing basis over the period of January - early February 2005.
IF I DONATE AN ITEM HOW WILL IT BE AUCTIONED?
Each donated item will be listed on our website www.accom.com.au/appeal and linked directly to the eBay auction. Information on the closing date for each auction item, as well as the winning bid received for the item will also be posted on our site.
HOW WILL AUCTION ITEMS BE DISPLAYED ONLINE?
Each live eBay auction listing will feature a description / overview of the supplier and product donated, will include up to 5 photos, and will include a link to the suppliers website so that bidders can seek out more information online if they require.
Each listed auction will run for either 5, 7 or 10 days duration.
WHAT'S THE CATCH?
None.
In return for your donation, and as our way of saying thanks for your participation in this fundraising effort, Accom.Com.Au Pty Ltd will feature your business for 12 months free on our own travel & tourism websites, www.accom.com.au and www.frogandtoad.com.au.
These sites in themselves generate over 3,000,000 hits per month from over 50,000 visitors who are looking for travel, tourism and leisure products and information.
WILL I BE INVOICED FOR ANY ONLINE REFERRALS?
No.
All enquiries and bookings that are generated from your free listing published on our websites will be forwarded directly to your business.
DO I HAVE TO PAY ANY COMMISSION?
We do not ask for commission or referral liabilities for any direct enquiries which may originate from our sites.
WHAT PUBLIC RELATIONS RESOURCES DO YOU HAVE TO PROMOTE THIS APPEAL?
At this point we have partnered with Media & Communications Consultant Sean McIntyre of Wise Words Information Services who co-ordinated several campaigns for clients in the tourism industry during 2004.
We will also be approaching major media outlets, PR and advertising companies to try and assist in building the public profile for this fundraising campaign. If you can assist in this area also, it would be greatly appreciated.
CAN YOU NOTIFY ME WITH AUCTION UPDATES?
Yes.
To receive details and links to current auction items, information on upcoming auctions, fundraising updates, and the latest news and information on how your support is helping victims of the Asian Earthquake disaster visit:
www.accom.com.au/appeal/register.html
SOUNDS LIKE A FANTASTIC IDEA! HOW CAN I BE INVOLVED?
Any assistance that you may be able to provide in donating vouchers or items for auction on eBay to raise funds for disaster relief would be greatly appreciated.
Subsequently, if you are in a position to be able to approach other tourism industry partners and create value added packages or combinations of products and services that we can auction as major fundraising items, it would make our fundraising efforts that much easier.
I am sure that you can appreciate that, given the magnitude of events over the last few days, your urgent assistance is required so that we can mount an effective fundraising campaign.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to receiving your donation, so that, as an industry, we can make a difference and help those desperately in need of assistance at this time.
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