GALTA is a national network of tourism professionals dedicated to the welfare and satisfaction of all gay and lesbian travellers within and to Australia. Gay & Lesbian Tourism Australia Ltd is a voluntary non-profit organisation operated by a team of elected individuals who work with federal, state and regional tourism bodies, corporations, businesses and individuals to develop and grow the gay & lesbian market and increase the awareness of gay & lesbian travellers and their needs.
Membership is open to any tourism-related business with an interest in marketing to the LGBT+ community.
Our Mission
To be the peak national body which works with its stakeholders to provide marketing, advice, and expertise for the LGBT+ travellers and tourism operations.
Our Values
To create a financially robust and influential marketing body that positions our ever-growing membership as the first chose of LGBT+ travellers looking for a welcoming and exciting experience in Australia.
GALTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The GALTA Board of Directors is elected to represent all Members and is supported by dedicated Representatives from across Australia.
Louise was voted in as GALTA President at the 2019 AGM and has been involved as a Board Director since 2012. Her expertise and passion is in destination marketing and tourism strategy, drawing on over 20 years’ experience across State Government and regional tourism in Australia. Louise has held senior marketing positions with Tourism Noosa in Queensland and also at Tourism Victoria, where she led segment marketing for the State in a range of niche areas including gay and lesbian travel. She now runs her own tourism marketing business, Kindred Tourism, working with national and international businesses and destinations to enhance their tourism performance.
Rod was the President of GALTA between 2011 – 2016 and was awarded Life Member of GALTA in 2016. Rod was the first Australian to receive an IGGY award (in 1995) for services to gay tourism internationally. He served three years as a board member and Director of Tourism Noosa, was a committee member of the Sydney Gay Business Association and still proudly represents Australia for the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA).
ben@galta.com.au
Ben Woodward has grown up in the tourism industry, with his parents pioneering one of Tropical North Queensland’s premier attractions, Rainforestation Nature Park Kuranda, in the late 70s. He completed a Degree in Bachelor-Business (Journalism) at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane.
Ben lived in the UK where he worked as an LGBT+ Youth Worker, returning to Cairns to work for the family business, The CaPTA Group, which has become the region’s largest privately owned group of attractions and touring companies, consisting of Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, Jungle Tours, Tropic Wings, Wooroonooran Safaris, Rainforestation, Cairns ZOOM & Wildlife Dome, and Australian Butterfly Sanctuary.
Basing himself between London and Cairns for several years whilst managing Western Markets for the group, Ben now has the role of Director of Sales & Marketing.
Ben has participated in Strategic Advisory Panels with Tourism Tropical North Queensland was Chair of the NQ YATEC Committee in 2012 and the National YATEC Chair. In 2013 he was awarded the Len Taylor YATEC Award for Excellence, and was was re-elected to the ATEC National Board in 2017. Ben has also been on the Board of Tourism Port Douglas & Daintree since 2014, serving in the role of Chair in 2018 and 2019 was also President for SKAL International Cairns.
Ben has volunteered with the Cairns Tropical Pride Festival, later becoming President, and DJs at regular events for the LGBT+ community, and is the organiser of gAyTE, a popular industry event at the annual Australian Tourism Exchange.
sean@galta.com.au
Sean has developed a successful career in tourism over the past 15 years spanning many facets of the industry encompassing roles in revenue management, food and beverage, front office, reservations, sales and guest services across a range of properties throughout Queensland. He has a Bachelor of Tourism Management from James Cook University, a Certificate III in Hospitality Operations and a Certificate of Hotel Revenue Management from Cornell University.
Sean has completed the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) Young Professionals Mentoring Program, has judged and mentored high school students undertaking QTIC’s Salute to Excellence Program and in 2018 was appointed a Young Tourism Leader by Hon Kate Jones MP of the Queensland Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games Since 2015 Sean has been a volunteer with GALTA as an individual and as a business member representative, and was pleased to accept a formal role with the organisation in 2019 and step in as Secretary in 2020.
dennis@galta.com.au
Dennis officially joined GALTA in 2011 as Director and Company Secretary and also volunteered previously introducing tourism products to GALTA.
Dennis has a long career in the airline & tourism industry spanning over 25 years and is current Global Head of Sales for On The Go Tours. Previous roles include Country Manager APAC for Back-Roads Touring, General Manager Australia for Scoot Airlines, 15 years with Virgin Australia in various commercial roles, Ansett Airlines and various hotel positions.
Dennis enjoys all things about travelling and connecting with the community and was welcomed as a Life Member at the 2018 AGM.
ty@galta.com.au
Ty has been in the hospitality industry for many years and currently resides on the beautiful Sunshine Coast. Ty is embedded in the Sunshine Coast community and in particular the catering and tourism sector with experience in managing holiday accommodation, restaurants and clubs. Ty is also a popular marriage celebrant on the Sunshine Coast too. Having been a member of GALTA for a long time we welcome Ty to the board to be able to share and implement the vision of GALTA.
TEAM MEMBERS
development@visitgayaustralia.com.au
Alex currently lives on the Sunshine Coast, originally from Victoria where she worked for Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the capacity of restructuring the membership database and working closely with the change management contractors.
Since living on the Sunshine Coast she has been involved with the local LGBTI+ community, IDAHOT, Pride Network, as well as an organiser and treasurer of the annual Noosa Rainbow River Festival event.
She brings extensive administrative experience in both the not-for-profit and commercial business sectors.
kylee@galta.com.au
With over 30 years’ experience in the travel and tourism industry, Kylee has led many $100M+ successful companies in MD, CFO and COO roles and has grown her own travel sales, marketing and PR agency, Linkd Tourism.
Boasting a high level of efficient management, financial oversight and analysis, Kylee has built her business into one of Australasia’s leading and highly sought after representation companies in tourism today. Kylee has led this firm since 2009 and continues to achieve multiple awards and successes throughout each of its representations.
Prior to taking the reins at Linkd Tourism, Kylee owned and directed a range of tourism-related companies, including World Drive Holidays, Compass Cars, Momento Travel Services, Driveaway Holidays and Alaska Bound, equipping her with a well-rounded knowledge of the industry, as well as an enviable book of contacts.
GALTA REPRESENTATIVES
peter@galta.com.au
For the past fourteen years Peter has managed Waterfront Dunsborough – thirteen prestige holiday homes located in the south west region of W.A.
Peter has been in the industry since 1984, starting at Merlin Hotels in Malaysia.
Peter has also worked in Perth, Sydney, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra and Auckland, and he knows his way around a hotel, at every level! He has won many awards for his work.
He is a founding committee member of Busselton Pride (WA). He has two degrees.
adam@galta.com.au
Adam is the Founding Director of Points of Difference Travel & Events, a boutique tours, events and travel business based in Sydney and operating since 2008.
He is an active member of the Australian LGBT+ community with memberships including Sydney Gay & Lesbian Business Association (SGLBA), Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG) and Melbourne’s Gay & Lesbian Organisation of Business & Enterprise (GLOBE).
Adam’s vision is to create legendary, exciting and memorable tour and travel experiences, with a touch of sophistication. He does this by developing, creating and sourcing the best products, suppliers and properties to work with, adding a fabulous gay layer to their standards. His guests experience safe, welcoming and fun environments, for like-minded people, particularly members of the gay community, both locally and internationally.
His favourite events to produce include Gay Ski Week Australia and the Celebration NYE party on Sydney Harbour.
He’s looking forward to connecting with GALTA members in Sydney and beyond as the industry recovers and grows in the new normal.
nathan@galta.com.au
Nathan has worked in the tourism and hospitality sector for the past 20 years, managing backpacker hostels/bars/nightclubs and also as a travel agent, and brings a wealth of tourism marketing and social media knowledge.
For the past 7 years he has been the Sales Captain for multi-award winning companies Ocean Rafting in the stunning Whitsundays and Ocean Safari in Cape Tribulation in far North Queensland, locally owned and family operated for over 23 years.
He is also on the board of the Airlie Beach Backpacker Assoc (ABBA) and has been working with Whitsundays tourism and hospitality operators since 2008.
He was on the board of Adventure Queensland for a few years and in 2018 was voted Tourism Industry Legend by his peers at the Adventure Tourism Awards – Australia and New Zealand.
rohan@galta.com.au
With a background in arts administration and event management of more than 20 years, Rohan has had the opportunity to work on a diverse range of productions from intimate theatre through to large-scale events.
Key appointments have included General Manager for the former Riverina Theatre Company in Wagga Wagga, Northern Rivers Performing Arts (NORPA) in Lismore, Feast Festival in Adelaide and Jigsaw Theatre Company in Canberra. Additional appointments have included Presenters’ Coordinator for the Victorian Arts Council (now Regional Arts Victoria), Precinct Operations Supervisor for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, Creative Producer for the Adelaide Queer Film Festival (2008) and Interim Company Manager for Red Stitch Actors Theatre (2012).
He has completed the Associate Diploma in Small Companies and Community Theatre through Swinburne University, and has completed the Graduate Diploma of Management (Arts and Cultural Management) through the University of South Australia. He regularly appears on JOY 94.9’s Sunday Arts Program as a guest.