Barr Planning had the pleasure of hosting the latest Leading Agenda event with the University of Newcastle, which brought together industry leaders and stakeholders to discuss tourism and economic growth opportunities in the Hunter Region. The evening was packed with valuable insights from guest speakers Peter Cock, CEO of Newcastle Airport and Stephen Hunt, Managing Director of Hunt Hospitality along with lively discussions, and plenty of networking.

Key highlights from the event: 

MCing the evening, Stephen Barr opened the night with an insightful presentation on Hunter Region Travel Trends. He discussed the rise of unique local experiences and the flexibility of “work from anywhere” arrangements. Stephen emphasised the significant opportunities for the Hunter to tap into the growing tourism market, attract existing businesses to expand into the region, and increase international connections through Newcastle.

Peter Cock, shared the airport’s purpose “to be the airport the region deserves”, providing exciting updates on the $250m terminal expansion. He spoke to the potential for new international routes and the tremendous opportunities they present for both tourism and freight, reinforcing Newcastle Airport’s critical role in driving business growth and regional connectivity.

Stephen Hunt delivered data-driven insights into domestic tourism in Newcastle, exploring patterns in seasonality, visitor purpose, and place of origin. His analysis of what visitors are doing in the region shed light on the profound economic impacts of tourism on retail, accommodation, public transport, and hospitality. Stephen also provided a future outlook on the intersection of tourism and hospitality and how these sectors will shape the growth of the Hunter.

Following the guest speakers presentation, Barr Planning Director Rebecca Johnston facilitated an engaging panel discussion where the guest speakers were joined by Manager, Startup Programs Richard Berry, and Associate Professor in Tourism Dr. Tamara Young. Together they answered questions and shared further insights on their experiences in tourism, entrepreneurship, and education.

A special thank you to our guest speakers and panelists, as well as Christine Armstrong and the Newcastle Business School for their continued support and partnership in making the Leading Agenda a success.
We look forward to the next event and to continuing these important discussions that drive the future of the Hunter Region.