Australian export case study If you’ve had the chance to backpack anywhere around the world, chances are you’ve heard of Global Gossip. With about 300 sites across Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA, Europe and Fiji, Global Gossip Group keeps travellers, especially in the youth and student sectors, connected. Starting up in Sydney 14 years ago, Global Gossip specialises in end-to-end guest communication solutions for tourists. This includes software, hardware, management and support, in the form of phone cards, mobile, internet and wireless access. Global Gossip Group’s Director Peter Ovenden says the company is very strong in the backpack traveller market in every country they have a presence, including Fiji. But there was still further they could go. “We were already operating in Fiji and doing well, but going it alone, we’d reached as far as we could in the market. That’s were Austrade’s assistance came into play,” he said. “Austrade invited us to a trade event in Nadi (Fiji) in 2009 and from there we were able to make connections with several 4 and 5-star hotels and resorts. This led to the opportunity for Global Gossip to supply a number of properties in the region. “Austrade Suva was able to put a few more pieces of the puzzle together for us and give us the extra help we needed in Fiji,” he said. Austrade’s Suva-based Trade Commissioner, Dan Williams said, “Global Gossip Group had already been in the Fiji market for a few years. Tourism is the biggest export earner in Fiji and Global Gossip came to Austrade to find out how they could further their reach. “Austrade provided guidance and advice in particular about the 4 and 5-star resort market where Global Gossip had not penetrated to the same degree as the backpacker market. It shows no matter how mature a business is, the right type of market intelligence can be leveraged to help increase market share,” Mr Williams said. Global Gossip also received assistance from Austrade’s San Francisco office to enter the US market and took advantage of Austrade’s Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme during their first four years of operation. |