The Douglas Chamber of Commerce is calling for local businesses and tradespeople to take part in the Douglas Regional Expo and Trade Fair later this month as both exhibitors and guest speakers.  

This one-day event on Thursday, March 27 will provide opportunities for local businesses to network and showcase their products and services to other businesses in the Port Douglas, Daintree and Mossman region. 

Chair of Douglas Chamber of Commerce, Phoebe Kitto, said the Chamber was hoping to attract at least 30 exhibitors and up to 20 local tradespeople to participate in the event. 

“We are excited to launch the Douglas Regional Expo and Trade Fair as it will help local businesses learn more about other operators, tours and activities in the region, as well as promoting and educating other businesses about their own products and services,” she said. 

“We are also in the process of confirming our guest speakers on the day and are urging any business owners who feel they have something really positive and educational to share to come forward and contact us with their ideas.”  

Ms Kitto said the response had been very positive so far with a number of exhibitors on board including Blue Dive, Busy Bees Baby Sitting, Great Barrier Reef Marathon, Far North Training and Consultancy, Port Douglas Magazine, Mossman Gorge, Bolt Burchill and Tranter, Daintree Naturals, MPDT - Tree Lopping and Removal, The Reef Marina, Port Douglas Carnivale, Lotsa Printing, and Lync Haven Rainforest Motel.

Confirmed guest speakers also include Doug Ryan of Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree, Phoebe Kitto of HR Dynamics, Pam Willis-Burden from the Historical Society, and Liz Ross from Importance of First Aid. Chris Jones will also speak on the Great Barrier Reef, and Roy Weavers on Port Douglas Carnivale. 

Businesses who register will be able to set up stalls or exhibits at the expo and local tradies who sign up will be able to distribute business information at the event. She said Douglas Chamber of Commerce members were also able to display their brochures and business cards free of charge, while anyone who joined the Chamber or renewed their subscription, would be able to place an additional staff member on their free of charge.  

“It will be a fantastic opportunity for businesses within the region to network with other operators and take advantage of the many seminars, guest speaker events and job leads at the expo. 

“There will be customer service sessions available, a Jobs Board listing any job vacancies, traineeships and apprenticeships on offer, a host of raffles and prizes drawn throughout the day and guest speakers from marine experts and the Historical Society to local tourism operators,” Ms Kitto said. 

The expo will be a free event and will be held at the Port Douglas Community Centre (opposite the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre). Exhibition space for businesses will cost $100 per stall and tradespeople wanting to distribute information will pay $50 to participate.  

Businesses wanting to exhibit at the expo should contact Jess Coleman at TNQ Marketing on 0467 667 000 or visit www.tnqmarketing.com for more information.