088 | Driving Regional Tourism Through Technology, Data, and Innovation with Gary Fog

In this episode, recorded live at the Australian Regional Tourism Convention in Adelaide, Despina Karatzias sits down with Gary Fog of Bookeasy to talk technology, distribution and the visitor economy. Gary shares his 20-plus years across commercial tourism, from the Wyndham Group to a start-up with Beyond a Holiday and how a tap on the shoulder led him to Bookeasy. The conversation covers Bookeasy’s recent acquisition by the G’day Group and the capital investment now fuelling its technology, the mission of keeping commissions and bookings local rather than flowing to overseas OTAs, and how the platform helps smaller regional operators digitise and distribute their product. Gary also offers practical guidance for operators weighing up off-the-shelf SaaS versus bespoke software, building a clear distribution strategy and a direct database, and where AI might take the industry next.

In this episode:

• Gary’s journey through 20-plus years of commercial tourism and how he landed at Bookeasy
• Bookeasy’s acquisition by the G’day Group and what the capital investment unlocks
• Keeping it local, why retaining commissions regionally matters alongside the OTAs
• Helping smaller and newer operators digitise their business and get their product to market
• Off-the-shelf SaaS versus bespoke software, and choosing a proven, well-integrated platform
• Building a clear distribution strategy, chasing direct bookings and nurturing your own database

Episode Chapter

01:07 Gary’s background: 20+ years in tourism and joining Bookeasy
02:13 Where Bookeasy is now: the G’day Group acquisition and capital investment
02:46 Keeping commissions local and helping smaller operators digitize
03:39 Why marketing has a cost: bringing new operators on board
04:48 AI and the future of the visitor-servicing network
05:01 Bookeasy’s role with visitor centres, RTOs, and distribution channels
06:04 “Think global, start local”: distribution and the circular economy
06:39 Off-the-shelf SaaS vs. building bespoke software
07:59 Advice for operators starting fresh or switching platforms
09:23 CRM, databases, and marketing to guests directly


Connect with Gary Fog
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-fog-3833984/
Bookeasy: https://www.bookeasy.com/

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