Tropical North Queensland: Touch of Luxury

Kelly Miller is the Business Development Manager (North America) for ANZCRO DMC, playing a key role in driving sales and partnerships across the U.S. and Canadian travel markets. In this role, Kelly connects North American travel advisors with ANZCRO’s expansive portfolio of Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific travel products and expert support, helping advisors design tailored itineraries and sell unique experiences. As part of the ANZCRO team — a long-established DMC with deep destination knowledge and thousands of products — Kelly focuses on empowering North American Advisors with destination insights, marketing tools and seamless booking solutions to grow their business.

Kiran is Chief Strategy Officer at ANZCRO, Australia & New Zealand’s leading destination management company with 30 years of experience and a team of 90 across offices in both countries. ANZCRO specialises in meticulous customisation, designing itineraries based on each client’s profile, interests and travel goals. ANZCRO’s core competitive advantage is its extensive product range, with over 40,000 contracted products from nearly 5,000 suppliers across Australia and New Zealand. These include accommodation across all styles, transfers, guided tours, activities, attractions, walking and cycling experiences, rail, ferries, car and campervan rentals, and internal flights. The reservations team delivers fast, personalised quotes and itineraries within 1–2 business days. ANZCRO is a member of USTOA, ASTA, IATA, ATEC and NZTEC, and was named Best Reservations Team at the 2025 Australian National Travel Industry Awards. ANZCRO also received Five Magellan Gold Awards for digital innovation and advisor resources in 2024 & 2025.

Kath Cutler is the Sales & Marketing Manager for Western Markets at Tourism Tropical North Queensland, working closely with the travel trade to showcase the very best of Tropical North Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. With a strong passion for destination marketing and industry partnerships, Kath brings valuable insight into the experiences, products, and trends shaping the region for international visitors.

Geoff Pilbeam is the Sales & Marketing Manager for Delaware North Australia Parks & Resorts, bringing extensive experience in tourism, hospitality, and destination marketing. With a passion for showcasing Australia's iconic destinations, Geoff works closely with the travel trade to create memorable visitor experiences across some of the country's most unique wilderness and resort properties.

Jason Heffernan is the owner of Back Country Bliss Adventures, a locally owned Port Douglas tour company specialising in intimate small-group and private experiences through the Daintree Rainforest and surrounding region. Passionate about sharing the real Tropical North Queensland, Jason has built the business around personalised experiences, expert local guiding and getting guests away from the crowds.
Back Country Bliss Adventures offers nature-based experiences that showcase the region in a more personal and memorable way. Signature products include the Mossman Gorge Adventure Day, which combines a guided rainforest walk through Daintree National Park, a traditional Kuku Yalanji Welcome to Country and the unique River Drift Experience, where guests float beneath lush rainforest canopies on crystal-clear waters. Back Country Bliss Adventures also offer exceptional private touring, with experiences ranging from cultural walks and workshops to helicopter-accessed rainforest encounters, hidden waterfalls, e-biking, horseback riding, and secluded river dining. Tours can be tailored to suit different interests, styles and travel preferences, and the team genuinely loves the challenge of designing something completely new and special for guests.

Stephen Marshall is VP of Sales at Beckons in Denver, Colorado. Stephen leads global trade strategy and industry partnerships, driving growth across key international markets and strengthening Beckons' position within the luxury travel sector. Stephen works closely with travel advisors to showcase Beckons' portfolio of extraordinary lodges and experiences. One of the standout experiences within the collection is Silky Oaks Lodge, where luxury and nature come together on the edge of the Daintree Rainforest. Treehouse-style suites open to the sights and sounds of the tropical north, while contemporary design blends seamlessly with one of the world's oldest rainforests. Whether exploring the Daintree, discovering the Great Barrier Reef or simply unwinding beside the Mossman River, Silky Oaks offers an immersive connection to place and a uniquely Australian luxury experience.

Jay Wink is the co-owner and operator of ABC Snorkel Charters in Port Douglas, delivering award-winning small-group Great Barrier Reef experiences. Passionate about marine conservation and exceptional guest experiences, Jay and his team provide personalized snorkel and dive adventures led by knowledgeable reef guides.

Jennifer Penegar is General Manager of Sales for Morris Nautical, a fleet of superyachts granting access to remote islands and untouched reefs and Morris Escapes a collection of luxury lodges set across some of Australia’s most captivating landscapes, from the rugged outback to the the Great Barrier Reef, where immersive experiences meet exceptional hospitality.
Set against the striking silhouette of Ngarrabullgan (Mount Mulligan), 160 kilometres north-west of Cairns, Mt Mulligan Lodge offers an immersive outback escape across a vast 28,000-hectare working cattle station. As a member of Luxury Lodges of Australia, it pairs refined comfort with a deep sense of place.
Here, the absence of mobile reception becomes part of the luxury. Time stretches as you swap screens for open skies, tracing old gold rush trails, driving ATVs across rugged terrain, or drifting along the Hodgkinson River.
Afternoons invite a slower rhythm; perhaps a paddle on the weir in search of elusive platypus, or an indulgent spa treatment.
Encounters with the land feel unfiltered, from meeting the cattle to learning the stories etched into the landscape. As dusk settles, the outback reveals its most intimate moment: a sky scattered with stars, best experienced side by side, in near silence.