Bio
With over 30 years in Australian tourism and marketing, Melanie Grevis-James has an extensive career within the Australian tourism industry. She has had key marketing roles within all levels of the tourism industry; including with Regional, State, and Federal tourism organisations, private tourism operators, and as a marketing consultant for tourism associations, local councils and operators. Roles have included positions at Tourism Australia, Tourism & Events Queensland, Tourism Sunshine Coast, and others. Melanie has extensive experience in destination and brand marketing, strategic marketing and planning, the drive market, and the inbound/international tourism market. She spent 5 years based in Munich, Germany with Tourism & Events Queensland; and 2 years with Tourism Australia in Sydney, focused on the Western markets (UK, Europe, South Africa, Middle East).
Since 2001 Melanie has operated a tourism and marketing consulting business, now called
Planet Marketing. She provides a range of marketing services to numerous clients, both within the tourism industry, and other industries. She has assisted tourism-based associations (Qld Farmstay Assoc, B&B Assoc of Qld, Brisbane Backpackers Assn, Ecotourism Australia), councils, and private businesses, including resorts, hotels, B&B’s, retreats, farmstays, tour companies, car rental companies, caravan manufacturer; and has a focus on sustainable and responsible tourism products.
Melanie launched Our Planet Travel in mid-2012 to raise consumer awareness of responsible and ‘greener’ travel choices. She self-published Our Planet Travel magazine till 2018; and continues writing for travel media and her blog. Previously Melanie published MakeTracks in-vehicle magazine for THL Australia (Britz & Maui Rentals) for over 12 years.
Melanie has a Bach. Business (Tourism/Hospitality Management) degree; speaks German fluently; and lives in Brisbane. She is a Certified Practicing Marketer with the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI CPM); an active member of Ecotourism Australia, the Australian Society of Travel Writers (ASTW), and a Tourism Tribe mentor; and volunteers marketing services to local NFP community groups. Melanie also manages a local business group, Westside Business Heart, based in the Western suburbs of Brisbane.
