Best Job in the World Island Caretaker celebrates his first day on the job
Published Wednesday, 01 July, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading
The Honourable Peter Lawlor
Ben Southall, the 34 year-old Briton who beat more than 34,000 applicants from around the world to be named as Tourism Queensland’s Best Job in the World Island Caretaker, started work today.
Ben spent his first day flying up to Hamilton Island in Queensland’s Islands of the Great Barrier Reef, picking up the golf buggy that will be his main transport for the next six months and settling into his new home – a luxury, three bedroom ocean-front villa called Blue Pearl.
Ben said “excited” did not begin to describe how he felt about officially beginning his six month stint as Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
“It seems a lifetime ago when I sat down in January to plan and film my 60 second video application for the Best Job in the World,” he said.
“At times I still can’t believe I was successful in being offered what has to be the most sought-after job in the world – the chance to spend six months exploring the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef – one of the world’s most amazing destinations.
“During the selection process in May I was lucky enough to visit a small part of the destination so I can’t wait to get out there, start exploring as many of the 600 islands that I can, and start telling the world about my experiences.”
Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor said the Best Job in the World campaign had catapulted Queensland onto the global stage.
“When the Best Job in the World campaign was launched in January during the depths of a cold Northern Hemisphere winter and a gloomy economic climate, it was a ray of sunshine firmly fixed on Queensland,” Mr Lawlor said.
“While we knew it was a unique idea and we hoped it would grab the world’s imagination, we had no idea just how big it would get.
“Within 24 hours hundred of thousands of people had visited the www.islandreefjob.com website and The Best Job in the World was the topic on everyone’s lips, from office water coolers to kitchen tables, local pubs and online blogs and forums.
“By the time applications closed more than 34,000 people from almost 200 countries had applied to be the Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef.”
On May 6 Ben Southall, a charity events organiser from Petersfield in the UK, was named Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef after a three day selection process on Hamilton, Daydream and Hayman Islands.
Ben’s six month $AUD150,000 contract requires him to explore the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef, experience the destination, and report back on his adventures via a blog, video diary and media interviews.
Tourism Queensland CEO Anthony Hayes said The Best Job in the World was one of, if not the, most successful tourism campaigns ever.
The campaign has so far achieved more than $AUD200 million in publicity value for Queensland and has won a swag of awards including three Grand Prix, two Gold Lions and two PR Lions at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.
“The objective now is to convert the massive global interest in the campaign into real bookings and real dollars into the pockets of Queensland’s tourism industry,” Mr Hayes said.
“While it’s early days yet, many operators in the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef are reporting increased web hits and email inquiries, while several of our international markets are reporting good results from tactical campaigns designed around the Best Job in the World.
“We can’t wait to see the unique perspective Ben will bring to what is one of the most beautiful parts of the world.”
Sign up for Ben’s blog at www.islandreefjob.com
Further details:
Minister’s office: +3225 1005
Tourism Queensland: +61 408 768 948
Ben spent his first day flying up to Hamilton Island in Queensland’s Islands of the Great Barrier Reef, picking up the golf buggy that will be his main transport for the next six months and settling into his new home – a luxury, three bedroom ocean-front villa called Blue Pearl.
Ben said “excited” did not begin to describe how he felt about officially beginning his six month stint as Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
“It seems a lifetime ago when I sat down in January to plan and film my 60 second video application for the Best Job in the World,” he said.
“At times I still can’t believe I was successful in being offered what has to be the most sought-after job in the world – the chance to spend six months exploring the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef – one of the world’s most amazing destinations.
“During the selection process in May I was lucky enough to visit a small part of the destination so I can’t wait to get out there, start exploring as many of the 600 islands that I can, and start telling the world about my experiences.”
Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor said the Best Job in the World campaign had catapulted Queensland onto the global stage.
“When the Best Job in the World campaign was launched in January during the depths of a cold Northern Hemisphere winter and a gloomy economic climate, it was a ray of sunshine firmly fixed on Queensland,” Mr Lawlor said.
“While we knew it was a unique idea and we hoped it would grab the world’s imagination, we had no idea just how big it would get.
“Within 24 hours hundred of thousands of people had visited the www.islandreefjob.com website and The Best Job in the World was the topic on everyone’s lips, from office water coolers to kitchen tables, local pubs and online blogs and forums.
“By the time applications closed more than 34,000 people from almost 200 countries had applied to be the Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef.”
On May 6 Ben Southall, a charity events organiser from Petersfield in the UK, was named Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef after a three day selection process on Hamilton, Daydream and Hayman Islands.
Ben’s six month $AUD150,000 contract requires him to explore the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef, experience the destination, and report back on his adventures via a blog, video diary and media interviews.
Tourism Queensland CEO Anthony Hayes said The Best Job in the World was one of, if not the, most successful tourism campaigns ever.
The campaign has so far achieved more than $AUD200 million in publicity value for Queensland and has won a swag of awards including three Grand Prix, two Gold Lions and two PR Lions at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.
“The objective now is to convert the massive global interest in the campaign into real bookings and real dollars into the pockets of Queensland’s tourism industry,” Mr Hayes said.
“While it’s early days yet, many operators in the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef are reporting increased web hits and email inquiries, while several of our international markets are reporting good results from tactical campaigns designed around the Best Job in the World.
“We can’t wait to see the unique perspective Ben will bring to what is one of the most beautiful parts of the world.”
Sign up for Ben’s blog at www.islandreefjob.com
Further details:
Minister’s office: +3225 1005
Tourism Queensland: +61 408 768 948