Digital Strategy for Small Australian Tourism Operators
Digital Strategy & Tourism Development Consulting
Built by an operator, for operators
Here’s something most digital agencies won’t tell you — they’ve never run a small tourism business in their life. They’ve never dealt with a last-minute cancellation, a quiet week that makes you wonder if you’ve made a terrible mistake, or the gut punch of watching 30% of a hard-earned booking disappear into an OTA’s pocket.
I have. I built Escape Scenes from the ground up, ran private and coach tours across NSW and QLD, and spent years figuring out how to get direct bookings without handing more of every sale to the OTAs. Other operators started asking how I did it — and that became Drumroll.
I work with small Australian tourism businesses — tour operators, B&Bs, boutique accommodation, experience providers — who are tired of bleeding margin to OTAs and want to build something that’s genuinely theirs. I’m not a big agency. I’m one person who’s lived what you’re dealing with, and that makes a real difference.
Web & Booking Systems
Your website should be your hardest working team member — taking bookings at midnight while you’re getting some sleep. I build fast, no-nonsense websites with clean integrations into the booking systems small operators actually use — Rezdy, Little Hotelier, Bookeasy and others — built around one goal: getting you direct bookings without the commission bleed.
Local SEO & Google Rankings
I ranked my own tour business in Google without an agency, without a massive budget, and without any shortcuts. I know exactly what works for small Australian tourism businesses in local search — and I apply the same approach to yours. From the Google Map Pack to high-intent search terms, I get you visible to travellers who are ready to book.
Video & Photography
In tourism, you’re not selling a seat on a bus or a bed for the night — you’re selling a feeling. I produce genuine cinematic video and photography that shows people exactly what they’re booking and makes them excited to do it. The kind of visuals that build instant trust with first-time visitors and hit the quality thresholds OTAs demand.
Sick of Handing 30% to the OTAs?
Yeah, me too. I spent years watching a massive chunk of every booking go straight to TripAdvisor, Viator, or GetYourGuide before I even touched it. It’s not a great feeling — especially when you’ve done all the hard work of actually running the tour.
That’s the whole reason Drumroll exists. I reduced my own OTA dependency significantly by building a proper direct-booking presence — better website, stronger Google rankings, a Google Business Profile that actually converts. Now I help other operators do exactly the same thing.
Take The Confusion Out Of Building Your Online Presence!
I know the digital side of things can feel like a lot — especially when you’re already flat out running tours, managing wildlife experiences, hosting guests or keeping an attraction operational. You don’t need another overwhelming agency proposal with a 47-page strategy document.
You need someone who gets it, speaks plain English, and actually delivers. Whether you run day tours in Sydney, eco experiences in Queensland, food and wine trails in Victoria, or boutique accommodation with guided experiences — I can help. Let’s just have a conversation and figure out where to start.
Featured Projects
Check out our recent client projects.
Australian Based Services
I work directly with every single client — no account managers, no outsourcing, no call centres. Just me, Dave, based in Sydney, working with tourism experience businesses right across Australia. Whether you run private tours, coach charters, wildlife experiences, eco tourism adventures, food and wine trails, cultural tours, boutique accommodation or visitor attractions — if you take direct bookings and lose margin to OTAs, I can help.
Ready to Stop Relying on OTAs?
Whether you’re bleeding margin to Viator, stuck waiting on overflow work from bigger operators, or just starting out and trying to build something of your own — you’re in the right place. I’ve been exactly where you are, and I know what it takes to get out of it.
Drop your details below and I’ll be in touch personally. No sales pitch, no pressure — just a straight conversation.
Rather Just Pick Up the Phone?
Honestly, that works even better for me. Give me a ring — I’m Dave:
📞 0407 251 296