InTravel Group Hosts a Panel on Indigenous Engagement in The Travel Industry 

On Thursday, 9 October, InTravel Group hosted a thought-provoking panel discussion in Melbourne, shining a spotlight on the travel industry’s contribution to First Nations outcomes.  

InTravel Group Founder Dwayne Good, a Bundjalung man and 20-year travel industry veteran, said that while the travel industry has made great strides in recent years, there is still much more work to be done. “We organised this event in the hope that it sparks a call to action, to drive even greater outcomes and inspire our industry to keep pushing for genuine, lasting change.”

Like many sectors in Australia, the travel industry has made significant progress over the past decade, building strong momentum through reconciliation initiatives and Indigenous engagement strategies. However, now is the time to move beyond box-ticking and shift towards a more genuine, outcome-driven approach, where change is meaningful, measurable, and enduring.  

The event brought together a diverse audience of corporate travel buyers, Indigenous entrepreneurs, and travel industry peers, all sharing a common interest in creating a more inclusive travel landscape. As some of the country’s most visible and trusted brands, major travel companies have an enormous capacity to influence, through employment, procurement, partnerships, and storytelling. 

Much of this progress is already happening behind the scenes, and these strong foundations now present an opportunity to amplify that impact, to bring more visibility to the great work being done and inspire others across the industry to do the same. 

The all-Indigenous panel featured representatives from major travel brands including Qantas, Accor, and InTravel Group, and was facilitated by Indigenous business entrepreneur Sara Stuart. Panellists Belinda Murdoch (Qantas), Kedea Atherton (Accor), and Dwayne Good (InTravel Group) shared their insights and experiences on what genuine progress looks like in practice. 

Key takeaways from the event

Representation matters: 
While progress has been made, Indigenous representation across the travel industry remains limited. Real impact starts when we see more First Nations people working, leading, and shaping decisions within the industry. 

Visibility and influence: Large travel brands have a unique opportunity and responsibility to showcase First Nations products, services, and talent to millions of local and international travellers.  

Authentic investment: Real outcomes come from genuine commitment, supported by a top-down approach coupled with organisational structure and a culture that drives lasting change. 

Collective action: True progress will come from collaboration across the entire travel ecosystem, when corporates, agencies, suppliers, and Indigenous businesses work together to create opportunities, share knowledge, and hold each other accountable for outcomes. 

The future of engagement: In five years’ time, the goal is for Indigenous engagement to be business as usual, a natural, embedded part of how the travel industry operates every day.  

In conclusion, we acknowledge the great work being done nationwide; however, while gaps still exist between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, there is still much more the business community can do to drive meaningful and lasting change.