The workshop was facilitated by council's corporate communications manager Jason Richardson and tourism co-ordinator Brent Lawrence.

The aim of the event was to start a series of forums providing advice and assistance to accommodation and attraction-based operators in Leeton Shire.

The workshop focused on developing an online presence – from how to get a website and email address to outlining services and tools for advertising and monitoring information.

These tools include reputation, where visitors are coming from, how they are finding sites and where they are looking once they enter the site.

Mr Richardson said if operators weren't on the web then it was hard to exist for an increasing online audience.

"Back in 1995 Bill Gates wrote a book on how the information superhighway was going to change our lives and that business opportunities would develop like those that appeared when automobiles became widely used," he said.

"The motel, or motor hotel is one example.

"We know many visitors plan their travel through online research, so it's important to reach them.

"A highlight was identifying in the data we collect through Google Analytics on the Leeton Tourism website, that four of the top 10 search terms that brought visitors to the accommodation page were looking for one local operator who lacks a website at present."

Mr Lawrence said there was a variety in the level of online presence of tourism operators.

"It was a good opportunity to outline the steps that can be taken and the tools that are available," he said. "The level of attendance was pleasing, with eight different tourism operations represented at the workshop."

A second workshop is planned to be held in late April and an email group has been created to share information, such as distributing the notes from the first workshop.

For more information contact Mr Lawrence on 6953 6481.