Tourism Whitsundays (TW) held its Annual General Meeting on Monday October 16 and announced its new board, which will assist the marketing and visitor attraction agency with strategy and direction for the next 12 months.
A new era in tourism has been heralded in, with a new board for the Whitsunday region’s local tourism organisation.
Tourism Whitsundays (TW) held its Annual General Meeting on Monday October 16 and announced its new board, which will assist the marketing and visitor attraction agency with strategy and direction for the next 12 months.
The board represents a wide cross-section of businesses including tourism operators and also non-tourism businesses.
Al Grundy was again voted in as chairman in the email and postal ballot amongst TW’s member organisations.
Speaking at the AGM, held at Lure, Abell Point Marina, Mr Grundy said it has been an honour to represent Tourism Whitsundays during the past 12 months. He thanked outgoing board members and those board members remaining on the board serving their second year, and also congratulated the new board members.
“The board members give their time voluntarily to further the local tourism industry, when they are already running their own businesses as well,” he said.
“Like most things, it is a group effort and we appreciate everyone’s efforts along the way, especially in this very challenging year.”
Tourism Whitsundays CEO Craig Turner said it had been a “massive effort” by everyone involved.
“We have only been a standalone organisation since April 1, last year [April 1, 2016] and the past 18 months have seen a massive effort by everyone – board members, TW staff, our stakeholders – to get our organisation back on track and also our tourism industry, following TC Debbie.
“As always, I can’t thank our partners enough for their support – Whitsunday Regional Council, Tourism and Events Queensland and the Queensland Government, who were there for us when we really needed them – and of course the Federal Government too.
“It has been a tough year but we have come through it and we will be stronger for it. There is a lot happening in the Whitsundays at present, with a lot of projects on the drawing board, and I think we are entering a new era, with many new opportunities coming our way.”
Attendees at the AGM were presented with the Annual Report from the past year including the financial statements, before TW’s new board was announced.
Tourism Whitsundays is a not-for-profit, membership-based organisation that is responsible for marketing the destination in an effort to increase visitation, expenditure and dispersal across the Whitsundays.
TW is run by a team of staff, headed up by a CEO, and a board of 14 voluntary board members who provide strategic and long-term direction, and represent the needs and interests of members.
Tourism Whitsundays is the Regional Tourism Organisation (RTO) for the Whitsundays and is recognised by the State Government as being the region’s lead, visitor attraction agency.
The new TW Board is made up of:
- Matt Boileau
- Jan Claxton
- Jonathon Freeman
- Al Grundy
- Racheal Klitscher (ex officio)
- Naomi McKinnon
- Brooke Ogden
- Judy Porter
- Trevor Rees
- Andrew Telford
- Craig Turner (ex officio)
- Karen Vloedmans
- Greg Waites
- Mayor Andrew Willcox (ex officio)
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
