General News
29 October, 2022
New Directors elected at TTNQ
TWO new Directors have been elected to the Board of Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ), and four Directors have been re-elected at the 2022 Annual General Meeting.
Passions of Paradise Managing Director Alan Wallish and Banora International Managing Director Janine Bowmaker have joined the Board, while The Reef Hotel Casino General Manager Wayne Reynolds and Coral Expeditions Commercial Director Jeff Gillies were re-elected.
TTNQ Chair Ken Chapman thanked the retiring Directors, Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree Executive Officer Tara Bennett and Crystalbrook Collection Regional General Manager Joel Gordon, for their work over the past three years.
“I wish to thank Tara for her insight and time during her term,” Mr Chapman said.
“Tara was not eligible to seek renomination as a change in membership structure means Local Tourism Organisations can no longer nominate for Board positions.
“I also thank Joel Gordon for his contribution during the most challenging time in the organisation’s history.
“He stepped up when TTNQ required a new approach and was front and centre in engaging with trade to ensure we got the best outcomes with our retail partners.
“Congratulations to Alan Wallish, a veteran reef operator who will bring great experience to the Board in international marketing and trade engagement while continuing our focus on ensuring the Great Barrier Reef is front and centre of the world stage,” he said.
“I also welcome Janine Bowmaker, whose expertise in international trade and media engagement will bring a new perspective to the board from her career in education tourism.
“The education market will be an important part of international recovery through the long length of stay for students and the contribution they make to the tourism industry workforce,” Mr Chapman said.
At the AGM, Mr Chapman welcomed the Queensland Local Government Association’s ringing endorsement of an opt-in local government visitor levy.
“TTNQ has proven that additional marketing funds achieve results for our regional economy by securing $300 million in campaign-generated direct visitor expenditure from the Federal Government’s $10 million investment in 2021- 2022,” he said.
“These impressive results were achieved in a very challenging financial year hampered by border closures and restrictions on the back of the largest integrated domestic marketing campaign in TTNQ’s history.
“Unfortunately, international visitation is recovering slowly, and the record domestic results do not make up for this loss.
“It will take a big effort and serious marketing resourcing to get our international numbers back to where they were.
“We have much to do to maintain the domestic momentum and regain our international business, and sustainable funding has never been more important,” Mr Chapman said.
