Lyndall DeMarco To Leave International Tourism Partnership

Lyndall DeMarco is to leave her position of Executive Director at the International Tourism Partnership – a part of the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum – to spend more time in her home country of Australia, for family reasons.

Lyndall joined IBLF 7 years ago based on the success of the Youth Career Initiative (YCI), a programme she founded in Thailand in 1994. This program continues to grow. Initially she worked with Robert Davies on the establishment of a “digital divide” project, piloting in South Africa. This World Bank funded programme facilitated the transfer of IT equipment to South Africa, local refurbishment, and distribution to education facilities supported by deployment standards and training. The successful pilot proved to be the model for the multi-million dollar Digital Partnership programme in Ethiopia, in partnership with the World Bank and Ethiopian government, that will see the establishment of a ground breaking refurbishment and training centre and de manufacturing facility.

Lyndall broadened her role to develop YCI and later also assumed leadership of the International Hotels Environment Initiative (IHEI) which was repositioned as the International Tourism Partnership (ITP). She has taken ITP from a single focused environment initiative, to one that embraces the many aspects of sustainable tourism. From Hotel Siting & Design Guidelines, the Going Green Initiative and the Sustainable Performance Operations Tool, Lyndall has focused on developing a more sustainable industry through practical tools and strategies. Several new tools and publications in pilot stages will be launched in the next few months. YCI continues to flourish in ten countries from Jordan to Mexico to Australia graduating 250 students per year.

“Lyndall has made a difference to the lives of many individuals by inspiring industry leaders to move social responsibility and sustainable hospitality up the corporate agenda and responding with practical action. Her leadership, enthusiasm, energy and dynamic style will be greatly missed.” Said IBLF

Lyndall’s last day in London will be 13 October. She will however continue to represent ITP and IBLF in a senior capacity at a number of speaking engagements over the next eight months.

During a transitional period Graham Baxter, IBLF’s Director: Responsible Business Solutions, will oversee the ITP, DP, and YCI programmes.

Said Ed Fuller – Chairman of the ITP Governing Council and Trustee of IBLF – “Lyndall is leaving at a time when ITP is flourishing. She has taken the organization from a single focused environment initiative, to one that embraces every aspect of sustainable tourism. From the Green Hotelier Magazine, to the Sustainable Hotel Sitting & Design Guide and the Youth Career Initiative, Lyndall has made her mark on our industry. She has made a difference to the lives of many individuals through her personal generosity and by inspiring us as industry leaders to move social responsibility up the corporate agenda. Her leadership, enthusiasm, energy and dynamic style will be greatly missed.

ITP has become a leading voice on responsible and sustainable hospitality by the setting of ground breaking standards, providing guidance and practical tools to the industry. Lyndall will continue with speaking engagements at key industry conferences as a senior representative of ITP and IBLF for the next eight months.”

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