New Tourism Australia Chairman Appointed
Tourism Australia has announced that Rick Allert AM, currently Chair of Coles Group Limited, will become the new Chair of Tourism Australia, replacing Tim Fischer AC.
Tourism Minister Fran Bailey said with his strong business experience, Rick Allert was an ideal choice to take Tourism Australia forward.
“Rick Allert will bring a strong commercial focus to the Board of Tourism Australia, with more than 40 years of business experience, including Chairing one of Australia’s largest companies,” Fran Bailey, Minister for Small Business and Tourism, said today.
“Rick Allert has a long-standing association with the tourism and hospitality industry as Chair of the Voyages Hotels and Resorts, the National Wine Centre and Southcorp.”
“International tourists spent an extra $1.8 billion in Australia in 2006. The challenge is to build on this excellent foundation and I have every confidence that Rick Allert has the skills to take Tourism Australia to the next level.”
Rick Allert’s appointment will commence once he has finalised his existing commitments. His term will expire on 30 June 2010.
In the interim, Tourism Australia’s Deputy Chair, Mr Andrew Burnes, will be acting Chair.
Fran Bailey also announced the Board appointment of Grant Hunt, former CEO of Voyages Hotels and former General Manager of Marina Mirage Gold Coast. Grant Hunt, a Gold Coast resident, has excellent experience in eco-tourism and Indigenous Tourism.
“With his extensive business and tourism experience, Grant Hunt will make an important contribution to the Board,” Fran Bailey said.
Fran Bailey thanked Tim Fischer for his term as Chair, describing him as “almost a tourism icon himself” and bringing “his own individual brand of enthusiasm in his mission to tirelessly promote Australia.”
Fran Bailey also thanked outgoing director Wayne Kirkpatrick for his excellent contribution to the Board.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive