Rough water for Tourism Queensland

A report in Brisbane’s The Courier Mail by Melissa Maugeri, Tourism Reporter says that after a tumultuous month that has seen its chairman and then Chief Executive leave, Tourism Queensland is preparing to move forward under new leadership.

The sudden resignation of Chairman Peter Wade and weeks later Chief Executive Officer Ian Mitchell had many asking questions about relations between the statutory authority and the office of Tourism Minister Margaret Keech.

But the industry has closed ranks, declaring the timing of the departures is mere coincidence.

Mitchell says he’s proud of his achievements during his three years on the job.

He has overseen TQ at a time when domestic overnight trips to Queensland grew 5% while NSW figures slumped 7% and Victoria fell 5%.

“I leave it in a much better shape than when I arrived,” Mitchell said.

It is an opinion shared by former chairman Peter Wade, who resigned weeks before Mitchell announced he would not seek to renew his contract.

“What he (Ian) achieved in the view of the board was fantastic,” Wade said.

But Wade would not reveal why he resigned, saying: “It’s an issue between me and the Minister.”

Wade, who made about $100 million back in 2003 after selling his UK business Travelbag to an Indian company, said while he loved the tourism industry he thought he could contribute more from outside government.

Despite the industry claiming it is business as usual, incoming chairman Don Morris admits concern about a leadership vacuum at Tourism Queensland was one of the drivers that led him to take on the top role after being a board member for two years.

“There’s an amazing passion to do the right thing by Queensland and that’s a potent thing,” Morris said.

Morris was one of the founders of an advertising agency that launched Paul Hogan’s “shrimp on the barbie” and Qantas’s “I still call Australia home” campaigns.

He was the third principal, along with his brother Alan Morris and Allan Johnston, who launched the Mojo advertising agency in 1979.

Morris said outgoing Chairman Wade was working to ensure a smooth transition and Anthony Hayes’s appointment as acting CEO is also expected to help stabilise TQ as it goes through the three-month process of recruiting a permanent chief.

Hayes is the Executive Director international of TQ and was responsible for bringing together its offering at this year’s Australian Tourism Exchange and according to Tourism and Transport Forum Australia chief Chris Brown quick action following the departures has eased the impact of the leadership changes.

“It’s been a tough run in Queensland but they’ve made the best of the situation, made great appointments and kept us in the loop,” Brown said.

Don Morris’s appointment has been well received and fits in with Keech’s strategy to ensure more regional representation on the board.

A resident of Port Douglas, Morris was a founder and inaugural Deputy Chairman of the industry group that developed into the Tourism and Transport Forum.

In his 60s, he has spent many years in advertising and tourism, with board directorships including RM Williams, Tourism Asset Holdings, Port Douglas Reef Resorts, Harvey World Travel and Hamilton Island Enterprises.

At the heart of the Tourism Queensland changes is a statutory body coming to terms with a more hands-on Minister.

Keech is seeking a network review of the state’s regional tourism authorities as part of her overriding Queensland Tourism Strategy.

It’s a long-term plan devised with the industry and has received support from small business and industry bodies.

Australian Tourism Export Council Managing Director Matthew Hingerty said his members were more interested in the work TQ was doing, not staff changes.

“If the changes and turnover impacts on the day-to-day business we’d be concerned but there is no evidence of that,” Hingerty said.

Keech’s zeal for the Queensland Tourism Strategy comes amid a corporate mentality among some in TQ that the body should not have much to do with the Minister’s office.

It’s not a view shared by Morris who said Keech had every right to know where TQ’s money was going.

“Frankly it’s the way it’s meant to be – they own the biscuit tin,” he said.

Keech stands by her proactive approach, saying, “When I came to the portfolio I gave my promise to the industry I would be a strong advocate”. “It’s about partnerships and transparency from beginning to end.”

“I make no apology for being hands-on leading the industry and developing the Queensland Tourism Strategy,” she said.

Keech maintained Morris would lead the board and TQ into a new era, adding, “Don Morris is superbly credentialled to take on this role.  He served for seven years on the board of the Australian Tourist Commission (now Tourism Australia), with two terms as Chairman,” she said.

“He brings years of experience at the highest levels of marketing and tourism to the position and will work closely with me to continue to implement the exciting Queensland Tourism Strategy.”

Report by The Mole