The new board of Destination Wollongong has elected Councillor Tania Brown has its new chair.
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Cr Brown has been a council appointed director since 2013 and takes the helm following a new five-year funding agreement with Wollongong City Council and members unanimously agreeing to make changes to the constitution.
An application process was undertaken to recruit a new board to guide the tourism body's strategic direction which includes a new focus on cycling as the city prepares to host the UCI Road World Cycling Championships in September 2022.
The new smaller board of Cr Brown, Cr Leigh Colacino, Wayne Morris, Renee Campbell, Simon Kersten, Graeme Sutherland and Angie Ruperto met for the first time last Thursday.
Cr Brown was previously chair of Destination Wollongong between 2015 and 2017. She said after a challenging 18 months with the COVID-19 pandemic she was happy to draw on her experience to take the helm of the good ship Wollongong again and help chart a course for the future at a very important time for the city.
"This has been my passion project since 2013. I have been all about talking up Wollongong and as we come into the city's Olympic moment with the UCI World Road Championships in 2022 I was happy to step in and help that to fruition.
Cr Brown said the hospitality sector has been particularly hard hit by each lockdown. And anything she can help do to promote the city will help what is a very important sector.
"We know that every dollar spent in our community boosts the visitor economy and helps everyone," she said.
"And as we come out of this pandemic, hopefully when we are all fully vaccinated and can get back to travel, we want to build that domestic market back up and then as we head towards 2022 pray that we are open to international travel.
"I am Wollongong born and bred and just want our city to thrive. Anything we can do to talk up the city I am happy to put my hand up for."
Business event acquisition will also be enhanced under the new agreement with council.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
