Skyrail Chairman Appointed to TTNQ Board

Skyrail Chairman Appointed to TTNQ Board
Ken Chapman, new Chair of TTNQ Board

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Chairman Ken Chapman has been appointed to the Tropical North Queensland TTNQ Board in Australia and, subject to the approval of the incoming Board, will take on the role of Chair when it becomes vacant at the Annual General Meeting in October.

TTNQ Board Chair Wendy Morris said Dr. Chapman brought invaluable business skills to the role and was an experienced chair and director, having sat on numerous national, state and local boards.

โ€œKen chairs the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, was a founding director of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC), and a past director of both Tourism Australia and TTNQ,โ€ she said.

โ€œHe has 10 years of hotel board experience with Event Hospitality and Entertainment as well as multiple board and business interests in tourism, real estate investment and development, health and aquaculture.

โ€œThe TTNQ Board has appointed Ken a Director in the lead-up to the AGM to ensure a smooth transition when I complete my three-year term as Chair.

โ€œHe joins TTNQ as we navigate through one of the toughest challenges ever thrown at the tourism industry, one that has seen the organization pivot its marketing strategy and quickly take on a stronger advocacy agenda to ensure businesses survive.

โ€œCEO Mark Olsen has led the charge with the Boardโ€™s support to lobby State and Federal politicians for assistance, including asking for a wage subsidy which resulted in JobKeeper, one of the many lifelines enabling businesses to continue trading.

โ€œThe See Great, Leave Greater marketing campaign was pulled out of hibernation and reshaped to suit the rapidly changing domestic marketplace with the enviable result of Cairns now the number one region in Australia in Google travel searches.

โ€œThe Cairns and Great Barrier Reef region has what the world wants once travel resumes โ€“ space, warmth and an environment that makes us Sir David Attenboroughโ€™s favorite place on Earth.

โ€œTTNQ is working hard to ensure we take advantage of this so we can grow market share in the post-COVID world.

โ€œKen has been through the many troughs that nature and global crises have thrown at our industry and is a capable leader who understands what is needed for a resilient and sustainable tourism future.โ€

Dr. Chapman, whose father George Chapman became the founding chairman of the tourism marketing body in 1976, said the regionโ€™s $3.5 billion tourism industry had never faced such a tough challenge.

โ€œRecovery from the impact of the pandemic is crucial, not just for the industry, but for the whole region where one in five jobs rely on tourism.

โ€œUnity will be the key moving forward. We have all got to work together by marshalling our resources and preparing our armory to go really hard when we get out on the other side.

โ€œThe tourism industry is all about opportunity and even now while we are in the midst of the pandemic, businesses are looking for opportunities and trying to make the most of the limited number of visitors travelling around Queensland.

โ€œI am looking forward to working closely with the TTNQ Directors and the TTNQ team who have been at the coalface since the COVID-19 outbreak decimated visitor numbers at the start of the Chinese New Year.

โ€œWe all acknowledge and thank Wendy for her contribution as Chair as she has been passionate about helping the industry to succeed in these tough times.

โ€œWendyโ€™s term has coincided with a number of extraordinary challenges including the negative publicity following the back-to-back bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef.โ€

The regionโ€™s tourism leaders have welcomed the appointment with CaPTA Group Director Peter Woodward acknowledging the importance of having a leader with skin in the game.

โ€œAs an owner-operator in these tough times, Ken understands the pain the industry is going through,โ€ he said.

Quicksilver Group Managing Director Tony Baker said Dr. Chapmanโ€™s wealth of experience and exceptional forward-thinking skills would be ideal for the role.

Dr. Chapman is an inspired choice, according to Crystalbrook Collection Interim CEO Geoff York.

โ€œKen brings a wealth of experience in both the destination and the industry and is a strong leader capable of taking TTNQ and the tourism industry forward during these challenging times,โ€ he said.

#rebuildingtravel

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz, eTN editor

Linda Hohnholz, eTN editor

Linda Hohnholz has been writing and editing articles since the start of her working career. She has applied this innate passion to such places as Hawaii Pacific University, Chaminade University, the Hawaii Children's Discovery Center, and now TravelNewsGroup.

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