Top tourism gig goes East
IT’S a Gold Coast takeover at the top level of tourism.
Gold Coast-based Federal Tourism Minister Steve Ciobo has appointed fellow Gold Coaster and hotel group Mantra CEO Bob East to the Tourism Australia chairmanship.
Mr East, who became the first Glitter Strip appointee on the TA board along with Andrea Staines in May last year, replaces departing TA chairman Tony South.
The country’s peak tourism marketing body is funded by Federal Government to the tune of more than $129 million a year.
“Bob East is someone with a wealth of experience in the Australian tourism industry and for many years has been at the helm of driving one of the biggest tourism-related business in the country,” Mr Ciobo said yesterday.
“This is the first time the Gold Coast has had a chairman of Tourism Australia.”
Mantra Group, since Mr East’s appointment as CEO in 2007, has grown from 41 properties to more than 128 properties.
He also lead the company’s ASX listing in June, 2014.