November 8, 2011

Kia Ora !*FIRSTNAME*!,

Have your say - Applicants wanted to Join Rotorua Tourism Committee

We are making progress and continuing down the path to deliver the commitments we have made to industry for greater and clearer communication and implementation of a framework for more active engagement and input.

To that end I am pleased to update you on the status of the following:

1) Applicants called for to join Rotorua Tourism Committee

We are currently seeking two energetic, passionate and committed individuals with a good insight into the Rotorua and NZ Tourism industry to join the Rotorua Tourism Committee. The Rotorua Tourism Committee is the governance board providing leadership and direction to help drive tourism growth and optimise economic benefit for Rotorua. The Tourism Committee support the Rotorua District Council and its regional tourism organisation – Destination Rotorua Marketing, and are tasked with promoting innovation and fresh strategic thinking to assist Rotorua retain and build on its position as New Zealand's first and premiere tourism destination.

Anyone contemplating applying will require:

• Previous experience at the board table
• Strategic, analytical, operational, and communication competencies
• A passion for Rotorua
• A comprehensive understanding of marketing techniques and practices particularly as they relate to regional tourism organisations and the tourism industry.
• A working knowledge of visitor industry distribution channels
• A working knowledge of visitor industry sectors.

Suitable applicants are invited to visit rotoruanz.com/tourism-committee for more information around the role of the committee, a recent review of visitor industry representations arrangements, requirements of the Chair and members, committee Terms of Reference and Destination Rotorua Marketing.
Suitable applicants are invited to submit a CV and other relevant material to Peter Guerin, Chief Executive, Rotorua District Council, Private Bag 3029, Rotorua or e-mail peter.guerin@rdc.govt.nz marked "Tourism Committee, Private and Confidential" by Friday, 25th November 2011 for consideration by the appointment panel.

Applicants will be shortlisted and interviewed by an appointment panel. This appointment panel will include two industry representatives who will be chosen by the industry through an on-line electoral process. The process to elect industry members to the appointment panel will be completed by the end of November 2011. Please note this is a separate process to the one recently completed to appoint two representatives to the GM appointment panel.
 
It is our intention to have these positions filled by the last Tourism Committee meeting of the 2011 year on 20 December 2011.

2) Recruitment General Manager Destination Rotorua Marketing

Recruitment Panel:
You would be aware the open election process for 2 industry representatives to join the recruitment panel for the new GM position has been completed. The two industry representatives as elected by the industry online election are:

• Pipiana Whiston
• Bruce Thomasen

Application and Interviews:
Applications for the position of General Manager Destination Rotorua Marketing closed 28th October 2011. A shortlist will be completed by the recruitment panel the week commencing 7 November 2011 with interviews scheduled from the 10th to the 23rd November 2011. It is anticipated that a final decision will be made by the date of the next Tourism Committee meeting on the 24th November 2011.

3) Industry Liaison Structure

As a result of industry feedback, a desire to improve the channels of communication and facilitate a greater level of engagement and input from industry the Tourism Committee and RDC will support the establishment of an improved industry liaison structure.

A paper putting forward some options for such a structure will be circulated for input and industry feedback by Friday the 11th November. Included in these options will be the original Macintryre report recommendations as well as some other models for review.

We would encourage and appreciate feedback on the options presented by Monday the 21st November 2011. Collated feedback will be reviewed by the Tourism Committee and a decision made on the preferred option at the next Committee meeting on the 24th November 2011.

Kind regards

Tony Marks
Chairman
Rotorua Tourism Committee