Destination Gold Coast’s Rachel Hancock tells herserlf ‘never stop learning, never stop improving’

The boss of the Gold Coast’s tourism promotion body has a simple but powerful message she repeats every morning before starting work. Find out what it is

Destination Gold Coast interim chief operating officer Rachel Hancock has a mantra she repeats to herself every morning onarrival when she gets out of the lift.

“Never stop learning, never stop improving.”

It is a saying that has stayed with her ever since her first day editing a newspaper back in Adelaide when she was the acting editor of the Sunday Advertiser.

Another News Corp editor phoned her to wish her well and counselled her to “never stop learning, never stop improving”.

“I say it every morning, just in my head. I truly believe in that. You learn something all the time. You have to be open to it. Coming into the tourism industry I had to learn a lot quickly.”

Back at the end of 2021, she made the move from News Corp and editor of the Gold Coast Bulletin after a media career spanning more than two decades to Destination Gold Coast.

“It can be tough stepping into new roles, big roles, I’m certainly learning every day. But (tourism) is such a supportive industry. It really reminds me of the media a bit. Operators may be competitive in one sense but are super supoortive. They just want the Gold Coast to benefit. I’ve certainly felt that along the way in this role.”

Destination Gold Coast interim chief operating officer Rachel Hancock tells herself every day before work starts: “Never stop learning, never stop improving.” Picture: Glenn Hampson

She also temporarily has another hat on for a few months - as the acting boss of new entity Experience Gold Coast.

“Never stop learning, never stop improving” has never been more appropriate.

“There’s also a bit of vulnerability in that - not being afraid to ask questions and certainly being a journalist has helped in that sense. If you don’t ask, you just don’t know,” Ms Hancock reflects.

She’s proud to see the Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year awards by Harvey Norman flourishing after she was the editor when the first one was rolled out in 2019.

“When I started at the Bulletin it was already a seed - with Brooke Stoddart in a commercial role. She had done all the legwork.

“I thought it was an amazing concept and perfect for the Gold Coast because there are so many accomplished women doing things. One of the things I wanted to do was shine a light on the Gold Coast and celebrate the Gold Coast. And so this was a perfect opportunity to run with it.

Rachel Hancock: “It can be tough stepping into new roles, big roles, I’m certainly learning every day.” Picture: Glenn Hampson

“It was really exciting to be the editor for the first one.”

She adds: “It’s definitely grown. It’s a testament to the city that the nominations continue to grow because I think women can fall into the trap of not putting themselves forward or not putting someone else forward. They just kind of get on with it.”

Part of that growth is testament to her vision. Destination Gold Coast joined as a sponsor in 2022, fostering a new ‘Stars of Tourism’ category which has continued for this year’s awards.

Or as Ms Hancock puts it, it “marries my two loves” - the Bulletin and tourism.

Among her favourite awards campaign memories are 2021 ‘Champions of Sport’ winner Montana Atkinson - an aspiring Paralympic swimmer - giving a moving winner’s speech.

“I really liked when Montana got up and accepted her award - amazing speech and amazing accomplishments for a young woman who has the world at her feet.

“I just remember sitting back going ‘Wow what a new generation coming through, she really stood out’.”

The female support network on the Gold Coast also stands out for her: “It’s an amazing network and group of women. When I got into this job the number of women who contacted me and offered support and said ‘You have got this Rach’, and ‘Anything I can do to help?’

“It still keeps coming.”

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