Gold Coast tourism: Destination Gold Coast launch hunt for new CEO after Annalise Battista’s exit
A nationwide search will be launched to find the next head of the Gold Coast’s peak tourism and marketing body. Here’s what you need to do to get one of the city’s biggest chief executive gigs.
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A NATIONWIDE search will launch on Friday to find the next head of the Gold Coast’s peak tourism and marketing body.
Destination Gold Gold Coast will launch a “robust” process to find a replacement for Annaliese Battista who exited the organisation’s top job under mysterious circumstances in August.
The recruitment process is expected to run for two months and will be led by a five-member selection panel.
Destination Gold Coast Chairman Paul Donovan said Ms Battista’s replacement would be a leader who would “continue to elevate the awareness of the Gold Coast and champion the city’s tourism and economic recovery”.
“The change in management and executive leadership will be integral in providing support to Gold Coast’s 4600 tourism businesses to rebuild our $6 billion tourism economy,” he said.
“More than ever, our ability to attract domestic visitors followed by international markets now and into the future will directly impact arrivals to the city and therefore tourism recovery.”
Mr Donovan encouraged senior executives to apply.
He said the new CEO needed to develop “strategies and plans that deliver a strong return on investment that positively impacts the local economy, drives visitation and supports the social and cultural fabric of the Gold Coast”.
“Our data suggests that in 2020, COVID-19 will cost Gold Coast’s tourism sector between $3.3 to $4.3 billion, with a potential loss of some six to nine million visitors.
“The gravity of this impact to Gold Coast’s visitor economy and chief economic driver cannot be understated.
“It is therefore imperative that DGC is well positioned to steer the sector, so it can get back on its feet as quickly as possible when interstate, New Zealand and international borders open.”
Originally published as Gold Coast tourism: Destination Gold Coast launch hunt for new CEO after Annalise Battista’s exit