Tourism’s ‘terrific leader’ set to quit after almost five years
One of the champions of Territory tourism’s successful Covid response is stepping away.
Business
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Tourism Top End general manager Glen Hingley has resigned from the job after four-and-a-half years.
In a notice to TTE members, chairman Shaun Pearce said Mr Hingley was a “terrific leader” who had made a major contribution to the organisation and NT tourism generally.
“I am writing to advise that after 4.5 years, Glen Hingley, general manager Tourism Top End, has made the difficult decision to resign from his position and to take on a new opportunity, a decision he has not taken lightly,” Mr Pearce said.
“I would like to acknowledge and thank Glen for the tremendous efforts and dedication not only to the members and staff of Tourism Top End, but to our tourism industry as a whole.”
Mr Pearce said Mr Hingley’s key achievements included working through the accommodation challenges from the NT resources boom, oversight of the 2030 NT Tourism Industry Strategy, leading the industry through Covid and the successful management of four rounds of the Territory Tourism voucher scheme.
“Glen has also been a terrific leader with his team to initiate the Tourism Enhancement Program through the Quality Tourism Framework, the Cooperative Tourism Advertising Fund, Welcome to the Dry and the Top End Travel Expo, as well as celebrating winning several Brolga NT Tourism Awards,” Mr Pearce said.
“The association is now in a better position than when he commenced in October 2018.
The Board of Management and I have enjoyed working closely with Glen, and we wish him the very best in his exciting new role here in the Territory’s visitor economy.”
It is understood Mr Hingley will remain in the Territory and take up a senior role with the Northern Territory Major Events Corporation.
Mr Hingley has previously praised the staff and management of Tourism Top End for providing the leadership that underpinned the NT’s strong sector performance during Covid.
“An enormous amount of work was required to bring this industry together as an organisation during Covid,” he said.
“We had 300 people on Zoom where we provided updates and discussed the circumstances around that time. There was so much uncertainty.
“It was about collaboration and partnerships and we were able to get through an incredibly tough time better than just about anywhere else.”
Mr Hingley was also a driving force in the growth of the so-called Savannah Way, linking Cairns in Queensland with Broome in WA via the Northern Territory.
Before taking the tourism role, Mr Hingley was the NT’s China, Hong Kong and Taiwan representative with Tourism NT and was managing director of Asian Tourism Resources from 2003 to 2018.
Tourism Minister Nicole Manison paid tribute to Mr Hingley and his contribution to the sector.
“I thank Glen Hingley for his service to the tourism industry, particularly his leadership during the Covid pandemic,” Ms Manison said. “Glen has been a key part of our tourism industry, and I’m thrilled he is bringing his unique skills to NTMEC, where he can continue to drive visitation to the Northern Territory.”
Mr Hingley is expected to finish at TTE on July 10. The search for a replacement will begin soon.
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