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VisitWiltshire Announces Its New Board
13 December 2011
Following the creation of VisitWiltshire Ltd in August 2011 the new company has now appointed its new Board.
The company Chairman is Peter Wragg, who was transferred from his previous position as Chair of the VisitWiltshire Tourism Partnership in December 2010. Mr Wragg said: “It is a great privilege to have been transferred into this new position as Chair of VisitWiltshire Ltd, and I look forward to working with the new Board to help raise the profile of Wiltshire’s Visitor Economy, generating additional tourism visits and spend for the county.
He added “Following our recruitment campaign for Board members and a new CEO this summer, I am delighted to welcome David Coulthard from Salisbury Cathedral, Maureen McAllister from McAllister & Co and David Andrews, the new CEO of VisitWiltshire on to the Board. They join three other Board members transferred from the Tourism Partnership, Celia Mead, Philip Alford and Tony Aldridge.”
The new company has a budget of £500,000 per annum for three years from Wiltshire Council. In addition, it has 450 fee-paying members and raises additional income through a wide range of marketing and commercial activities. It has attracted nearly 100 new members in 2011.
Paul Johnson chair of the Wiltshire Strategic Economic Partnership (WSEP) agreed that VisitWiltshire plays a key role in developing and growing the county’s economy: “The Visitor Economy is one of the five key sectors identified in the Local Enterprise Partnership’s growth strategy, and VisitWiltshire plays a critical leadership role for us in developing the industry, marketing the destination and achieving growth. The sector is worth nearly £1billion, supports over 20,000 jobs and accounts for 6% of our total economy, so is hugely important to the county. I look forward to working with the new Board and the new VisitWiltshire team.”
VisitWiltshire Ltd was incorporated in August 2011 after the signing of a Deed of Entrustment with Wiltshire Council. VisitWiltshire is a private sector marketing organisation whose role is to grow the volume and value of tourism to Wiltshire.
Wiltshire Council are an Observer on the VisitWiltshire Board. There is currently one Board vacancy.
Board terms are for three years. Terms of the current Board will be up for re-election from December 2013.
For further information visit www.visitwiltshire.co.uk or call 0845 602 7323.
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For media information please contact Samantha Marsh or Ian Fulcher on 015395 30393, 07711 265666 or 07515 152699. Alternatively email samanthamarsh/ianfulcher@visitwiltshire.co.uk
Notes to editors:
The VisitWiltshire Board meet four times per year. Its board members are:
Peter Wragg, Chairperson
Hotelier of Widbrook Grange Country House Hotel in Bradford-on-Avon. Director and Trustee of Bath Rugby Community Foundation. Chairman of Team St Laurence Limited. Board Director of Wiltshire Strategic Economic Partnership. Mentor for The Prince's Trust.
Tony Aldridge
Bed and Breakfast owner of Rosemundy Cottage and Financial Controller for Picochip Limited. Founder board member of the VisitWiltshire Tourism Partnership. VisitWiltshire Company Secretary.
Philip Alford
Senior Lecturer in Marketing in the School of Tourism at Bournemouth University. Visiting professor at Essec Business School, France and at the Management Center Innsbruck, Austria.
Celia Mead
Marketing and communications consultant specialising in marketing strategy, communications and business development. Board member of Bath Festivals and the Bath Preservation Trust.
David Coulthard
Marketing and Communications Director at Salisbury Cathedral. Previous marketing in business and consumer facing roles across both the public and private sectors.
Maureen McAllister
Strategic tourism marketing and development consultant. Previous Head of Partnerships role, VisitEngland and Director of Tourism, South West Tourism.
David Andrews, Chief Executive Officer, VisitWiltshire
Previous Director of Visitor Economy, The Mersey Partnership. Held a number of senior management positions both in the UK and overseas for the UK’s national tourist boards, VisitBritain and VisitEngland.
