11 March 2014
Tony Marks chairs Rotorua Tourism Committee for last time
Inaugural Rotorua Tourism Committee chairman Tony Marks said his farewells in his final Tourism Committee meeting
yesterday [Monday 10 March 2014] which summarised a very successful term at the helm.
The Rotorua Tourism Committee (RTC) has been instrumental in driving the direction of Destination Rotorua Marketing
(DRM) and importantly in getting the Famously Rotorua domestic campaign off the ground. Mr Marks said he was
particularly pleased to have seen recent Famously Rotorua campaign results which have shown it has had a positive effect
on the district.
He believes all businesses need the ‘3 Ps’- people productivity, and partnership. He said DRM’s Oscar Nathan had put
together a great team and he had been fortunate to have a strong Board.
“Collectively we’ve made a difference; and we’ve done it together with key industry backing and support. Everyone hopes
to leave an organisation in better shape than you inherited it – I hope we’ve done that and I’m confident it’ll only get
better,” commented Mr Marks.
Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick said Mr Marks had been an inspiring chair, leading the direction of DRM with passion and
skill.
“Tony’s contribution to Rotorua’s tourism development has been outstanding and we are indebted to him” she said.
“The last few years have been very challenging because of the economic situation worldwide, however under Tony’s
guidance, and with his strategic insight, we’ve been able to weather the storm pretty well. As a result Rotorua is now
in the position where we’re starting to reap the benefit of some very smart marketing decisions made while Tony was at
the helm.
“Whilst we’re sad that he’s stepping down from our tourism board, he does so with our immense appreciation for a job
well done. He’ll leave big shoes to fill, that’s for sure,” Mrs Chadwick said.
The Rotorua Tourism Committee was established by the Rotorua District Council in August 2010 to ensure growth in tourism
and to create economic benefit for the Rotorua community. At its core the Tourism Committee helps to ensure an active
working partnership between the council and the tourism industry, enabling effective decision-making on key issues
relating to tourism industry marketing and development.
Rotorua Tourism Committee members are Tim Cossar, Bruce Thomasen, Kiri Atkinson-Crean, Brett Marvelly and Fiona
Suurenbroek. Deputy Chair Bruce Thomasen will head up the Tourism Committee in the meantime.
ENDS