Liverpool City Region’s official tourist board, The Mersey Partnership (TMP), has appointed a new director to oversee development of the area’s £1.3bn a year Visitor Economy.
David Andrews will take up his new post of Director of Visitor Economy on 30th March, 2010.
David brings a wealth of experience to the role having worked for the UK’s national tourist body VisitBritain and its forerunner the British Tourist Authority for over 16 years. During this time he managed their offices in Chicago, Singapore and Amsterdam for eight years
He is currently completing a contract for the Abu Dhabi Tourist Authority – the body responsible for promoting the UAE State’s emergence as a global tourism destination.
TMP Chief Executive Lorraine Rogers said; “David’s knowledge and experience of virtually every aspect of developing successful and appealing visitor destinations, and forging a strong allegiance among partners, is extensive."
"He has a wealth of international experience in Asia, North America and Europe that is very relevant to the ambitions and strategy for the Liverpool City Region’s Visitor Economy. We are delighted that he is joining TMP as our Director of Visitor Economy.”
David Andrews said: “With the city of Liverpool at its heart, the region is right up there among the world’s very best destination brands and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join The Mersey Partnership. Delivering the full potential of the Visitor Economy in terms of creating new jobs and opportunities across the City Region is going to be an exciting challenge for everyone involved in the sector."
"I am looking forward to meeting my new colleagues at TMP and the organisation’s Members, partners and stakeholders whose contribution and commitment to seeing the destination deliver is so strong.”
Liverpool City Region has the potential to generate £2bn visitor spend by 2020 and support the creation of 14,000 new tourism jobs, according to TMP’s Visitor Economy Strategy to 2020 (downloadable at www.Merseyside.org.uk )
The Visitor Economy is one of four Transformational Actions identified by TMP and its public and private sector partners to deliver sustainable economic growth across Liverpool City Region. These economic development plans are embedded in Liverpool City Region’s Multi Area Agreement (MAA) with Government.
In recent months TMP has completed a restructuring to meet new responsibilities set out in the MAA. TMP’s former Tourist Board has been replaced with a smaller Visitor Economy Committee chaired by Liverpool Football Club’s Commercial Director, Ian Ayre.
Commenting on David’s appointment Ian Ayre said: “David has a fine reputation and a track record to match. His knowledge and experience spans destination marketing as well as the development of the important networks and relationships that make destinations successful. His appointment is an important step in helping us deliver the huge potential identified in Liverpool City Region’s Visitor Economy Strategy.”
Nick Brooks-Sykes, Director of Tourism at the Northwest Regional Development Agency said: “I am delighted to welcome David as the new Director of Visitor Economy at TMP. The organisation has ambitious plans for the Visitor Economy over the next ten years and David is well placed to lead these. His experience in international tourism will be of huge benefit to the Liverpool City Region as we work to build the brand on a global scale.”
Image: David Andrews, Director of Visitor Economy, The Mersey Partnership
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