By TANIA PHILLIPS
EXPERIENCED local tourism expert Marion Carrick has been appointed general manager for Destination Southern Downs, group chair Corinne Butler announced this week.
After a two-month recruitment process, Ms Carrick was selected as GM from 33 applicants from across Queensland.
Mrs Butler noted she was excited about the future of DSD with Ms Carrick at the helm.
“Marion’s past positions on the DSD and Granite Belt Wine and Tourism boards provides her with unique knowledge of the industry and our operations, enabling her to hit the ground running and immediately implement our strategic plan,” she said.
With a corporate background, followed by a number of years as a customer service consultant to national retailers, and later the development of an innovative, patented product sold by equestrian retailers worldwide under her belt, Ms Carrick is keen to use these skills for the betterment of the region.
Ms Carrick will work three days a week, dividing her time between offices in Warwick and Stanthorpe, providing valuable strategic direction to the existing DSD team.
Importantly, Ms Carrick is determined to ensure visitor needs are met and surpassed.
Seven years as co-owner of Alure has provided Ms Carrick with an understanding of visitor needs and what they love about the region.
“To be successful in tourism, we need to focus on what the visitor wants, and needs,” Ms Carrick said.
To achieve this, delivering a new regional visitor guide and website; making the Visitor Information Centres ‘destinations’ and increasing income streams, and assisting core tourism events in continuing to grow will be her first priorities.
Further enhancing relationships with core stakeholders such as council, Southern Queensland Country Tourism, Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Events Queensland, and Wellcamp Airport will also be at the top of Ms Carrick’s to-do list.
“It’s important we grow stakeholder and community awareness of the importance of tourism in the region,” Ms Carrick said.
“Tourism is a major financial contributor to every business in this region. We all benefit from tourism, even the supermarket, butcher and trades.”
Ms Carrick expressed her complete dedication to the success of DSD and tourism within the region.
“I hope my experience in the accommodation industry, on the other side of the fence, so to speak, will provide an acute understanding of our members and how we can work together to increase tourism prosperity for all in the region.
“My other steadfast goal is for DSD to become a leading tourism association in Queensland; I look forward to working with members and industry to achieve both of these targets,” she said.
Ms Carrick began her new role on Monday.
