Mudgee Region Tourism has announced that its new CEO will be Cara George, a newcomer to Mudgee who brings years of experience in hospitality.
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Most recently, Ms George was director of guest experiences at Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, the company that operates Ayers Rock Resort and other tourism venues around Australia.
Ms George will join Mudgee Region Tourism in late September.
“We expect Cara to hit the ground running and are excited to work with her on a reinvigorated approach to promoting the Mudgee Region,” said Russell Holden, chair of the Mudgee Region Tourism board.
Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia is owned by the Indigenous Land Corporation and operates tourism and resorts on their behalf in wilderness locations from the Red Centre to the Kimberleys and tropical Queensland.
“Cara’s experience is wide and varied,” Mr Holden said.
“She is proficient in working with multiple business partners, has strong communication skills as well as strategic planning expertise.
“Cara will no doubt bring new energy to the position and be a great asset to the organisation and to the Mid-Western Region.”
With Ms George at the helm, Mr Holden looks forward to moving into an increasingly diverse period for local tourism.
“Whilst tourism has historically been primarily driven by the wine industry, sports tourism is emerging as a lucrative sector thanks to fabulous facilities like the Glen Willow Sports Stadium and the recently upgraded Mudgee Showground,” he said.
“We see opportunities to create greater diversification within tourism to ensure the region maintains its appeal as a popular destination and broaden this to a wider demographic and other market segments.
Mr Holden said tourism in the Mudgee region had proven its economic stability over the last three decades, weathering the boom and bust cycle of other industries and contributing millions of dollars to the local economy.
“Cara and the MRTI board and staff will be taking a collaborative approach, working closely with Mid-Western Regional Council and Central NSW Tourism to grow the tourism offer throughout our region,” he said.
“MRTI, together with council and the business community, may need to develop a long-term strategy to accomplish this and Cara’s input and guidance will be invaluable to ensure a strong platform for the future of the tourism industry.”