Outgoing Tourism Fiji CEO snares top role at Visit Sunshine Coast

By Travel Weekly

Tourism Fiji CEO Matt Stoeckel will swap one idyllic destination for another at the end of the year, following his appointment as the new CEO of Visit Sunshine Coast (VSC).

Stoeckel, who announced his resignation from Tourism Fiji just last week, will commence his new role at VSC at the beginning of 2021.

He will take over from Craig Davidson, who has been interim CEO of Visit Sunshine Coast since June 2020, following the resignation of Simon Latchford.

Prior to taking up his role at Tourism Fiji, Stoeckel spent two years with Destination NSW, following several years working for the Swire Group and in tourism consultancy roles with TRC Tourism and Hyder Consulting.

VSC chair David Ryan said Stoeckel was eminently qualified for the role and would build on the region’s tourism successes in recent years.

“Matt brings over a decade of high-level tourism expertise to the Sunshine Coast, including executive management roles with national and state tourism organisations,” Ryan said.

“His experience in developing and refining brand identities for destinations will be critical for the Sunshine Coast as we launch and roll out our new brand for the region over the next year.

“His success in creating a far deeper and more diverse reputation for Fiji’s tourism sector is very relevant to the Sunshine Coast, as we move into a new phase of tourism development on the coast.

“Last year, the Sunshine Coast was Queensland’s fastest-growing regional destination, but with the impact of the pandemic and a totally changed domestic and international market landscape, we will need a fresh, innovative and collaborative approach to build on our pre-eminent position.”

Stoeckel said that while he would be sad to leave Fiji after such a fulfilling time reshaping the country’s tourism marketing, he was looking forward to returning to Australia and beginning a new phase of his career with VSC.

“Fiji is an incredible destination and it has been a privilege to lead the country’s marketing and tourism promotional efforts over the last four years,” he said.

“It has also been a very rewarding destination to work for, with the strategy paying off, with record year-on-year results achieved for visitor arrivals to the country prior to COVID-19.

“What has attracted me to the role with Visit Sunshine Coast is that it is a destination with huge potential.

“With the newly inaugurated upgraded airport, plans for new hotels and attractions, and its well-earned reputation for authentic nature-based experiences, there are massive opportunities for the Sunshine Coast to be a pace-setter in Australian regional tourism.

“I look forward to working closely with all of the region’s tourism operators, and our council, state and federal partners to maximise the potential and benefits of tourism for the local community.”

Ryan thanked Davidson, for his role in guiding VSC through the challenges imposed by COVID-19, saying that the organisation had performed very strongly despite the loss of traditional interstate and international markets.

“Craig has provided tremendous support for Sunshine Coast tourism during his six months with VSC,” Ryan said.

“Not only has the Sunshine Coast been one of the best-performing regions in Queensland, he has been instrumental in building a strong platform for the region’s future tourism prospects as markets progressively reopen.”

Matt Stoeckel will be speaking at the travel industry’s most thought-provoking conference, Travel DAZE 2020, next week. To find out more or to register, click here.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

craig davidson David Ryan Matt Stoeckel Matthew Stoeckel Simon Latchford tourism fiji Visit Sunshine Coast VSC