The Australian Travel Industry Association chair, Tom Manwaring, will step down after six years in the role and 10 years as a director.
Manwaring will retire from ATIA after fulfilling Chair duties at the ATIA AGM tomorrow, 19 June, in Sydney. This follows the announcement of the departures of both Roy Merricks and Spiros Alysandratos who will also step down from the board tomorrow.
“I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together over the past decade. Serving on the Board and leading as chair has been an honour,” he said.
“During my tenure I have been surrounded by a highly committed and proactive Board and Management team. Together, our collective efforts have strengthened the Association, delivering significant value and support to our members during both prosperous and challenging times.
“With ATIA now in an excellent position both at a board and management level, it is the right time to allow a new industry leader to take the helm. I would like to thank all those I have served with on the Board over the years, the team at ATIA who continue to go from strength to strength under CEO Dean Long, as well as my team at ETG who have been so supportive of my contribution at board level.
“There’s still more to do in bedding down the ETG/HLO integration, so while I’d like to say I look forward to relaxing more, my days are still going to be busy.
“This is a remarkable organisation that has and will continue to make a real mark in our members’ businesses. The upcoming AGM will see new Directors step up and add their expertise to the Board. This renewal is important and marks the next exciting stage in our contribution as a peak body to our members and to Travel.
ATIA said his contributions have been instrumental in guiding the organisation through some of the most challenging and transformative periods in its history.”
Since joining the Board on 22 July 2014, Manwaring has been a driving force behind many significant milestones. ATIA said his leadership was pivotal during the COVID-19 pandemic, where his strategic guidance and relentless pursuit of Federal and State Government support helped navigate the Association and the Sector through unprecedented times.
The securing of the $270m Consumer Travel Support Grant was a critical win for the Australian Travel Sector and Manwaring was instrumental in the ongoing advocacy required on its implementation.
As Chair since December 2018, Manwaring has played a crucial role in the development and implementation of the new constitution, ensuring that the ATIA remains a “fit for purpose” organisation, well-positioned to support and advocate for the Travel industry, the industry body said.
Other significant reforms during Manwaring’s time as chair include the updating of the constitution, enhanced member representation, the ongoing evolution of ATAS and the rebranding of the organisation from the Australian Federation of Travel Agents to the Australian Travel Industry Association.
