Destination Wollongong announced a series of board and executive appointments, bringing together decades of expertise across tourism, hospitality, destination marketing, infrastructure and visitor experience.
In its board, Destination Wollongong appointed Laura Rieveley and Dale Lawrence.
Rieveley is a senior destination marketing executive with more than two decades’ experience across tourism, technology and visitor experience. As chief marketing officer of a global destination experience platform, she has worked closely with destination marketing organisations and major tourism operators worldwide, with particular expertise in visitor engagement, destination marketing and the growing visitor experience economy.
Lawrence is an accomplished hotel executive with extensive experience in hotel development, investment advisory and strategic asset management across Australia and overseas, bringing valuable expertise in accommodation investment, hotel operations and commercial growth.
The company also reappointed Brooke Robson to its board. Wayne Morris, Amy Duggan and Mark Upton have left Destination Wollongong’s board.
New executives
In its executive team, Destination Wollongong appointed Michelle Wiederman as head of marketing and John Bowe as tourism development and infrastructure executive.
Wiederman brings extensive international travel marketing experience, having held senior marketing roles with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings across the Asia-Pacific region, along with marketing roles at Royal Caribbean Group, Malaysia Airlines and Taylors Wines.
Bowe joins Destination Wollongong with more than three decades of experience spanning architecture, tourism development, major infrastructure projects and business development, including leadership roles developing and delivering tourism projects both nationally and internationally.
“Wollongong is entering a really exciting period as a visitor destination,” Destination Wollongong general manager Jeremy Wilshire said. “We’re seeing significant investment, major events, new tourism experiences and growing interest from travellers, so it’s important we continue building an organisation with the capability to match that momentum.”
