Regional Tourism Organisation, Destination Kaikōura has appointed Lisa Bond to join the Kaikōura based organisation as destination manager.
Lisa takes over from Louise Frend, who has been ably filling the role for over a year and is now moving back to her family full time in the Hawkes Bay.
Louise initially assisted the region as part of the STAPP application process and was retained to assist the organisation through a challenging year setting the RTO up well for the future.
The role of the local Regional Tourism Organisation (Destination Kaikōura) is to support the development of tourism by promoting Kaikoura as a sought-after location which offers unique and memorable experiences for all visitors. Respect for the natural environment and sustainable business practices are at the heart of the Kaikōura visitor experience and are even more of a critical focus as we recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
With that in mind Lisa was the perfect appointment bringing more than 26 years tourism experience to the team, recently as marketing manager at Whale Watch Kaikōura. Lisa began her role at Whale Watch as a guide back in 1995, and has since progressed through various roles including skipper before moving into the marketing and communications team. Lisa is also a district councilor at Kaikōura District Council so will bring a lot of strength and experience to the role.
On her appointment to her new role, Lisa said: “I count it an absolute privilege to be appointed in this role. There is much work to be done in the environment we find ourselves in, I hope that the skills I bring into the role will help to build upon the fantastic work that Louise and the team has done in keeping Kaik≈çura at the forefront of our visitors mind over the last year."
Chairperson of the Kaik≈çura Information & Tourism Inc Board that governs Destination Kaik≈çura , Lynette Buurman, says: “the organisation was delighted to appoint someone of Lisa’s calibre to the role and the depth of experience and the relationships she has established over many years in the industry, will be invaluable as we navigate our way through re-igniting tourism and the challenges of COVID -19.”
Lisa will join the organisation at the end of August 2021.
