Applications invited to join tourism and hospitality board
Applications have opened for leading lights of the West Midlands ' tourism and hospitality sectors to join a new Board which will represent the industry at a regional level.
The new West Midlands Tourism & Hospitality Advisory Board will be set up in the autumn to drive forward the region 's visitor economy.
Advising the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the Mayor of the West Midlands, the Board will champion and provide a voice for the region 's visitor-facing sectors, incorporating hospitality and the night-time economy.
The new Board will provide a high-profile and recognisable presence for tourism and hospitality in the West Midlands as a sector consultee for regional and UK government proposals.
It will create better links for all of the elements which contribute to the West Midlands ' visitor economy and ensure that relevant nationwide initiatives are understood and leveraged for action in the region.
The board will be chaired by Andrew Lovett, chief executive of the Black Country Living Museum, who has 30 years of leadership experience working across the museums, leisure, tourism, arts, heritage and protected landscape sectors.
During the past 12 months, the West Midlands ' tourism and hospitality sectors have played host to the most popular UK-based Commonwealth Games, with more than 1.5 million tickets sold. Five million people visited the Birmingham city centre over the Games fortnight and hotels enjoyed a record August occupancy of 87 per cent.
Coventry 's year as UK City of Culture, between May 2021 and 2022, saw over one million people experience more than 700 events, with more than £172 million of direct investment secured to support the programme of events.
Andrew Lovett said: “We have launched the search for enthusiastic, knowledgeable and committed team players to join our new West Midlands Tourism & Hospitality Advisory Board who can successfully represent the geography, diversity and inclusivity of our region 's magnificently varied and unique visitor economy.
“In 2022, the West Midlands has been in the global spotlight like never before. We want to build a new Board, which keeps the region in its rightful place at the forefront of the national and international visitor economy landscape. ”
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:
“Hospitality is a real strong suit for us here in the West Midlands. The sector has the potential to be a major growth area and job creator in our region in the coming months and years - despite the many pressures and challenges we 're facing.
“Introducing a West Midlands Tourism & Hospitality Advisory Board will help us to double down on our natural strengths, draw on our wealth of local expertise and work together to tackle the challenges facing the industry. ”
The deadline to apply to be part of the new West Midlands Tourism & Hospitality Advisory Board is Monday 3 October, with interviews taking place in late October.
For more information and further requirements of the role, please visit wmgrowth.com/tourism-hospitality-board.