The Hong Kong Tourist Association has completed its six-month search for a replacement for Northern Europe director Don McDougall who left last summer.
It has appointed Regal Hotel Group director of marketing Sue Whitehead to the position, although she is not due to join the HKTA until April 1.
HKTA regional director for Europe, Africa and the Middle East Kevin Welch said: “The addition of Sue Whitehead to the HKTA team will bring enormous experience and add great value to our marketing efforts.”
Whitehead, who joined Regal in 1997 from the Thistle Hotel Group where she was marketing director, will manage Hong Kong’s representation in the UK, Ireland, The Netherlands, Nordic countries and the Middle East.
Her appointment comes at a time when the HKTA is seeing a steady rise in visitors from the UK. Visitor numbers last November were up 9.3% to 34,795 compared to 31,836 in November 1998. “The last few months have been encouraging and tour operator forward bookings indicate this is set to continue,” added Welch.
n See Hong Kong update, page 41