An MP with eight years experience in the hospitality industry has taken responsibility for Air Passenger Duty (APD) at the Treasury.
Damian Hinds, MP for East Hampshire, was confirmed as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury in the new Government yesterday.
He will be responsible for a range of tax benefits and duties, including APD and other taxation on transport.
Hinds entered Parliament at the 2010 General Election. But he worked for InterContinental Hotels Group from 1995 to 2003, rising to the post of commercial vice-president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The MP also worked as a consultant to business on revenue management, pricing and commercial policy.
In total, he spent 18 years working in the pub, brewing and hotel sectors.
Hinds is one of a trio of new ministers with responsibilities for travel and tourism, the others being culture secretary John Whittingdale and tourism minister Tracey Crouch.
Abta issued a guide to the new Government and ministers responsible for travel and tourism yesterday.
Head of public affairs Stephen D’Alfonso said: “Continuity has been a clear theme in the Prime Minister’s appointments.”
George Osborne has returned as Chancellor, Patrick McLoughlin as transport secretary, Philip Hammond as foreign secretary, and former culture secretary Sajid Javid has moved to become business secretary.
Robert Goodwill has also returned as aviation minister at the Department for Transport.
D‘Alfonso said: “There will not be too much change at the senior level of Government as far as travel and tourism is concerned.”