The Sunshine Coast’s new tourism boss should know a thing or two about how to keep visitors happy.
Visit Sunshine Coast (VSC) has welcomed Matt Stoeckel to the role of Chief Executive Officer and he comes with a glowing reputation.
Mr Stoeckel’s previous job was in the land of smiles, Fiji, where he was CEO of its national tourism office for five years.
Fiji is famous throughout the world for its warm, family-like hospitality and natural attractions.
And while we may have a way to go to match the world champs at friendliness, the Sunshine Coast has plenty of nature to offer its visitors.
Mr Stoeckel will be wasting no time building our reputation in this space.
He said the launch of VSC’s new brand – For Real – could not have come at a better time, as it both differentiated the region in the marketplace and highlighted the Sunshine Coast’s natural attractions.
“What attracted me to the role with Visit Sunshine Coast is that it is a destination with huge potential,” he said.
“With the newly upgraded airport (pictured), plans for new hotels and attractions, and its well-earned reputation for authentic nature-based experiences there are massive opportunities for the Sunshine Coast to be a pace-setter in Australian tourism.”
Mr Stoeckel said VSC’s immediate focus this year would be to continue to provide support for the region’s tourism industry as it navigated COVID-19.
“As we have seen last week there is still so much uncertainty on what lies ahead for 2021, and as an industry we need to continue to work together, be flexible and adapt to these changes,” he said.
“Importantly we know from research that this is increasingly what travellers are seeking. Therefore, a focus for this year will be on continuing to activate this new brand through showcasing our incredible depth and breadth of experiences and our stunning natural landscapes that are so highly sought after by our target markets.
“We will also continue to be flexible in our marketing approach, making it a priority to target holiday-makers who are able to visit the region and expanding to new markets as they become accessible.
“Above all I look forward to working closely with VSC members, tourism associations, as well as our Council, State and Federal partners, to ensure that we can maximise the benefits of the tourism industry for the Sunshine Coast community.”
To see the latest Sunshine Coast tourism campaign go to: sunshinecoastforreal.com
