Enterprise Whitsundays and Tourism Whitsundays to merge
16.08.11
Enterprise Whitsundays and Tourism Whitsundays have announced they will be merging the two organisations to form one central organisation to guide tourism and economic development activities for the Whitsundays.
Click here to read the official press release.
As members of the Whitsunday community, local business community and stakeholders in a diverse range of local industries, we understand a merger can raise a lot of questions. We have tried to develop a list of FAQs to assist you in understanding the impacts of this merger.
Frequently asked questions
Who is merging and why?
Tourism Whitsundays is the Regional Tourism Organisation for the region, responsible for destination marketing to attract visitors to the region. Enterprise Whitsundays is the official economic development agency for the region, responsible for facilitating and promoting sustainable economic development in the Whitsundays.
The two organisations have similar goals, with tourism just one sector of a diverse local economy. While previously run separately, the two organisations have always worked closely together on a number of projects to grow the Whitsundays economy.
In challenging economic times, there are many cost sharing and resource sharing opportunities for the two organisations. While a merger has been a consideration for some years, current economic and funding circumstances were the impetus for the boards of both organisations to more formally consider a merger.
When and how will the merger happen?
The EW and TW staff will move into shared offices immediately. A transition committee made up of EW and TW Board members has been established to finalise the legalities, finances, Board structures and other factors involved in the merger. It is expected this process will take some months before the new organisation officially comes into being.
In the meantime, EW and TW will continue to operate as normal. Cost savings and resource sharing will be effective immediately as the two companies operate from the same office.
What will be the structure of the new organisation?
The organisational structure that the Transition Committee has adopted is pictured below. The three business units of Economic Development (currently managed by Enterprise Whitsundays), Leisure Tourism (currently managed by Tourism Whitsundays), and Business Tourism (currently managed by Tourism Whitsundays) will exist in much the same way they do now. Each of these business units will be fully supported by a Marketing Services team, Partnership Services team, and Corporate Services team.
The organisation would be guided by a Board of Directors, who in turn would be guided by a strategy group made up of industry experts. At this stage the Transition Committee has not formally adopted a Board structure, however the below is the proposed structure at this stage.
Click here to view the proposed structure as a pdf.
How will the two organisations operate during the transition period?
Enterprise Whitsundays and Tourism Whitsundays will continue to operate as normal - ie. the existing Board and governance structures of the two organisations will continue to operate and guide the business units through the transition period. The existing projects and destination marketing activities of both organisations will continue as planned and as normal. The immediate differences will be that all staff will operate from the same office under the same CEO, benefiting from cost and resource sharing immediately.
The transition committee will be focusing on the legalities, finance, governance and other issues for the new organisation through this time.
How long will the transition period last? When will the new organisation officially start operating?
The transition period is likely to last throughout this financial year, to allow planned budgets and activities to occur and partnership benefits to be honoured as planned. However, throughout this time the two businesses will be working alongside each other and cost and resource benefits will be felt immediately. The matrix staffing structure will also begin to function immediately.
How will the new Board and Strategy Groups be elected?
This is a matter that the Transition Committee is currently considering.
Will this merger affect any destination marketing activities?
No. Tourism Whitsundays will continue to operate as normal, implementing it’s planned marketing activities for the year.
Will this merger affect any of EW’s projects (eg. Food circle, skills formation strategy)?
No. Enterprise Whitsundays staff will continue to work on their existing projects.
If I have a TW partnership, how will my benefits be affected?
Your partnership benefits won’t be affected. TW will continue to operate as normal until new partnership structures are implemented. You will be informed at that point of any changes to your partnership.
If I have an EW sponsorship, how will my benefits be affected?
Your sponsorship benefits won’t be affected. EW will continue to operate as normal until new partnership structures are implemented. You will be informed at that point of any changes to your partnership.
Who can I contact with questions?
You can contact CEO Peter O’Reilly at any time on:
Ph. 07 4948 5910 or 0422 562 557
E: ceo@tourismwhitsundays.com.au
To contact staff at Enterprise Whitsundays and Tourism Whitsundays, you can continue to contact them as normal:
Enterprise Whitsundays
Ph. 07 4946 0111
admin@enterprisewhitsundays.com.au
Tourism Whitsundays
Ph. 07 4948 5900
support@tourismwhitsundays.com.au