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14
Sept 2020
Head appointed to lead new Harrogate district tourism body
A new head of destination management has been appointed by Harrogate Borough Council.
Gemma Rio will create a new destination management organisation (DMO) for the Harrogate district, driving tourism among both leisure and business visitors.
The DMO will bring together Visit Harrogate, Harrogate Convention Centre's marketing team, and the district's tourist information centres. It will work with other public and business organisations including HBC, Harrogate BID and Think Harrogate, as well as sector-specific groups including Harrogate Hospitality and Tourism Association.
Ms Rio, who joins HBC from Tees Valley Combined Authority, will take up the new role in early October. She said:
'Not financially sustainable'
Visit Harrogate was established in 2013 as the district's first DMO, funded through HBC as well as selling private advertising space on its website and brochures. In a report to HBC's cabinet in September 2019, it was recommended to create a new DMO combining its functions with others including marketing of HCC, operating Tourism Information Centres and more. The report said:
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Ms Rio's experience at Tees Valley included establishing the area's first destination marketing service in more than seven years, as well as successfully bidding for a significant group game of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. She has also developed a covid recovery programme for the Tees Valley visitor economy.
Prior to working in the North East, she worked at a senior level in an Australian economic development and destination management organisation. She also had roles in bringing business and leisure events to Townsville, North Queensland, to increase visitor expenditure in the area.
Paula Lorimer, director of Harrogate Convention Centre, said:
A spokesperson from Harrogate Hospitality and Tourism Association said:
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