Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) announced Express Travel Group CEO Tom Manwaring will step down after a decade as a Board Director and six years as Chair. Manwaring will retire from the ATIA after the AGM in Sydney on 19 June 2024.
Manwaring will leave behind a remarkable tenure of leadership and service where he was pivotal in guiding the association through some of its most challenging and transformative periods.
Since joining the Board on 22 July 2014, he has been a driving force behind many significant milestones.
He provided strategic leadership and guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic where his pursuit of Federal and State Government support helped the ATIA and industry navigate the changed landscape.
Securing the $270 million Consumer Travel Support Grant was a critical win for the travel sector with Manwaring instrumental in the ongoing advocacy required for its implementation.
As ATIA Chair since December 2018, he has played a crucial role in the development and update of the new constitution, ensuring the organisation remains well-positioned to support and advocate for the travel industry.
Other significant reforms during his time as Chair include enhanced member representation, the ongoing ATAS evolution and the rebranding from AFTA to ATIA last year.
Manwaring said he is immensely proud of what ATIA has achieved together over the past decade, calling his time on the board “an honour”.
“Together, our collective efforts have strengthened the association, delivering significant value and support to our members during both prosperous and challenging times,” he said.
“With ATIA now in an excellent position both at a board and management level, it is the right time to allow a new industry leader to take the helm.
“I would like to thank all those I have served with on the board over the years, the team at ATIA who continue to go from strength to strength under CEO Dean Long as well as my team at ETG who have been so supportive of my contribution at board level.
“The upcoming AGM will see new Directors step up and add their expertise to the Board. This renewal is important and marks the next exciting stage in our contribution as a peak body to our members and to travel.”
While retirement from the ATIA Board is in his sights, Manwaring will still be involved with the travel industry during the $70 million ETG buyout by Helloworld Travel, telling Karryon he has “a big job to do over the next two to five years”.
“There’s still more to do in bedding down the ETG/HLO integration, so while I’d like to say I look forward to relaxing more, my days are still going to be busy,” he said.
