ATC review set to boost regional CEI campaign

HONG KONG The Australian Tourist Commission (ATC) is likely to strengthen its Asia Pacific conference, exhibition and incentive (CEI) network as the result of a management shakeup after an internal "organisational review". Mr Richard Beere, formerly regional director for Asia, has been appointed to the position of executive general manager Asia and Japan (including South Korea and the Middle East) with responsibility for all operations in each country. Mr Beere was based in Hong Kong but will relocate to Sydney by November. Mr Beere said ATC regional manager, north-east Asia, Mr Johnny Nee "is and will remain fully responsible for the development and implementation of the ATC's meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition (MICE) activities in the Asia region". "We are advertising for a business development manager north Asia, who will report directly to Johnny, and among other responsibilities will oversee implementation of MICE activities regionally. However, our strategies will remain (the same)," he said. Under Mr Nee's leadership, Hong Kong will remain the regional headquarters for the ATC's CEI strategies. "The changes we have made to the structure in the Asia region will allow us to provide more central resources for key developments such as MICE and distribution network development." ATC managing director Mr Ken Boundy said the review would change the way the ATC conducts business. "The review was driven by the need for clear vision for the ATC in the post-Olympic period and the need to deliver a rational and financially appropriate structure to achieve the vision," he said.