New Rotorua tourism head excited about opportunities

A new general manager will take up the helm at Destination Rotorua Marketing from July 25.
Rotorua District Council has appointed Chris Destrieux, formerly the national sales manager for the Avis Budget Group, to the top role at the regional tourism organisation.
"I could not be more excited. This role really brings together all the other things I have been doing in my career."
Destrieux has also been the sales and marketing director for Sheraton Auckland and held senior marketing and operational roles with Air New Zealand in the Australian, South East Asia and Pacific markets.
He also has significant experience in journalism and communications.
One of the things he is excited about is the opportunity to contribute to the wider community.
"This is a role where the benefits are not just for a company listed on the stock exchange - it's for the greater industry and Rotorua itself."
He came to Rotorua for a week, going "undercover" as a tourist to see what the city and district had to offer.
"The more I looked, the more excited I became about the opportunities. Rotorua is the country's number one tourism destination and we just need to remind ourselves, and everyone else, about it."
But he acknowledges the role comes with great responsibility.
"It will be a big challenge and it will require determination, but I am very excited about it."
Destrieux's first experience of Rotorua was as an exchange student in 1979 and he described it as "the most magical place I had ever been to".
He told The Daily Post his initial job would be to listen and learn from the existing team. But he is also looking forward to filling the new roles within Destination Rotorua Marketing.
"This is an opportunity to introduce fresh ideas and energy, supporting the people already doing an amazing job."
Rotorua District Council economic and regulatory services group manager Mark Rawson said Destrieux himself would bring a fresh perspective to the organisation.
"His significant experience ... will prove immensely beneficial for marketing Rotorua's new direction in the tourism sector, as well as promoting Rotorua as a destination to live, work and invest."
Rawson described the appointment as an important milestone in the changing management process being undertaken through the Tourism Committee and Destination Rotorua Marketing and paid tribute to the role acting general manager Tania Bui had played in the development of the business plan.
Rotorua Tourism Committee chairman Tony Marks said Destrieux's skills set and experience matched what was needed to drive Destination Rotorua Marketing's future direction.
"He certainly impresses with his passion for the tourism industry and his widespread knowledge, particularly in the key international markets we've identified as a priority in our business plan," Marks said.
"We're very confident he is the right man at the right time to head the marketing effort of Rotorua and to build on our city's reputation as a successful domestic and international tourism destination."