Tony South appointed chairman of Tourism Australia

Minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew Robb, who is also responsible for tourism, announced the appointment of Tony South as the new Chair of Tourism Australia. Mr Robb said Tony South has been a leading contributor to the tourism industry for many years and is extremely well qualified to carry out this important role.
“Having held senior commercial and executive roles across the Asia Pacific, Tony brings excellent skills and experience to the role of Chair. His long standing commitment to tourism means he will provide strong leadership to the industry more broadly,” he said.
“Tourism Australia promotes our compelling tourism story to the world through leading campaigns such as There’s Nothing Like Australia and its food and wine campaign Restaurant Australia.”
In making the announcement Mr Robb thanked outgoing Chair Geoff Dixon, whose term expired 30 June 2015.
“Geoff Dixon oversaw a highly successful period for Tourism Australia with numerous award-winning campaigns and record arrival numbers. He is to be congratulated for his significant contribution and I wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”
Mr Robb also said an announcement would be made in the near future on three new directors to join the Board.
Tony South served as Chair of Tourism Accommodation Australia following his retirement in 2011 as Chief Development Officer of InterContinental Hotels Group Asia Pacific. He held this role from 2008, and was based in Singapore for nine years with overall Asia Pacific responsibility for IHGs regional growth. He is highly regarded for his outstanding local and global career with IHG.
Tony was also Managing Director of then publicly listed hotel investment company TAHL (Tourism Asset Holdings Ltd) and Managing Director of the former Sydney Visitors and Convention Bureau. Mr South is a former board member of Tourism NSW and Deputy Chair of TTF Australia, where he is also a life member. Tony is also a Director of Confederation of Australian Motor Sport Ltd and of Campus Living Funds Management Ltd.
As a Chartered Accountant, Tony has more than 40 years accounting, management, property brokerage and consulting experience, mostly in Tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors. In 2013 Tony was honoured with a prestigious international accommodation industry ‘Trailblazer Award’ in recognition of his outstanding accommodation industry career.