Go to Inverness Loch Ness appoints new CEO

THE board at Go to Inverness Loch Ness (VILN) has appointed its new CEO, following the resignation of outgoing CEO Michael Golding in July.

Don Johnstone has labored at VisitScotland for over three years, latterly as a High quality and Tourism Advisor, and brings a wealth of tourism and advertising expertise, and is because of take up the place on 2 October

The brand new CEO can also be a neighborhood, having lived in Inverness all his life and figuring out town and loch effectively sufficient to have a wonderful perception into what the realm has to supply to guests and to know the challenges confronted by tourism operators.

He has pledged to do his greatest to help the tourism sector, contemplating all the problems it’s dealing with following Brexit, the pandemic, rising power prices and the cost-of-living disaster, all of which introduced a physique blow to the business.

Don has already talked in regards to the targets he needs to attain as CEO, together with supporting self-catering suppliers making use of for a brief time period let licence, whose troublesome course of has led to lower than 1 / 4 of eligible companies submitting an utility inside the deadline.

The newly appointed CEO has additionally promised full transparency in case a levy – a charge on stays in in a single day lodging primarily based on a proportion of the lodging value – is launched by the Scottish Parliament.

At a neighborhood stage, Don plans to have interaction with members of VILN to make sure that their views are represented, their struggles heard and that sufficient to help is given to them.

Talking about his appointment, Don mentioned: “I very a lot consider that I might want to put on two hats at VILN.

“We’re a Tourism Enterprise Enchancment District (TBID) so that’s all about supporting companies to enhance, however we’re additionally a Vacation spot Administration Organisation (DMO) and that’s very a lot about advertising Inverness and Loch Ness.

“I believe the crew has executed an exceptional job and I’m eager to proceed that particularly taking a look at how we will make the realm a year-round vacation spot and the way we will develop sustainable tourism in a manner that advantages everyone.

“I’m a fantastic believer within the ‘3 Ps of sustainability’ – Individuals, Planet and Revenue – and for me sustainable tourism means balancing the wants of every aspect in an effort to succeed each environmentally and financially.”