Historic venue’s CEO takes leading role in Recovery Task Group
As the country emerges from a second lockdown and the tier systems, relating to COVID-19 restrictions, are put into place across the county, tourism body, Welcome to Yorkshire has announced the chair of its Tourism Recovery Task Group.
The CEO at The Piece Hall Trust, Nicky Chance-Thompson DL, will take on the role which will support Welcome to Yorkshire’s ongoing work to lead a robust recovery plan, to support and promote businesses and attractions, to enable them to reopen, recover and rebuild, following Government guidelines.
Welcome to Yorkshire’s chief executive James Mason said: “The resurgence of Yorkshire tourism is of the utmost importance to the county. Times are tricky for all businesses, as a result of the current coronavirus situation, and pre-pandemic tourism was worth £9bn to the Yorkshire economy and employed almost 225,000 people. The team at Welcome to Yorkshire are determined and committed, to continue doing all that’s possible to work closely with the whole county and its tourism representatives, during this recovery period to support and guide. We are therefore thrilled to announce acclaimed businesswoman Nicky Chance-Thompson as Welcome to Yorkshire’s Tourism Recovery Task Group chair, knowing her strong skills and excellent expertise in heritage, retail, hospitality and entertainment will be a huge asset, to help successfully steer the county’s businesses and organisations through its reopening, recovery and rebuilding stages over the coming months and beyond.”
Nicky Chance-Thompson DL, CEO at The Piece Hall Trust and chair of the Tourism Recovery Task Group, said: “It’s vital that we plan carefully for the tourism sector’s recovery from this incredibly difficult situation, taking into account our understanding of the real extent of need reaching across the whole of the sector and supply chain.
“We will seek to identify exactly what will be required to help the sector to survive into next year and ensure that we can recover. All of the cultural, heritage, hospitality, retail and tourism sectors have a vital role to play nationally, regionally and locally at this time and for future recovery in the emotional and economic sense.
“Leading the agenda for our regional tourism recovery, our Task Group role is to gather and analyse data and feedback any sector insights into Government planning and strategy, whilst continuing to provide advice and support at this challenging time.
“As chair of the Tourism Recovery Task Group, I would like to invite others from across the Yorkshire region and retail sector to come forward and help us in our dedicated efforts to recover this critical sector that contributes so much to the lives of people and economy of this country. As the fourth largest employment sector in the UK, it’s important that we preserve it.”
Already part of the Welcome to Yorkshire Board, Chance-Thompson will lead the group responsible for providing leadership and overall coordination relating to the delivery of the recovery plan. This will include development, monitoring and ensuring evaluation of all activity.
