From the General Manager

IAN HORNE – AHA|SA GENERAL MANAGER

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/LEE5bXZNgc0

Vale WT (Bill) Spurr AO

It was with great sadness that we informed members of the passing of Bill Spurr AO on 4 July 2022.

President David Basheer is currently travelling out of the country, but joins me in acknowledging the enormous contribution Bill made to tourism and hospitality in this state. Bill was the CEO of the Australian Hotels Association SA Branch between 1982 and 1986. As a 38-year-old, Bill left the AHA|SA to head up the new tourism and hospitality school at the Light Square Campus. This venture included Bill establishing with the AHA|SA, Australia’s first commercial training hotel, the College Arms in Currie Street. The College Arms (formerly the Armstrong’s Tavern) was eventually demolished to make way for an expansion of the Adelaide TAFESA Tourism and Hospitality School.

Under Bill’s watch the AHA commenced its Hospitality Group Training Company in 1983. He saw the expansion of Sip & Save Liquor Marketing Group and established the Town & Country Pub Accommodation scheme designed to utilise the hundreds of traditional pub style rooms across the regional and remote areas of South Australia. It was during this time that the Adelaide Hilton International was opened (October 1982), the first Grand Prix hit the Adelaide streets (3 November 1985) and the Adelaide Casino launched on 12 December 1985. John Bannon AO was the Premier and Gavin Keneally was Tourism Minister.

Bill was an extraordinary leader and mentor, taking leadership roles not just within the AHA. During his career he went on to be both CEO and Chair at the Adelaide Convention Bureau, CEO of SA Tourism Commission, Chair of Study Adelaide, Australian Major Events and Adelaide Venue Management Board that incorporates the Adelaide Convention Centre and Entertainment Centre, Board Member of the Zoo, Adelaide Festival Centre, the former Government’s Economic Advisory Council and the Adelaide Fringe and many other advisory boards and roles.

Bill remained a close friend of the hotel industry and was a significant contributor to the development of South Australia’s tourism and hospitality industry. He credited his time at the AHA SA as being the catalyst for his subsequent interest and finally passion for tourism and hospitality. He will be greatly missed by generations of operators, students and industry participants.

We send our deepest condolences to Bill’s wife Helen, his children Debbie and Craig, and all his family.

Bill Spurr AO with AHA|SA General Manager, Ian Horne.

TOURISM CHIEF RODNEY HARREX SAYS FAREWELL

After helping steer South Australia’s tourism industry to new heights before navigating the pandemic, SA’s Tourism Commission CEO Rodney Harrex is moving on.

Rodney will finish as Chief Executive later in July after nearly a decade in the role.

Rodney has been a fabulous leader of the SATC departing at a time interstate visitor spending hits a post-pandemic record of $1.8bn for the year to March.

Rodney directed the SATC efforts as pre-pandemic visitor spending hit a record high $8.1bn in the visitor economy, which created jobs and opportunities for thousands of people across the state, then as domestic spending broke records later in the pandemic.

He led the SATC through extremely challenging times and successfully initiated the Great State Voucher program that allowed recently completed hotels to open and existing operators a chance to recover some of their debilitating losses during COVID-19.

His work has ensured that the state’s tourism industry is poised to bounce back strongly.

Operators right across the state know what Rod has achieved over his tenure, that he’s always been available on the other end of a phone and how hard he has worked to get the brand of South Australia out to the markets far and wide.

His passion, drive and insight has supported the industry through its most challenging times. It has ensured we are now in a very strong position to capitalise on opportunities and keep the momentum of the COVID-19 recovery going.

Thank you Rodney for an amazing nine years that saw records broken, investment in tourism accelerate and subsequent jobs generated. The hotel industry wishes you the very best for your future both privately and professionally.

A job very well done, Rodney.

Rodney Harrex Chief Executive Officer SA Tourism Commission