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GETTING TO KNOW: JAMES GOODWIN
GETTING TO KNOW: JAMES GOODWIN
ACCOMMODATION AUSTRALIA’S NEWLY APPOINTED CEO, JAMES GOODWIN, SPOKE TO RUTH HOGAN ABOUT HIS ASPIRATIONS FOR THE JOB IN THIS HM EXCLUSIVE.
James, congratulations on your appointment. Tell us about your reasons for wanting to represent the accommodation industry.
This is a great and important sector. Of course, we’re helping people have fun and enjoy themselves on holidays, but we have also seen, during Covid or other emergencies, just how vital the sector is to the broader community. All of this whilst being fundamental to the Australian and local economies.
I’m inspired by the people. Those who’ve worked to grow and improve the accommodation offerings –the owners, operators and the committed workforce. Whether they have been in the sector for decades or only a few months I have already seen the passion and I hope to represent that passion proudly to decision-makers.
As a former leader of the Australian Airports Association, how will you leverage your travel industry experience to improve outcomes for the accommodation industry?
Tourism and aviation have been working closer than ever before since the pandemic. Australia is an aviation reliant nation and tourism is an aviation-reliant industry, so we need to foster that collaboration.
I am keen to see the accommodation sector at the table for discussions about emerging destinations and opening growth in new overseas markets.
Following your first board meeting, what are the biggest concerns you are hearing from hoteliers?
The top priority is in relation to workforce planning and migration. The sector has been working hard and investing in people to fill roles locally, but it is important our unique needs are understood through the migration process so I will build on the hard work being done in this area by AA.
What are the top items on the agenda for you as AA CEO for the first 12 months?
I want to get to know and understand the industry and the people better. I’m someone who likes to learn by doing and seeing so I hope to get out to meet and see as many members as possible to understand their passion and the issues I can help with back in Canberra. I’m keen to see more growth in the sector by encouraging more domestic and international tourism and I’m committed to having more people see the sector as a career and not just a job.
