The Walshe Group has appointed former Canberra Convention Bureau Director of Marketing and Communications Giselle Radulovic as the new Country Manager for Australia for Hawaii Tourism Oceania (HTO).

Radulovic will be responsible for driving the strategic growth of Hawaii, while boosting its profile as a high-end MICE destination within the Australian market.

Radulovic told Spice:

“Business events is a key focus for both Hawaii Tourism Oceania and the Hawaii Tourism Authority globally. On average, Australians who travel to Hawaii for conferences and events spend more than their leisure counterparts, and with 2017’s MICE visitation up 7.8 percent compared to 2016, this is a rapidly growing market for the destination. Tourism is integral to the State’s economy and we are always looking for opportunities to demonstrate Hawaii’s suitability to host meetings, conferences and incentives.”

Jacqui Walshe, Managing Director of The Walshe Group, said: ““Giselle’s reputation and expertise as an industry professional precede her, and we’re thrilled to have her join us to lead the HTO team.

“In her role as Country Manager for Australia, she will work closely with our valued stakeholders and partners both in the Australian and Hawaii tourism industries to explore opportunities to continue the upward trajectory Hawaii Tourism has enjoyed in the Australian market.”

Prior to her role with the Canberra Convention Bureau, Radulovic has worked across a range of strategic marketing and product development positions in both Australia and the US, as well as managing projects for major Australia tourism precincts, such as The Rocks, Darling Harbour and the Sydney Opera House.

“Hawaii is in an enviable position within the Australian market, in that the destination’s ‘sun, surf, sand and aloha’ persona is iconic,” Radulovic continued. “However, this high brand awareness presents both a barrier and opportunity for us here at the tourism board when marketing the destination.

“Our aim is to encourage travellers to venture beyond Oahu’s stunning beaches and discover some of the incredible experiences that are unique to Hawaii, such as seeing lava flowing into the ocean by boat on the Island of Hawaii, exploring the Jurassic landscape of Kauai’s Napali Coast by helicopter, or experiencing authentic Hawaiian culture, music and dance during a luau on Maui.”