Marana Confirmed As Travel Foundation Chair

Helen Marano has been appointed Chair of the Travel Foundation, replacing Noel Josephides who held the role for the past decade.

Marano has been a trustee of the charity since July 2019 and is founder of Marano Perspectives.

She brings an extensive global experience from serving for seven years at the World Travel &Tourism Council (WTTC) as Executive Vice President and carries rich national destination experience from heading up the National Travel and Tourism Office of the United States for over a decade.

On accepting the role, Marano said: “2020 has been a difficult time for the whole industry but it has sharpened the Travel Foundation’s resolve, and I believe we are now more relevant than ever. The Travel Foundation should be the charity of choice for anyone looking to support destinations in their recovery. We have a strong executive team, and we are well placed to support tourism to Build Back Better, to help businesses and destinations strengthen localised supply chains and focus on optimising tourism’s social impacts as visitors return.”

Marano’s appointment also brings wider changes to the Board of Trustees. “It’s important to have diversity and bring in new perspectives” said Marano. “We need to reflect those we serve – and so we are looking for greater representation from destinations, and a more international and diverse feel to the board for insights and guidance.  It is an honour to join with the Trustees and Executive team, building upon the legacy of Noel and the high calibre of the current Board, in leading the charity through its changemaking activities.”

The Travel Foundation will soon be announcing new trustee appointments, and is always keen to receive expressions of interest from new candidates (CVs can be submitted directly to the CEO).

Outgoing Chair Noel Josephides has been involved with the Travel Foundation since its inception in 2003 and has been Chair since 2010. He will continue to be a trustee.

“There have been big changes in attitudes to sustainability since we began” said Josephides. “Then it was pretty niche, and commonly regarded as a tree-hugging endeavour! The Travel Foundation was ahead of its time and can take some of the credit for helping move the needle. Still, there remains a huge need for a shift away from the model of continuous growth in volumes that our industry may continue to pursue after COVID.”

And he continued: “Helen begins a new and exciting era for the Travel Foundation, which will work with the industry and destinations to build back with a new model of managed growth and new measures of success. We will be a vital catalyst with our practical approach and global leadership, to help usher in the necessary change.”

The charity’s board of trustees also includes:

* Rodney Anderson, over 40 years civil service experience, latterly Director, Marine and Fisheries at Defra.

• Jane Ashton, Sustainability Director at easyJet Plc.
• John de Vial, Director of Financial Protection at ABTA.
• Debbie Hindle, Managing Director at Four Travel.
• Noel Josephides, Chairman of Sunvil Holidays.
• Alistair Rowland, Group CEO at Blue Bay Travel and Chairman of ABTA

Go to www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk for more.