Tourism & Transport Forum Chief Executive Margy Osmond today congratulated respected industry leader Michael Issenberg on his appointment as the new Chair of Tourism Australia.

“Michael Issenberg’s new role as Chair of Tourism Australia is a fantastic appointment and will greatly strengthen our collective tourism industry and government efforts to get the industry back on its feet in what will be a long and challenging COVID-19 recovery,” Margy Osmond said.

“Our industry has faced the fight of its life over the last 18 months but as restrictions start to ease and as we start to welcome back international students, skilled workers and tourists, Michael’s appointment will greatly support what will be a major international inbound market rebuild.

“Michael is a Lifetime Member of Tourism & Transport Forum Australia (TTF), served on the TTF board for many years and is one of Australia’s tourism stalwarts with a wealth of knowledge and expertise.

“Together with TTF Chairman the Hon Bruce Baird AM, Deputy Chairman Simon McGrath AM and our TTF membership, I look forward to working with Michael and the Tourism Australia team led by the talented Phillipa Harrison to put the industry back on a positive footing over the summer and into 2022 and beyond.”

Mr Issenberg was employed in senior leadership positions for TTF member Accor for more than 25 years, most recently as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AccorHotels Asia Pacific based in Singapore. Prior to that he spent five years at Mirvac Hotels, including three years as CEO. Michael holds a degree in hotel administration from Cornell University in the US.

He was named Asia Pacific Hotelier of the Year in 2012, 2015 and 2019 in the Hotel Management Awards and International Hotelier of the Year at the China Hotel Investment Conference in 2014.