One of the North West’s leading businesswomen has become Chair of the Liverpool City Region’s Visitor Economy Board.
Sara Wilde McKeown will lead the new Board overseeing the strategic development of the City Region’s tourism sector.
The new body replaces the former Visitor Economy Committee and is the destination’s official Tourist Board, reporting to the main Board of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.
Mrs Wilde McKeown is currently Managing Director of Liverpool-based communications company Paver Smith, a role she took up in May. She is a former Commercial Managing Director of Trinity Mirror’s regional newspaper group and, before that role, was MD of the publisher’s newspaper, digital and events businesses across the North West and North Wales. Previously, she also chaired the successful Mersey Waterfront Regional Park regeneration scheme.
Liverpool City Region’s tourism businesses continue to drive growth and job creation in one of the strongest performing sectors of the local economy. Latest independent data show that, annually, the sector is worth £3.4bn to the local economy, attracts 56m visitors and supports 46,000 jobs.
Robert Hough, Chair of the LEP said: “The depth, diversity and wealth of Sara’s experience in a customer-facing industry will be a very valuable asset for our Visitor Economy. The sector has delivered strong performance based on its appeal to visitors from all over the world, the huge investments made by its businesses and the sheer hard work of those driving it forward. It is the job of the Visitor Economy Board to ensure the momentum is maintained and the growth continues. Sara is well-placed and very well-experienced to do that.”
Sara Wilde McKeown said: “The people, businesses and attractions that form our destination offer are among the most successful parts of the City Region’s economy. The Visitor Economy Board must make sure further opportunities for growth are identified and that the sector carries on delivering a unique visitor experience. Liverpool is one of the most powerful city brands in the world and lies at the centre of a region offering unique and unrivalled appeal to visitors from across the globe. We have a great foundation to build on and I am excited to be able to help take this important sector forward. It’s now time for private sector businesses to take the lead in shaping our future visitor economy”
The LEP’s new Visitor Economy Board replaces the former VE Committee established in 2009. The recent restructure brings governance of the VE sector into closer alignment with the LEP’s other three key growth sectors.