St Paul's visitor services director to chair leading UK tourism body

The UK's only trade association which focuses solely on organisations welcoming tourists to these shores has appointed St Paul's visitor services director as its new Chairman.

Mark McVay, the Cathedral's Director of Visitor Services, Marketing & PR was appointed as the Chairman of UKinbound at its Winter General Meeting this month and will take up the two-year role in February 2015.

As Chair, Mark will help continue UKinbound's work to remove the barriers to growth of inbound tourism in the UK, which it does by addressing and engaging with government, the media, travel trade and the general public.

Mark is one of St Paul's longest serving employees, having been at the Cathedral for 17 years, with experience  in the heritage sector going back 25 years. He has played a role in UKinbound for 12 years, serving on the finance, membership, marketing and events committees, as well as being on the board for five years.

After his election, mark said: "It is a great honour and privilege to have been elected as Chairman of this great association by its members. I hope to continue the amazing work done over the past five years by the outgoing Chair and board of directors in growing the membership and raising the profile of inbound tourism. Looking to the future, my aim will be to look at all areas of UKinbound’s activities to ensure that we continue to be relevant to our members.

"We must also engage with government over all the key issues so that we can continue to put forward the case for tourism; not only the benefit to our members but also for the economic growth of the country.”

UKinbound chief executive Deirdre Wells OBE said: "I am delighted the members of UKinbound have elected Mark to the role of Chairman in what will be an important period in the development of both the organisation and the inbound tourism sector - a vital sector of UK Plc. Mark will bring much insight and experience to the role and I very much look forward to working with him."