New office, new board members and revised regulations at VSTM
The Association of Swiss Tourism Managers (VSTM) is turning a new page to mark its anniversary at the 90th General Assembly. Tiziano Pelli of Schmid, Pelli & Partner will become the new executive director. Three tourism experts—Manuela Nicoletti (Ticino Turismo), Kim Ryter (Artasio), and Bruno Huggler (Crans-Montana Tourism)—are joining the board. In addition, the association is opening up with the release of the revised VSTM bylaws.
The VSTM represents the interests of tourism managers and promotes their profession in all areas. Under the aegis of VSTM President Martin Bachofner and his board, the association is moving away from being purely a "directors' association". "With the new edition of the regulations, we are setting the course for the association to remain an important player in Swiss tourism in the future and to play a significant role in training, politics and topic setting," said VSTM President Bachofner in a press release. The VSTM is now aimed at tourism managers from all types of companies and is reducing the membership fee for the CEO of the company from 700 francs to 500 francs. Other employees can become members for CHF 250 per year. The new statutes now only provide for three membership categories (active, passive and honorary members).
Schmid, Pelli & Partner takes over the VSTM office
The young marketing agency Schmid, Pelli & Partner won the public tender from among numerous applicants. As of May 1, 2018, it will take over the association's office, which was previously run by the Swiss Tourism Association (STV). Tiziano Pelli, partner of the agency, will take over the management of the association. Pelli previously worked at Switzerland Tourism for 10 years, initially as Head of Market Italy, after which he was responsible for strategic projects and the areas of corporate communications and market research. "We want to use the spirit of optimism at VSTM to further develop the association and take the job description of tourism manager to a new level," says the new Managing Director Pelli. Jürg Schmid, Director of Switzerland Tourism for many years, will support the association with strategic issues.
Proven tourism experts now on the VSTM board
Manuela Nicoletti, Kim Ryter and Bruno Huggler were newly elected to the Board at the 90th General Assembly of the VSTM on April 18, 2018. They replace the departing Board members Nadia Fontana Lupi (Director of Ente Turistico del Mendrisiotto e Basso Ceresio), Jürgen Hofer (Director of the Solothurn Tourism Region) and Fabian Claivaz (Director of Martigny Tourism). With Nicoletti (Head of Marketing at Ticino Turismo) and Huggler (Director of Crans-Montana), two managers with a long and successful track record in tourism organizations have been appointed to the Board. Kim Ryter is the first person to be elected to the VSTM Board who is not a member of a tourism organization. Ryter is a project manager at the consulting firm Artasio and a proven communications specialist with extensive experience in Swiss tourism.
