Go with Tourism builds out team for pivot

30th April 2020 By Staff Reporter | news@tourismticker.com | @tourismticker

Go with Tourism is building out its team as it ramps up its work to support the industry’s employees in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Helen Shaw

The government-funded initiative, led by programme director Matt Stenton, has been joined by former Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development destination team communications adviser, Helen Shaw, who takes on the role of marketing communications manager.

Simone Pakieto

Her former ATEED colleague, Simone Pakieto, has taken up the position of event producer having left her role as event coordinator for the economic development agency’s major events team, where she worked on the popular festivals Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival and Pasifika Festival.

Pakieto was recently selected as a finalist in the New Zealand Event Awards for the ‘Best Emerging Event Professional’ category, with winners being announced in May this year.

Liz Grossman

Liz Grossman has been appointed business development executive joining from Auckland Convention Bureau where she had the same job title, and former intern and New Zealand School of Tourism graduate Leticia Smith has officially joined Go with Tourism as Project Coordinator.

Mike Kim

Rounding out the new team members, is digital content producer Mike Kim who joins from a role as technical director to a multi-nationality YouTube channel, and alongside tourism has a background in market research, filmmaking and strategic media production.

Go with Tourism was established a year ago to build New Zealand’s tourism workforce, but following the Covid-19 crisis has changed its focus to supporting tourism industry employees.

Last week it launched a $40,000 three-week We’re Here to Help campaign to build awareness of how Go with Tourism can help tourism and hospitality employees who may have found themselves displaced or with reduced hours, and businesses who might need guidance to navigate the Covid-19 environment.