Visit Sunshine Coast welcomes Matt Stoeckel as new Chief Executive

Visit Sunshine Coast has welcomed Matt Stoeckel to the role of Chief Executive who started in the position last week after five years as Tourism Fiji Chief Executive.

Stoeckel advised “what attracted me to the role with Visit Sunshine Coast (VSC) is that it is a destination with huge potential.

“With the newly upgraded airport, plans for new hotels and attractions, and its well-earned reputation for authentic nature-based experiences there are massive opportunities for the Sunshine Coast to be a pace-setter in Australian tourism.”

Stoeckel said VSC’s immediate focus this year would be to continue to provide support for the region’s tourism industry as it navigated through COVID-19 and added “as an industry we need to continue to work together, be flexible and adapt to these changes.”

Stoeckel said the launch of VSC’s new brand – ‘For real’ – could not have come at a better time, as it both differentiated the region in the marketplace and highlighted the Sunshine Coast’s natural attractions.

“Importantly we know from research that this is increasingly what travellers are seeking. Therefore, a focus for this year will be on continuing to activate this new brand through showcasing our incredible depth and breadth of experiences and our stunning natural landscapes that are so highly sought after by our target markets,” Stoeckel added.

“We will also continue to be flexible in our marketing approach, making it a priority to target holiday-makers who are able to visit the region and expanding to new markets as they become accessible.

“Above all I look forward to working closely with VSC members, tourism associations, as well as our Council, State and Federal partners, to ensure that we can maximise the benefits of the tourism industry for the Sunshine Coast community.”