Echuca Moama & District Tourism Development Association Inc is a member association.
Our key roles are to stimulate visitation to Echuca Moama & Districts and support our members. We are a not-for-profit organisation funded by membership fees, revenue-generating services, and support from local governments.
Over the last year, EMT has defined a strategy for the organisation as a Destination Management Organisation (DMO). We have completed a Membership Review, a trial Concierge service of face-to-face support for accommodation operators and developed a range of Member services from digital marketing to reservation system assistance.
Launched multi-sector visitor holiday sales packages, engaged an agency to deliver ‘always-on’ marketing and campaigns, designed a hub and spoke model to deliver accredited visitor services across multiple towns of Campaspe and Murray River Shires.
Completed economic modelling for funding of the Association, identified future funding initiatives to build a sustainable market, and commenced development of a destination management plan to guide brand and marketing, industry development, and events.
Our commitment to you and all members is to deliver our five pillars of responsibility to drive value, and deliver value. With the introduction of our revised member program, we are on track to launch the DMO on 1 July 2023 and reset the future as Destination Echuca Moama!
We welcome your membership. We value your partnership. We are better together.
Our renewed membership model includes streamlined member categories and an extensive list of member benefits. This prospectus outlines automatic benefits for each member category as well as optional, add-on fee-based services, and opportunities to participate in destination marketing and cooperative marketing, and significant district-wide destination marketing themes, and tactics. Our vision is to integrate all members, from every membership category, and across all industry sectors, in an annual plan with a compelling proposition to drive visitation, and exceptional visitor experience.
Echuca Moama Tourism is excited about the range of member benefits, and how we work together to grow visitation. We seek to deliver value to you and to all members, to support you to generate higher yield, drive visitation, achieve increased visitors, captivate travellers for extended stays, increase visitor spending, and ensure a sustainable visitor economy for the benefit all members, industry, and local communities.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
George Santos
Chair
Since qualifying as a chef in 1980, George has been involved in the hospitality business all his working career. Having experienced the industry from different facets, George settled back in Echuca Moama in 2005, where he has since enjoyed working with Moama Bowling Club. Much of George’s work in his role as Sales & Marketing Manager involves assisting community organisations achieving their objectives with funding support and practical guidance. A consummate foodie, George enjoys good company, good food and good wine, focusing particularly on regional offerings.
Jason Clymo
Deputy Chair, Chair of the Board Committee, Marketing
Jason Clymo is a 28 year old business owner based in Echuca Moama, and joined the EMT Board in April 2021. As the founder and director of a digital marketing agency (J2 Creative), his interest and skill set lies within marketing and tourism. Jason is particularly passionate about educating business owners of the flow-on effect that tourism has for the local economy. He says, “Without the income that tourism brings, many local businesses – including my own – would not be financially viable. Tourists don’t bring direct income into my business, but they do spend with the majority of my clients’ businesses. Without the continual economic growth that tourism brings, many service providers in town would not have the opportunities we currently do.”
Aishe Besim
Board Director, Chair of the Board Committee, Membership
After 10 years working in marketing and events for local Government, Kyabram local Aishe Besim opened plant-based cafe The Sweet Meadow in Echuca. Now in its 7th year, the cafe’s vision still holds true – to build a healthier community through awareness around the food we eat and living sustainably.
Dean Oberin
Board Director
Dean grew up in Gunbower on his family’s dairy farm and in 1971 he moved with his parents to Echuca where they built and opened the Nirebo motel. Through the ’70s and ’80s, the family’s interests in the hospitality industry flourished with several extensions and acquisitions including the American Hotel, the Motel Mid Pacific, and several retail and real estate investments. After graduating from secondary school in Echuca, Dean graduated from La Trobe University with a Bachelor of Economics, Banking and Finance. He worked in the merchant banking industry for a number of years and then travelled through Africa, the Middle East, Europe and America – returning to Echuca to join the family’s hospitality businesses. Dean established Oscar W’s Wharf side more than 15 years ago, recognised as one of regional Victoria’s unique dining experiences. He has now established American Hotel and recently The Nook on High. His inspiration was the desire to create something that celebrated the region and its people.