The British Association of Conference Destinations (BACD) has announced the appointment of Hamish Reid as its new chair. He took up office as chair at the association’s Annual General Meeting, held on the 6 June 2007 at The Quay Hotel in Deganwy, North Wales.

Reid has been general manager of the Jersey Conference Bureau since 1999, a body which represents many of the island’s hotels and their business tourism interests. He takes over from the outgoing chair, Sue Stuart, chief executive of Edinburgh Convention Bureau, and will hold the position for the next year.

"The last few years have seen a great amount of change and reorganisation within destination marketing across the British Isles," said Reid. “During this period members’ priorities and goals have changed and the services that the association delivers must also be flexible to better meet the needs of its members. I am confident that with a new direction, through our relationship with Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), and by improving our educational offering and aligning our services more closely with members’ needs, the association can grow and will continue to play an important part in the development of the conference industry in the British Isles."

Commenting on the appointment, BACD chief executive Tony Rogers said: “We are very pleased that Hamish has taken on the mantle as BACD chair. He brings wide knowledge of the industry, excellent links with other trade bodies and substantial experience in association management, all key attributes at this time of rapid and constant change for destination marketing organisations (DMOs). We look forward to the contribution which he and the other BACD Board members will make in positioning BACD as the voice and lead body for British DMOs.”