Tourism Accommodation Australia and the Accommodation Association kick off merger with milestone meeting

Tourism Accommodation Australia and the Accommodation Association kick off merger with milestone meeting
By Alexandra Coulton


The Accommodation Association and Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) have had their first informal meeting to kick off the amalgamation of the two peak bodies.

Board representatives from both groups met in Sydney on Friday for the milestone meeting, including the Accommodation Association president Leanne Harwood and TAA chair Martin Ferguson.

Hardwood said the intention behind the merger was to form a unified national voice while amplifying the benefits for members at all levels.

“We need all members to get involved in this process so that you understand what is proposed and so that when it comes time to vote, you understand why we believe it makes sense,” she said.

“We need your support through your ongoing membership and your advocacy in convincing non-members to join as we create an even stronger industry body to drive greater outcomes for your business.”

The merger, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year, is a heavily regulated process with mandated steps and timelines on which significant progress has already been made.

The current focus is on the preparation of the new rules, the outline of the plan and the scheme of amalgamation for adoption by both organisations and member voting.

In addition to the on-going formal requirements, both the Accommodation Association and TAA continue to work closely together from a council, board and team level to make the most of existing resources and optimise benefits for members.

This has already seen a number of joint events, the sharing of existing resources such as the Accommodation Association’s comprehensive employment program resources on the Hub, TAA National Industrial Relations team and the opportunity for all members to participate in the state-based Awards in Queensland, NSW and Victoria.

“This is going to be a year of many firsts for both the Accommodation Association and TAA as we progress the merger and this informal meeting is an important milestone,” said Ferguson.

“We are all crystal clear in our purpose. Everything we do needs to deliver for our current and potential members as we continue the recovery from two of the most challenging years our Sector has ever faced.”

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