Introducing Visit California’s new Director for Australia and New Zealand

Introducing Visit California’s new Director for Australia and New Zealand

Tourism marketing and PR agency, Gate 7, has appointed award-winning marketer Vanessa Fletcher as its new Visit California Director for Australia and New Zealand.

Fletcher joins Gate 7 from Contiki Holidays, where she was Marketing Director and Acting General Manager for Australia.

Her diverse travel marketing expertise spans content strategy and creation, media partnerships, B2B marketing, influencer marketing, events, PR, and digital performance.

She has spearheaded successful trade marketing strategies with partners including Flight Centre, Helloworld Travel and STA Travel.

Fletcher is a recognised leader and speaker in the travel and marketing industry, recently presenting at Mumbrella’s Travel Marketing Summit.

She led her team at Contiki to win Mumbrella’s 2018 Marketing Team of the Year, and Best Social Media Campaign in partnership with MTV Australia at the recent ASTRA awards.

“We are thrilled to have a marketer and leader of Vanessa’s calibre heading up the Visit California team at an exciting time for both California as a destination, and Gate 7 as an agency,’ said Jo Palmer, Managing Director at Gate 7.

“Her experience, vision and creativity will drive new goals and new successes for Visit California. She will be instrumental in the roll-out of our integrated strategy to showcase the abundance and diversity of California’s unique travel experiences to mass and niche audiences alike.”

“We will continue to leverage California’s strong awareness in the market to drive conversion for both new and repeat travellers, encouraging Australians and Kiwis to Dream Big in California again and again.”

“I’m excited to be joining the amazing Gate 7 team, and delighted to work on such an iconic, amazing destination and brand that is Visit California,” said Fletcher.

“I’ve been blessed enough to visit California multiple times at different stages of my life; firstly, a two-week road trip as a teen with the family where we covered most of the state, then in my early 20s I did a classic girls’ week in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

“Most recently I returned with my husband for one of our passions: hiking through Yosemite National Park. I’m inspired by the diverse offering of the state, and how at any stage of one’s life there is always a reason to go back.”

Vanessa’s appointment follows Gate 7’s retention of the Visit California account last year, for the twelfth consecutive year.

She joins at a time of expansion and evolution for the agency; in addition to its travel trade marketing and public relations expertise, Gate 7 is expanding its service offerings with end-to-end social media management, advertising, consumer partnerships, content development and travel industry events.

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