UKinbound has announced the strategic recruitment of events, commercial and marketing personnel, marking an important time of growth and development for the organisation.

Ann Marie Meaney joins the organisation as events and commercial manager and Stephanie Blackwell-Graham has been recruited as marketing and communications manager. Both will report directly into chief executive, Mary Rance.

Meaney is tasked with organising and facilitating the increasing number of events UKinbound hold each year, including workshops, seminars and familiarisation trips, as well as handling the association’s business needs and opportunities. She will also hold responsibility for the must-attend UKinbound Annual Convention in February, which brings together expert speakers, key political figures and important influencers from the travel industry.  Meaney joins from VisitScotland and has over 15 years of experience in travel trade exhibitions and events, having previously worked with Reed Travel Exhibitions.

Blackwell-Graham will oversee all marketing and communications activity for UKinbound, increasing awareness of the trade association and promoting its interests in order to publicly push the importance of inbound tourism to the UK.  She will be responsible for creating and implementing a cohesive strategy that will include online communications and social media channels, as well as traditional media. Prior to joining UKinbound, Blackwell-Graham was senior marketing executive at Visit Kent.

Mary Rance, chief executive for UKinbound, commented: “Both Ann Marie and Stephanie bring key skills and experience to the team and their appointments are pivotal for the continued growth and development of UKinbound as we head into 2013.”