What do we do?    Service Charter    Disclaimer    Contact Us

About Tourism Alliance Victoria

Tourism Alliance Victoria is the peak industry body in Victoria created from the merger of two well recognised tourism organisations - Country Victoria Tourism Council (CVTC) and the Victorian Tourism Operators Association (VTOA). Tourism Alliance is focused on developing an increasingly dynamic tourism industry in Victoria. Its strong and diverse member base gives the organisation a statewide perspective on all issues affecting Victorian tourism, as well as a precise understanding of specific local requirements. This powerful alliance provides a unique range of services for businesses and regions special interest groups and representation for our 650+ strong member network.

Click here to find out more about Tourism Alliance Victoria.  Click here to become a member of Tourism Alliance Victoria.

Tourism Alliance's Board is made up of 6 member elected directors and 5 board appointed directors. Click here to find out who they are.

Tourism Alliance's Consolidation with VECCI What does it mean for members of Tourism Alliance?

Tourism Alliance Victoria has announced the consolidation of their resources with VECCI. With the support of the Tourism Alliance Board and VECCI, this move demonstrates TAV’s leadership within the tourism industry and provides its members with increased influence and opportunity. In what is terrific news for TAV members, they will have access to a range of VECCI member benefits in addition to benefits of Tourism Alliance.

Due to this change, Tourism Alliance has moved offices to Industry House, 486 Albert Street, East Melbourne to gain significant operational efficiencies and ensure strengthened communication between Victoria’s peak tourism bodies.

Furthermore, the move will ensure that TAV maintains its own Board, assets, liabilities, programs and profile. Current TAV staff will be employed by VECCI, however, they will continue to be dedicated to servicing TAV members, supported by VECCI’s extensive business services resources. The management of this united tourism industry structure will be headed up by Tourism Alliance CEO, Todd Blake. 

“This is a historic decision in context of the Victorian tourism industry that will provide many significant and exciting results for the TAV membership”, said the Tourism Alliance Chair. "Our support of this cohesive industry structure will ensure that our members have unprecedented opportunity to strengthen the tourism industry, while enjoying an increased suite of membership services and enhanced business participation”.

Members of Tourism Alliance on or before 30 October 2009 are eligible to receive

VECCI membership benefits until their 2011 membership expiry date

Tourism brands managed by VECCI

Tourism Alliance Victoria supports our members in leading a professional and sustainable tourism industry

Tourism Alliance - Who is who?

Chief Executive Officer - Todd Blake

It is with deep regret that we announce the recent passing of our friend and colleague Todd Blake while on holiday with his family in Fiji. He was greatly respected by colleagues in the tourism sector and his passing is a big loss to Tourism Alliance and the state’s tourism industry.

Todd is survived by his wife, Kirsty and their two children. Our deepest sympathies are with Kirsty and Todd’s families at this difficult time.

Tourism Alliance has been overwhelmed by the number of organisations passing on their condolences and remembering Todd’s achievements, and his warm, humorous and ‘can-do’ nature.

Tourism Operations Manager, Tourism Alliance Victoria - Kristina Burke

As Tourism Operations Manager - VECCI Tourism & Events, Kristina is responsible for the operations of the unit and a number of the associations within it, including Tourism Alliance Victoria, VTIC and VEIC.

Kristina started out in hospitality at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne, before moving to Germany and working at the Australian Pavilion at the 2000 Hannover Expo. Upon returning to Melbourne she opted for more 'sociable' working hours and spent a number of years in EA roles with companies such as BMW, PwC and BankWest.

Kristina's tourism career commenced in earnest when she joined the Marketing and Events team at Federation Square, where her responsibilities included web content and communications management, event coordination and running the guided tour program. She then took on the role of Advocacy, Policy and Project Co-ordinator for Tourism Alliance Victoria, tackling a wide range of issues and delivering a number of local government projects.

Kristina has completed a Master of Tourism at Monash, including a thesis on the travel behaviours of international students.

She sits on the Project Control Board of the Public Land Licence Reform and on the tourism industry advisory boards for Monash and La Trobe Universities.

Industry Development Coordinator - Chris Porter

Contact for regional development, planning and strategies, business & industry development and Business Events Victoria.

In 2002 Chris graduated with a Bachelor of Viticultural Science, thus his formal training and background lies within the wine industry. Since graduating Chris further developed his skills working as a cellar hand for 18 months, advancing his knowledge of the wine making process.

Employment with the Australian Wine Tour Company (AWTC) for nearly 4 years presented Chris with an opportunity to enter the tourism industry whilst applying his current wine knowledge by leading winery tours to the Yarra Valley and also becoming strongly involved in the Sales/Marketing division for the company. Through his experiences at AWTC an interest in Victorian Tourism was sparked and Chris is now an active member of the Young Tourism Network. Late in 2006 Chris was awarded the Lynette Bergin Tourism Fellowship with a focus on understanding and strengthening Victorian Tourism within the Japanese market. 

Project Co-ordinator - Tamara Ristevski

Contact for general information, Events Online, Tourism Alliance Events & Sponsorship opportunities.

Tamara started work with Tourism Alliance Victoria after studying for her Advanced Certificate in Office Administration from Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE. She has been with the organisation since 1998 and has developed sound skills in marketing administration, project co-ordination and financial management.

Tamara has also followed her interests in finances by recently completing a course in Office Bookkeeping at the Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE.

Her role at Tourism Alliance Victoria has changed significantly over the years first starting out providing administrative and office support to the jigsaw campaign committees as part of the Regional Cooperative Marketing Program then moving onto a more Project Coordination role within the organisation.

Events Co-ordinator - Edwina Gillespie (on maternity leave)

Contact for general information and for various Tourism Alliance events.

Edwina has had a very eclectic work/ life background. After being accepted into Applied Science Multimedia Technology at Swinburne University, she decided Engineering Mathematics was not for her and instead took up an Advanced Diploma in Business Advertising.  During her studies, her first taste of the events industry came when she took on the volunteer role of Assistant Production Coordinator for the first Youth Week events held in Victoria. 

After completing her course Edwina pursued her love of travel and over the years has worked in various events, travel and hospitality roles in the Whitsunday’s, London, Edinburgh, France and Canada. The most notable events she’s worked on during this time include; The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, travelling exhibitions at The Science Museum of London and music festivals; ‘T in the Park’ and ‘Download Music Festival’.

During her time back in Melbourne Edwina has worked in contract events roles for major events including the Commonwealth Games, St Kilda Festival and the Very Special Kids Piggy Bank Appeal.

Edwina joined the Tourism and Events Unit in April 2009 and has coordinated various events for all five associations including the TAV AGM, Industry Christmas Party, Student Summit and the Victorian Accommodation Awards for Excellence. During her time off she still indulges in her love of travel, both at home and abroad.

Events Co-ordinator - Mariella Mejia 

Coordinator of event calendar for the VECCI Tourism and Events Unit.

Mariella Mejia’s career began in the Aviation and Computer Science industry where she enjoyed speaking over the PA more than she enjoyed physics.

It wasn’t until one weekend, while her parents were away that she organised her first event in their backyard.  Three bands and one hundred guests later, she knew she was destined for a career in event organising.

Mariella completed a Dual Diploma of Hospitality and Events at NMIT.  After completing her course, Mariella’s professional event career began with Expohire, where she gained vast knowledge of logistics and foundations of events and exhibitions.

This knowledge of logistics and exhibitions saw her become a member of international publishing company, John Wiley & Sons, where she coordinated their academic exhibitions and conferences in Australia and New Zealand.  The knowledge of academic events took her to work for professional conference organisers, ICMS, where she worked organising large scale conferences.

Mariella is passionate about the events and tourism industry and believes that events create business.  She one day aspires to be the Michael Chugg of the event world, bringing large scale international events to Victoria.

Mariella joined Tourism Alliance in November 2010 and will be coordinating the event calendar for 2011.

To date, Mariella’s parents still don’t know about that party.

Office Co-ordinator - Monica Lougoon

Front line contact for general information on membership, activities, projects and services.

Monica holds a Certificate 5 in Business Administration at the Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE.

Prior to working at Tourism Alliance Victoria, Monica was offered a traineeship as an administration assistant at Tourism Training Victoria and went on to win the Trainee of the Year award for the year 1999/2000.

Monica moved to Tourism Alliance Victoria in May 2001 to take on the role of Office Co-ordinator. In this role she looks after the day to day running of the organisation, which includes the handling of enquiries, Membership, Starting Up In Tourism Seminars and more.

Back to top