NUNAVUT
Kevin Kelly has been named the new chief executive officer of Nunavut Tourism.

Outgoing Nunavut Tourism chief executive officer Colleen Dupuis, left, stands with her organization's mascot, Charly the Arctic Char, and the new CEO, Kevin Kelly. - photo courtesy of Nunavut Tourism

"I'm very excited," Kelly told Nunavut News/North. "I'm very much looking forward to continuing with the organization and helping to move the tourism industry forward."

Prior to the announcement, Kelly was the organization's director of membership and visitor services.

Kelly said he would continue to work with tourism and government agencies to ensure the territory's tourism strategy moves forward and is a success.

As to whether or not there will be increased kinds of tourism products or new members during his tenure, Kelly said.

"We are always looking at increasing membership in whatever way, shape or form. We'll be talking to our members to work on that as much as possible," he said.

"The selection committee placed all candidates through a comprehensive screening process to ensure the best possible candidate was selected," stated Adamie Sakeeta, the chair of the Nunavut Tourism Board of Directors, in a news release. "His broad skillset will provide strong leadership for the organization and continue to strengthen the tourism sector in Nunavut."

Kelly has been working at Nunavut Tourism since 2010. As part of his work, Kelly implemented improvements to visitor and membership services, training initiatives, website marketing and the organization's insurance program for members.

He said he would continue to attend several travel and national industry conferences such as the Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show taking place next February.

The previous CEO, Colleen Dupuis, announced her retirement in March after six years in the position.

"I have very much enjoyed my time in Nunavut; the decision to leave has not been made lightly. Kevin is a veteran employee and a major contributor to the organization's success," Dupuis said in a written statement.

At the time of her departure, Dupuis said her organization was working to encourage more conferences and meetings to take place in the territory would extend to communities and businesses.

Nunavut Tourism is in the process of hiring a new meetings and conferences co-ordinator, said Dupuis.

"This was part of the tourism strategy that was passed in the legislative assembly in 2013," she explained. "We're hoping this will generate business for some of our members, in terms of co-ordinating the conferences."

Dupuis said her organization's strategy of targeting national groups which have members in all of the country's provinces and territories has been successful so far.

"We've had the (National Landscape Architects Assocation of Canada), the Economic Developers Association, the Canadian Council of Motor Sport Administrators," she said.

Nunavut Tourism has a list of approximately 200 organizations they are targeting and Dupuis said they are in discussions with a few. She estimated last year there were three to four events that took place in the territory, but there seemed to be very little awareness about the types of facilities that are available.

"Nunavut has what it takes to do this," she said.

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