Leigh Harry, chief executive of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition centre (MCEC), has been honoured with the prestigious ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Industry’ award at the recent Australian Hotels Association (AHA) awards evening in Melbourne.
Victoria’s leaders in the tourism industry, together with 400 hoteliers attended the awards evening where The Hon Tim Holding MP, Minister for Tourism and Major Events, presented Leigh with the award in recognition of his dedication and contribution to the MCEC and to the tourism industry as a whole.
In accepting the award, Leigh acknowledged the efforts of the State Government both current and previous, the hotel community, and in particular, the outstanding support provided over a long period of time by the highly skilled and committed team at the MCEC.
Speaking after the AHA Awards evening Leigh said: ‘I’d like to congratulate all the award winners for 2010. These awards really highlight the outstanding quality of Melbourne’s hospitality industry, and collaboratively showcase the city and state nationally and internationally as a world-class tourism and business events destination.’
Leigh Harry holds a number of senior industry positions. As well as having the MCEC under his stewardship, he is the global president of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA); deputy chairman of the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB); president of the global Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC); member of the Business Events Council of Australia (BECA); and member of the Tourism Australia Business Events Industry Advisory Panel.
The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) is recognised as the leading authority on hospitality and tourism issues with Government, Opposition, media and the industry.
