New Chair Announced at Visit Cornwall: Jon Hyatt to Lead Board from November

November transition follows Malcolm Bell’s 18-month term as Executive Chair

Visit Cornwall CIC has announced Jon Hyatt as the new Chair of its Board of Directors, effective 1st November. Jon, currently Managing Director of the award-winning Hendra Holiday Park in Newquay, will succeed Malcolm Bell MBE, who has been Executive Chair for the past 18 months. Malcolm, a prominent figure in Cornwall’s tourism sector, originally took on the executive role after serving as Visit Cornwall’s founding CEO and guiding its transition to a community interest company in 2015.

Leadership in Tourism and Sustainability

Jon, who has been a member of the board, expressed his excitement about the new role and praised Malcolm’s achievements, saying, “Malcolm has steered the visitor economy through significant challenges and driven the sector to new levels.” He added that he is “honoured and excited” to follow Malcolm as Chair, highlighting the need for continued growth in an “ever changing economic and political landscape.”

Supporting the new leadership, Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council Cabinet Member and Portfolio Holder for the Economy, voiced confidence in Jon, stating that his “deep-rooted understanding of Cornwall’s unique appeal” and his hospitality expertise will inspire a balance between tourism growth and the preservation of Cornwall’s natural and cultural heritage.

Vision for Visit Cornwall

Jon will lead a 10-member volunteer board, working closely with Michael Steel, Visit Cornwall’s Managing Director since March 2023. Michael, who has a background in tourism, energy, and finance, focuses on sustainable tourism growth. The board’s collective aim is to provide substantial benefits to Visit Cornwall’s members and host communities, contributing to the local economy. Malcolm will remain active within the organisation until March 2025, assisting with Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) projects and furthering the development of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP).

Cornwall’s Local Visitor Economy Partnership

In alignment with Visit England’s strategy, the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LVEP was accredited in 2023 to provide strong local governance in tourism. However, the lack of resources has delayed its development. Malcolm, together with Abi Steel of Visit Cornwall, will now spearhead the LVEP’s formation. This new partnership is part of a nationwide effort to enhance destination management and support visitor economies with localised leadership.

Visit Cornwall CIC’s Role

As an independent, not-for-profit company, Visit Cornwall has operated without core public funding since 2015, promoting Cornwall via its website visitcornwall.com, travel trade representation, and media relations. The organisation also runs workshops and webinars to support its members in staying competitive in the tourism sector, while recent contracts have included Shared Prosperity Fund backing to further boost Cornwall’s profile.

Current Board Members

Jon will be joined on the Visit Cornwall Board by the following members:

• Jon Hyatt – Managing Director of Hendra Holiday Park and Chair of Visit Cornwall
• Trevor Broome – General Manager of Lands End Landmark and Deputy Chair
• Nicola Cornish – Partner at PKF Francis Clark
• Mark Worden – Director of MiHi Digital
• Kim Spencer – Vice Chair of South East Cornwall Tourism Association
• Linda Winstanley – Chair of Bude Area Tourist Board
• Nathan Cudmore – Sector Development Manager at Cornwall Council
• Rob Edlin – Managing Director of Niddocks
• Malcolm Bell – LVEP Development Lead
• Michael Steel – Managing Director of Visit Cornwall
• Cllr Louis Gardner – Observer on behalf of Cornwall Council

Photo Credit: Visit Cornwall