Assistant Minister for Tourism Industry Development Michael Healy said Mr Gregg was an inspirational and strategic Queensland tourism leader who guided important industry innovations.
“As Chair of Tourism Queensland, he navigated the Events Queensland merger to create the highly successful, industry-leading Tourism and Events Queensland we know today.” He led the industry as Chair of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for almost eight years, then as the Chair of both Events Queensland and Tourism Queensland, overseeing the successful merger of the two into Tourism and Events Queensland.
“Today, I know many of us are reflecting on Stephen’s enormous contribution to tourism and so many of us personally across the tourism industry.
“Stephen’s tourism legacy will be enduring and remembered by the next generation of industry professionals who are fortunate to be nurtured and inspired by his leadership.”
Stephen was an inspirational leader of the industry for over 40 years, overseeing some of the largest and most important innovations the industry has experienced.
“Stephen Gregg has helped shape Queensland’s tourism industry as we know it today. In 2015 he was awarded the industry’s highest honour, The Marie Watson-Blake Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual, to recognise his extraordinary personal and professional achievements in Queensland and Australia’s tourism industry.
Former TEQ Board member and former Destination Gold Coast Chair Paul Donovan said Stephen would be greatly missed by his beloved tourism industry. As the inaugural Chair of TEQ, Stephen’s highlight, in his words, was “overseing the birth of an integrated strategy to leverage synergies between the two former organisations”, guiding TEQ towards its current role as the state’s lead marketing, tourism experience and destination development and major events agency.
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said Queensland tourism had lost someone of extraordinary talent and vision.
TEQ CEO Leanne Coddington said like so many others in the industry, Stephen’s leadership inspired her. May he rest in peace knowing he significantly impacted our state’s tourism industry.”
Stephen also Chaired Tourism Tropical North Queensland and Queensland Rail and served as a Board member of Tourism Noosa.
CEO Experience Co and former Tourism Australia Managing Director John O’Sullivan said losing such a beautiful human was sad. He led with humility and was a passionate supporter and mentor to many people as we paved our careers in this incredible industry.”
Stephen was CEO of Tourism Queensland for nearly seven years from August 1996 before his role as CEO of Dreamworld and then Cairns and Mackay Airports.
TEQ Chair Brett Godfrey was thankful for Stephen’s influence on the industry.
“I’ll always remember the real interest he took in people.
Today is a sad day.
TEQ shares the industry’s sadness at the news Stephen Gregg passed away overnight. He went from being my Director and mentor to becoming a close friend. I’ll equally treasure our professional relationship as I will our time spent kayaking the Noosa mangroves over the Christmas holidays.”
TEQ sends sincere condolences to Stephen’s family, friends and colleagues. His steady guidance has helped so many successes over so many years, and the impacts of his leadership will continue to be enjoyed in the future.
