Member Article

Job swap leads to tourism honours

25 years ago, Margaret Statham swapped jobs with her husband, and last week was honoured for long service to the North East tourism industry with a garden party in Durham City.

Margaret, 55, swapped a job as a town planner for husband Rob’s role in tourism for Durham County Council in 1983. County Durham Tourism Partnership, where Margaret now works, held its Annual Summer Garden Party at Crook Hall and Gardens in honour of her 25-year career in tourism for County Durham.

More than 16 editions of the County Durham Holiday Guide, and millions of printed visitor publications later, Margaret is still serving tourism businesses in the county as Business Relationships Executive for CDTP.

Melanie Sensicle, chief executive of County Durham Tourism Partnership, said: “Margaret’s story is remarkable, and I’m so glad she opted for tourism over town planning. She is a major reason why Durham has become the attractive vibrant visitor destination it is today.”

More than 100 figures from the North East tourism industry attended the party to celebrate her achievement.

Chris Davy, chair of CDTP, presented Margaret with a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of champagne, in recognition of her long service and commitment to tourism.

Margaret said: “This has been the best day of my career so far. It’s been an absolute privilege to have worked in tourism since its earliest days in Durham, and I believe we are now right up there with the leading visitor destinations in the UK.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .