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Chamber profile - Rhys Bawden
Thursday 7 April 2011
Chamber profile - Rhys Bawden
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In the latest of our Port Douglas Chamber of Commerce committee member profiles we chat with Rhys Bawden who sees a number of opportunities for growth within the town.
The Newsport: How long have you been a Chamber committee member?
Rhys Bawden: I was originally a member and on one of the sub committees when the Chamber first started in Port Douglas. Since then I have only been a member until this year when I decided to become a committee member to see if we could make a change.
TN: What sub-committee do you sit on?
RB: As the sub committees have only recently been formed and only with the person in charge been appointed I am what you call a roamer.
TN: What is your specific focus as a member of the committee?
RB: In short I want to try to make an impact to the business community.
TN: How long have you been in Port Douglas?
RB: 16 years.
TN: Are you a business owner?
RB: Yes, I am part owner of Salsa Bar & Grill.
TN: What business experience have you had?
RB: I have been involved in Salsa for 14 years, working my way up through the ranks, until being offered the opportunity to buy into the business, I have always thought of Salsa as my business and have always worked with that in mind.
TN: What is the biggest change in business you’ve seen while in Port Douglas?
RB: Since moving to Port Douglas I would have to say that the biggest change to business that I have seen would be the expansion of accommodation houses throughout the past 10 years.
TN: What are the biggest challenges that lie ahead for the town?
RB: To reinvigorate the tourism profile of Port Douglas, and to try to enforce to people that Port is a great place to come all year round. We need to work on a plan to invigorate the low season so that there is not such a large gap between the low and high season.
TN: What are the biggest opportunities for Port Douglas businesses in the future?
RB: The waterfront project and the sale of the Sheraton Mirage possibly hold the best business opportunities for the future.
TN: What is Port Douglas best keep secret?
RB: Salsa, ha! Having the ability to slip into this lovely town no matter who you are and know that you have the best nature can offer right at your finger tips.
The Committee
![Phoebe Kitto](/fileadmin/_processed_/e/a/csm_chamber_snippet_c8f4f70974.jpg)
![Doug Calvert](/fileadmin/_processed_/f/0/csm_doug_fb2cbd0c36.jpg)
![Natalie Johnson](/fileadmin/_processed_/a/a/csm_natalie_4ad0483ea3.jpg)
![Sam Cullen](/fileadmin/_processed_/5/e/csm_sam_a3f771cde1.jpg)
![Tony McInnes with wife Helena](/fileadmin/_processed_/e/4/csm_tony_mcinnes_snippet_33fa477017.jpg)
![Za Harricharan](/fileadmin/_processed_/a/e/csm_za_fd61e65912.jpg)
![Ken Dobbs](/fileadmin/_processed_/b/5/csm_ken_1_0e79d61f2e.jpg)
![Rhys Bawden](/fileadmin/_processed_/a/9/csm_rhys_snippet_d3f7e9347b.jpg)
No images available for committee members: Greg McLean, Paula Johnson and Terry Hooper