The mia has passed on the sad news of the death of its former chairman, Peter Darnell. He passed away on 31 July following a short illness.
Chief executive Jane Longhurst paid tribute to Darnell: “Peter was a loyal and committed supporter of the mia. He joined the Board very early in the MIA’s history and became vice-president in 2000 and president in 2002. At the end of his term he stayed on the Board and took the post of treasurer which he held through to 2008.
“In 2008, just as the country tipped into recession Peter agreed to take the chair. As Chairman, during some of the most challenging periods of the association’s history, he guided us through the Great Recession. It is only because of his hugely professional and determined approach that the association didn’t just survive but came through stronger and healthier than ever before.
“Peter had a solid background in the hospitality industry encompassing Forte Hotels and, latterly, from 1997 through to 2013 as managing director of Chartridge Conference Centres. In addition to chairing the mia he was also a chair and board member of the marketing consortium Conference Centres of Excellence.
“In 2013 Peter retired and, with his wife Linda, moved to Queensland to be close to his daughter and grandchildren. His busy life there has been prematurely cut short but, in the brief five-year period that he had, he achieved so much.
“I have a strong suspicion that some of his proudest moments would have been taking the presidency of the Rotary Club of Alexandra Headland and becoming vice-chair of the MG Car Club Sunshine Coast.
“From a personal perspective Peter was my unofficial mentor for nine years, he was supportive, sometimes challenging but always hugely giving of his time. His sense of humour made our meetings immensely enjoyable and he had the ability to motivate and lift my spirits; with Peter at the helm I always felt supported.
“Peter was my mentor and a business friend; I will miss the gentle, interested and guiding contact that he occasionally offered from his home 9,000 miles away.
“I know the industry will feel enormous sorrow at his passing; he was a true leader who people listened to, respected and admired and whose presence is still shaping our thoughts today.
“For all who feel his loss deeply, as Peter said to me many times over the years when loss touched me personally, ‘Remember the good times’.”
