Tirol tourism company receives 50 applications for top job

A three-person shortlist has been drawn up to replace Karin Seiler as head of Tirol Werbung, the tourism company, ORF reported. The new managing director is expected to be announced next week.

Seiler, who took over in 2022 as the first woman to lead the organisation, does not want to seek another five-year term. She has said she plans to move into the private sector.

The applicants attended a hearing last Thursday. Around 50 people applied, including candidates from Tirol, other Austrian federal states, Bavaria and Italy.

The managing director’s post is paid about 200,000 euros gross a year. The decision will be made by Governor Anton Mattle of the Austrian People’s Party, as the owner’s representative of Lebensraum Tirol Holding, probably in consultation with Tourism Councillor Mario Gerber.

Tirol Werbung is wholly owned by Lebensraum Tirol Holding, which in turn is wholly owned by the state of Tirol. An unexpected candidate has not been ruled out, according to people familiar with the process.