An Emerson man has been appointed as one of nine new members of the Travel Manitoba board of directors.

Simon Resch, the General Manager of the Emerson Duty-Free Shop, has taken on this new role, and said he is ready to take the next step.

“I think the appointment of somebody from Emerson is the result of our location, and the uniqueness of our region. I absolutely did not expect it myself. I'm flattered and very excited with the opportunity. I think we can do some great things,” he said.

Alongside his experience in the duty-free business, Resch is also a trained professional in culinary arts, and has worked in hotels and restaurants across Canada. From this, he's learned about tourism and hospitality, something that has prepared him for this new position.

In the future, he said he would like to turn over the stigma of Canada's cold climate, and transition it into something desirable to tourists.

“I think the fundamental challenge we have is our climate, and convincing people the Canadian conditions are not just for Canadians, they're for everybody; so how do we turn 'cold' into 'cool?'” said Resch.

Resch is also an active member of the Frontier Duty-Free Association, an organization that represents the interests of Canada's duty-free shops, according to its website.