Manny Papadoulis heads one of WA’s most successful and visible private companies, tourism group Feature Tours Pty Ltd and its parent company Papadoulis Group, which also owns Great Australian Travel Centre and Epicurean Tours. Known as a hands-on leader, he cut his teeth in sales and marketing with CSR Sugar before taking over as marketing manager of Feature Tours, a family business started by his father.
When Mr Papadoulis joined the family company, it had an annual turnover of $600,000. Today, the much diversified tourism group, of which he became CEO two years ago, turns over $7 million.
Mr Papadoulis’ business is heavily reliant on inbound tourism and he has become a champion for the local industry, particularly during the past year with threats of international route cancellations, the collapse of Ansett and the impact of terrorist attacks.
His industry roles include the presidency of the Tourism Council Australia (WA), Australian Tourism Export Council (inaugural WA branch chairman (2000) and remains a WA board member) and an advisory board member for the WA Tourism Commission’s Eventscorp.
