DESTINATIONS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Development Committee
- President & CEO, LA Tourism & Convention Board
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- Member of the Membership Committee
- President / CEO, Relic
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- Chairman of Governance and Nominating Committee
- Chairman of the Executive Committee
- Immediate past Chair / President & CEO, Visit Baltimore
- President & CEO, Visit Baltimore ( Co - Chair )
- President & CEO, Visit Baltimore / Immediate past Chair
- Visit Baltimore As President and CEO
Al Hutchinson joined Visit Baltimore as president and CEO in November 2016. As the chief executive of the city's official destination sales and marketing organization, he is responsible for overseeing the promotion of Baltimore to leisure travelers and convention business, while demonstrating the impact of tourism on the city and state.
Hutchinson boasts more than 30 years of experience in the destination marketing industry and has earned recognition for his leadership throughout his career. Most recently, he was recognized as one of the Daily Record's 2019 Most Admired CEOs in Maryland.
Hutchinson is a Richmond, Virginia native, proud University of Alabama alumni and honored to serve as the Chair of the Destination International's Board of Directors. He also serves on the boards of the United States Travel Association (USTA); Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA), the American Bus Association (ABA) and Tourism Diversity Matters (TDM). In the local community, Hutchinson serves on the Board of Governors for the Center Club, the Charles Street Development Corporation, the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore's Board, the Sports and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, the Greater Baltimore Committee's Tourism, Entertainment and Culture Committee, Morgan State University School of Business Dean's Advisory Board, Baltimore's COVID-19 Small Business Task Force, and the Visit Baltimore Education & Training Foundation Board, in addition to leading the Baltimore Convention & Tourism Board, which oversees both Visit Baltimore and the Baltimore Convention Center's seamless and effective sales process.
Alongside his wife Unae, he is the proud father of Asia and Jalen Hutchinson. Outside of work, Hutchinson enjoys listening to jazz music and rooting for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
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- Member of the Awards Committee
- President & CEO, Monroe - West Monroe Convention & Visitors Bureau
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- Chairman
- Member of the Development Committee
- President & CEO, Visit Lehigh Valley
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- Member of the Development Committee
- VP, Destination Experience and Advocacy, Visit Mesa
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- Director of Content Development
With over ten years of tourism industry experience, Alyssa Poulin is Destinations International's Director of Content Development. Poulin believes in the power of sustainable travel and maintains a holistic view of the tourism ecosystem. While obtaining her Masters in Tourism Administration at The George Washington University, she provided destination development research and consultation for tourism organizations across the US, Europe, and the Caribbean.
In her previous role as the Sales Manager for a portfolio of four Marriott hotels, she directed sales for the corporate, government, and tour and travel market segments. Prior to that role, she ran the Certified Tourism Ambassador Program at the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area and National Scenic Byway. There, she built lasting relationships with over 200 historic sites, Main Street communities, hoteliers, and other tourism businesses throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. In this capacity, she trained and managed membership of over 600 frontline hospitality employees while promoting the region as a visitor destination.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Membership Committee
- Director, Orange County New York Tourism & Film
Amelia Lincoln has a background in destination marketing & event management, including six years with the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau (Love Catalina). She holds a master's degree in Tourism Marketing from the University of Surrey. A native of CT, she currently resides in Arizona, where she enjoys spending time with her family outdoors & traveling.
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- Member of the Development Committee
- President & CEO, Longwoods International
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- Executive Director, Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches
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- Member of the Advocacy Committee
- Vice President of Research and Advocacy
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- Member of the Membership Committee
- Director of Investor Relations, Explore Charleston
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- CEO, GreenStep Solutions Inc
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- Member of the Development Committee
- VP of DEI, Travel Portland
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- President & CEO, Visit Philadelphia
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- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice President of Destination Engagement for the U.S. Travel Association
- Vice President, Industry Relations, U.S. Travel Association
Angie Briggs is vice president of destination engagement for the U.S. Travel Association. In her role, she is focused on engagement and growth among local, regional and state destination organizations across the country. Briggs is a frequent traveler, spending time in-market collaborating with U.S. Travel members and the industry broadly.
She has served three decades in the travel industry and her experience ranges from meeting planning to destination marketing, in more recent years, she's helped travel marketing and consulting agencies build their portfolios by establishing a strong track record of collaboration and identifying business opportunities to support national, state, regional and local destination marketing organizations, as well as hotels, airports, attractions and businesses in the international marketplace.
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- VP - Destination Development / Community Engagement, Visit Lake Charles
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- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Destinations International Committee
- Chief Financial Officer & Vice President of HR and Operations, Discover Durham
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- Public Information Manager, Explore Asheville
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- Member of the Membership Committee
- CEO, Paradise Advertising & Marketing
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- Chairman of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Destinations International Committee
- Member of the Destinations International Foundation Audit Committee
- Audit Co - Chair ), CFO, Visit Salt Lake
- Co - Chair ), CFO, Visit Salt Lake
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- Member of the Audit Committee
- Vice President of Finance
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- Partner, Destination Think
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- CEO
- Member of Governance and Nominating Committee
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President
- President & CEO, Destination Augusta
Bennish Brown has served as President/CEO of Destination Augusta since July of 2018.
Among his most fulfilling accomplishments in his time at Destination Augusta are the completion and roll out of a destination rebranding project, completion of a new destination website, and the launch of a new award-winning destination marketing campaign that truly reflects this soulful, dynamic, diverse, and artistic southern city. He is also extremely proud at the adoption by his Board of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion statement for the organization, and for recently updating the organization's vision and mission statements. He feels all of these are as much about building and amplifying community pride as they are about attracting visitors.
He serves on Board of Directors for The Southeast Tourism Society (STS), a travel-and-tourism association with membership from 14 southern states and the District of Columbia; and he serves on the Board of Destinations International, the global association for destination organizations. Locally, he is on the Boards of the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Alliance for Fort Gordon, the Augusta Sports Council, and the Greater Augusta Arts Council.
Prior to Augusta, Bennish served for six years as the President/CEO of the Tacoma, WA Convention & Visitors Bureau, and before that at the Rock Hill, SC Convention & Visitors Bureau for 12 years.
Before working in the tourism industry for more than 20 years, Bennish also spent nearly two decades in communications. He has worked in the radio industry, including time as an on-air radio personality and as station management. He has been a newspaper reporter, and worked in many aspects of public relations and public information for local and state government, and in the corporate world.
Bennish holds a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism and a master's degree in public relations from the University of South Carolina. An avid traveler, Bennish and his wife Sandra have visited every continent but one, Antarctica.
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- Member of the Development Committee
- President, Young Strategies, Inc
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- Member of the Executive Committee
- Director at Large
- President & CEO of Visit Loudoun
- President & CEO, Visit Loudoun / Director at Large
Since 2014, Beth Erickson has been the President & CEO of Visit Loudoun, Loudoun County's officially designated Destination Marketing Organization. Loudoun County is the top generator of visitor spending in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Prior to joining Visit Loudoun, Beth was Vice President of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership (JTHG)-a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the 180-mile swath of land between Gettysburg, PA and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. The JTHG was recognized by Congress as a National Heritage Area in 2008. As the Director of the JTHG National Heritage Area, she was responsible for the management of the Heritage Area through the U. S. Department of Interior.
Beth received her CDME in 2016 and joined the Destinations International's Board of Directors in 2020. She served two terms as the Professional Development chair prior to joining the Finance Committee in 2023. Beth also serves on the US Travel Board of Directors. At the state level, Beth is the immediate past chair of the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, Travel, and Hospitality Association and is a past chair of the Northern Virginia Visitors Consortium. At home in Loudoun County, Beth served on the Comprehensive Plan Stakeholder Committee and currently serves on the Loudoun Chamber Board of Directors, Loudoun Economic Development Advisory Commission, and the Loudoun Rural Economic Development Council.
Beth was honored by George Washington University in 2017 with its inaugural Dr. Don Hawkins Tourism Innovation Award. She has also been honored by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Virginia Department of Education, and the President's Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
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- Member of the Board of Directors
- Senior Vice President With JLL 's Hotels & Hospitality Group
- Senior Vice President, Tourism Destination Development
Based in New York, Bethanie DeRose is a Senior Vice President with JLL's Hotels & Hospitality Group. She co-leads the Global Tourism & Destination Advisory Team and specializes in tourism strategy, destination development, and tourism asset development advisory. Having worked with more than 100 destination and tourism projects globally, Bethanie holds expertise in destination strategic planning, tourism readiness, sustainability, convention center planning, public facility feasibility, and overall destination positioning.
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- Member of Governance and Nominating Committee
- Partner / Head of Strategy, HospitableMe Incorporated
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- Member of the Membership Committee
- CEO, Visit South Padre Island
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- President & CEO, Visit Corpus Christi
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- President & CEO, Port Aransas Tourism Bureau & Chamber of Commerce
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- Member of Governance and Nominating Committee
- President & CEO, Visit Rapid City
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- Member of the Development Committee
- Executive Director, Visit Boise
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- Member of Governance and Nominating Committee
- Managing Director, MMGY NextFactor Enterprises, Inc
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- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Destinations International Committee
- CEO, Visit Beloit
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- Member of Governance and Nominating Committee
- Member of the Awards Committee
- Member of the Development Committee
- Member of the Finance Committee
- Member of the Foundation Grants Committee
- Senior Vice President of Governance & Administration
Chelsea Dunlop Welter is the organization's Senior Vice President of Governance & Administration and is directly responsible for managing and supporting all administration and operations for the organization including human resource functions and directly supports the executive office. Additionally, she also manages all board governance and supervision for the Destinations International Association Board of Directors, The Destinations International Foundations Board of Trustees, and their respective committees and task forces.
Chelsea joined Destinations International (DMAI) in 2016 after leaving Choose Chicago where she worked as Executive Assistant to the President & CEO. Prior to her career in travel and tourism, she worked in commercial property management working in both Chicago and New York City for a large international real estate management company and also a regional firm in Chicago.
Chelsea is a graduate of Michigan State University (BA) and Florida State University (MA) with a major in History and American Dance Studies respectively and lives with her family in Detroit Metro area, Michigan.
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- Vice President - Strategy & External Affairs, Explore Charleston
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- Chairman of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Destinations International Committee
- Member of the Destinations International Foundation Audit Committee
- Audit Co - Chair ), CFO, Little Rock CVB
- Co - Chair ), CFO, Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau
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- Vice President, Indiana Dunes Tourism
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- Member of the Executive Committee
- Director at Large
- President and CEO of Brand USA
Christopher L. Thompson is president and CEO of Brand USA, the nation's public-private partnership dedicated to increasing international visitation to the United States through marketing and promotional efforts. In this role, Chris is responsible for accelerating the organization's efforts to build and execute effective marketing strategies to increase U.S. travel exports, create jobs, strengthen the economy, and help enhance the image of the United States with people all over the world. Under Chris' leadership, Brand USA has nearly tripled its partnership network and more than doubled its partner contributions and program offerings.
Chris has over 30 years' experience in the travel and tourism industry. Prior to joining Brand USA on November 1, 2012, Chris was president and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA. Under his leadership, Florida realized record growth in international visitation.
He began his career in tourism with the Division of Tourism in the former Florida Department of Commerce in April 1983 and was appointed bureau chief over domestic tourism in April 1986. In November 1988, he joined the Leon County (Florida) Tourist Development Council as the organization's first executive director, and in April 1991 took leadership of the Tallahassee (Florida) Area Convention and Visitors Bureau as president and CEO. In August 1995, Chris founded MarketServe, Inc., a professional management, marketing and planning services company based in Tallahassee, Florida. Two years later, he joined VISIT FLORIDA as senior vice president, partner development. He was promoted to chief operating officer in May 2003 and named president and CEO in May 2009.
Throughout his career, Chris has been honored with a number of industry awards and recognized for numerous accomplishments, including twice being named one of the "Top Twenty Five Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing" by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International in 2009 and 2013. In 2015, Chris received the NTA Pioneer Award for his accomplishments in producing significant changes in the travel industry.
A Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) since May 2010, Chris has been a member of and served on the leadership boards of numerous national, regional, state and local trade associations and organizations including Destinations International; U.S. Travel Association; Travel and Tourism Advisory Board to the U.S. Department of Commerce; the Travel and Tourism Advisory Council to the Miami Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta; Association of Travel Marketing Executives; the Southeast Tourism Society; and International SKAL. In addition, Chris is a trustee and on the executive committee for the Federal City Council, a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the improvement of the District of Columbia.
Chris earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Florida in 1980. He and his wife, Susan, have two grown sons, Christopher and James.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Chief Operating Officer, MMGY Global
In more than 15 years with MMGY Global, Craig Compagnone has played a lead role in shaping account and brand planning, client strategy, marketing technology and business development for the company. As chief operating officer and part of a four-member global leadership team, Craig oversees company operations, business strategy and staff support for 10 international offices, seven operating brands and a stack of services that support more than 400 clients across five continents.
Craig's guidance on brand strategy and deployment has led to successful and award-winning marketing solutions for brands across multiple travel industry disciplines, including tourism, hospitality, cruises, attractions and OTAs, as well as ownership, operations and real estate development.
In addition to managing MMGY Global's signature events DMO Mojo, Summit at Vail and Summit at London, Craig is consistently featured as a presenter and speaker on industry topics. His travel insights have been featured in publications like The New York Times, Skift, Luxury Travel Advisor and Travel Weekly.
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- President & CEO, Explore Tualatin Valley
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- Senior Director of Marketing
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- Member of the Board of Directors
- President & CEO, Miles Partnership
David is responsible for managing all aspects of services at Miles. During his tenure at Miles he has led the company in a fundamental shift from traditional to digitally centered marketing services including online media.
David has helped evolve Miles into the industry leader in marketing destinations and was instrumental in developing the company's internal strategy of utilizing interdisciplinary teams to handle groups of non-competitive clients.
He and his 254-person team execute programs with broader reach to more effectively market destinations, currently working with Brand USA and more than 20 states and over 50 other regional destination organizations. David is an active member of the Board of Directors for the U.S. Travel Association and also serves on the Destinations International Association board.
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- Senior Advisor, Simpleview Future Tourism Group
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- VP, Partner Relations, Religious Conference Management Association ( RCMA )
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- Member of the Board of Directors
- CEO of Visit Cheyenne Wyoming
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- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- President and CEO & Foundation Executive Director
A seasoned tourism executive with more than 40 years of experience in the industry, Don Welsh has held positions with almost every sector within the travel and tourism industry. He currently serves as the President and CEO of Destinations International, the global trade association for convention and visitors bureaus and tourism boards.
Prior to joining Destinations International, Welsh served as the President and CEO of Choose Chicago. Welsh also held the CEO position at the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association and the Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau. Prior to joining the destination marketing industry, Welsh served as senior vice president for Westin Hotels at its corporate headquarters and has also held senior marketing and sales positions in the corporate offices for Westin Hotels and Resorts and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and also with the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas. Welsh has served on various boards and committees during his career. He currently serves on the Event Industry Council Board of Directors.
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- Member of the Membership Committee
- CEO, True Omni
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- Director of Advocacy, Discover Long Island
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- Senior Director of Product Engagement and Works With EmpowerMINT
Elaine Rosquist works as the Senior Director of Product Engagement and works with empowerMINT and the Event Impact Calculator. She works daily with the subscribers to ensure a great user experience for both of the Destinations International products. Rosquist has served in a number of capacities at Destinations International over the years, specifically in the meetings and professional development departments.
Prior to working for Destinations International, Rosquist worked for the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives in meetings and events. She has been active in the PCMA Capital Chapter and served on the CMP Board for the Events Industry Council.
A native to the Washington, D.C. area, Rosquist is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Journalism and lives in Maryland with her husband and three sons.
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- Senior Director of Education, Sales, and Services
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- President & CEO of Destination Analysts
Erin Francis-Cummings, President & CEO of Destination Analysts, has spent the last nearly two decades studying travelers from across the globe and translating their evolving, complex, and fascinating behaviors and opinions into marketing insights for Destination Analysts' more than 200 clients. Erin has designed research strategy and facilitated consumer research for some of the world's greatest destination brands, from Bermuda to Fiji, Florida to California. In addition to conducting research from brand auditing, to user experience to ROI analysis, she also oversees the production of Destination Analysts' The State of the American Traveler-one of the travel industry's longest-running and most relied on tracking study of American leisure travel sentiment and behaviors-The State of the International Traveler-an annual study of the travel behaviors and perceptions of international travelers in 14 top feeder markets to the United States-and The CVB and the Future of the Meetings Industry-a bi-annual study of meeting planners focused on trends in the meetings & events industry and how DMOs can support them.
Since March 2020, Erin has led Destination Analysts' ongoing Coronavirus Travel Sentiment Index, insights from which have been critical to the travel industry's navigation of and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
Erin currently serves on the international board of directors for the Travel and Tourism Research Association and supports the greater travel industry through projects for the US Travel Association and Destinations International and numerous tourism associations. Prior to leading Destination Analysts, Erin held Advertising and Marketing management roles at Amtrak and the San Francisco Travel Association, serving on teams that produced award-winning work. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of California Los Angeles, and currently resides in San Francisco with her family.
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- Destination Strategist, Madden Media
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- Chairman of the Executive Committee
- Chairman / President & CEO, New York City Tourism Conventions
- President & CEO, New York City Tourism Conventions / Chair
- President and CEO of NYC & Company
Fred Dixon is President and CEO of NYC & Company, New York City's official destination marketing organization. He joined the organization in 2005 as Vice President, Tourism and rose to become CEO in 2014. With more than 30 years of experience in the travel industry, Dixon has the overall responsibility for developing and implementing New York City's tourism, meetings and events strategy and programming to grow business and leisure travel from across the US and from around the world.
At NYC & Company, he has built a sales and marketing team that is at the core of the organization's strategy to increase visitation and economic impact across the City. In 2019, New York City welcomed a record 66.6 million visitors, which generated $72 Billion in economic impact and powered more than 400,000 jobs across the five boroughs.
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- Vice President, Global Development
Gabriel is a tourism marketing and destination development professional with more than 10 years of experience consulting for emerging and established destinations and tourism businesses around the world. He has supported city, regional, and national destination organizations to create and implement tourism strategies and master plans, develop and roll out national tourism brands, and implement international multi-channel marketing campaigns. He has worked in more than 15 countries and destinations across the United States.
He has supported international tourism development projects funded by USAID, the National Park Service, the World Bank, and Inter-American Development Bank, and implemented tourism marketing campaigns for clients that include National Geographic, UNESCO, Smithsonian and the World Wildlife Fund.
In 2020, he joined Destinations International as Senior Director, Advocacy Policy and Program Development. In this role, he focuses on issues related to destination management, sustainability, and strategic planning; destination organization creation; public policy issues such as homelessness, affordable housing, economic development, diversity, equity, and inclusion; and ways to achieve destination organization alignment with the community it serves.
A native of coastal Maine, Gabriel lives in Washington DC. He has a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the George Washington University.
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- President & CEO, Visit Newport Beach
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- Senior Vice President of Marketing
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- Director of Community Impact, Equity, Public Affairs, Visit Dallas
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- Chief Operating Officer
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
With over 20 years of experience in the travel industry, Gretchen has a proven track record of strong leadership, sustainable growth, innovative strategy and delivering results. She is a respected leader holding positions on various travel industry association boards and committees. Prior to joining Destinations International, Gretchen worked at the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB) and in the sports industry; developing and managing youth basketball tournaments across the US.
During her tenure at LRCVB, Gretchen provided leadership with several signature developments including the Grand Opening of the Clinton Presidential Center, the 50th Anniversary of the integration of Little Rock Central High School which including the opening of a new National Parks museum and managing the $70 million renovation and expansion of Robinson Performance Hall and Conference Center. As Chief Operating Officer, Gretchen is responsible for the strategic development, implementation, communication and retention of global membership and partner initiatives for Destinations International.
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- Member of the Membership Committee
- AVP, Community Engagement, Discover the Palm Beaches
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- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Chief Advocacy Officer
As Chief Advocacy Officer, Jack Johnson manages the overall public policy operations at Destinations International including member advocacy education and training, development of destination tools and best practices, coalition work with peer organizations, industry research and related public affairs activities. He also oversees the board governance, the Destination Management Accreditation Program (DMAP) and the DestinationNEXT (Assessments and Planning) Program. Johnson brings unrivaled experience developing innovative strategies, policy solutions and civic consensus for government, not-for-profits and small businesses.
Johnson has received numerous accolades including being named as one of Successful Meetings' 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry in 2018 for his work on opposing travel boycotts and bans. Currently, his work around positioning destination organizations as a shared value in each of their communities and speaking with a new lexicon based on the emotion-driven by those values has made him one of the leading voices of the travel industry.
During his previous tenure with Choose Chicago, Johnson played a leading role in the extensive reforms of the McCormick Place Convention Center and the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, resulting in a new convention center operating model with both a travel industry and a citywide civic perspective. Johnson was integrally involved in the merger of the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau and the Chicago Office of Tourism, resulting in maximizing their resources, unifying the message and embedding the organization into the city's economic development strategy.
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- Business Development Advisor, Paradise Advertising & Marketing Inc.
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- Director of European Engagement
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- Member of the Membership Committee
- EVP, Chief Relationship Officer, Envisionit
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- Vice President of Operations & Community Engagement, Experience Kissimmee
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- President & CEO, Experience Champaign - Urbana
- President & CEO, Visit Champaign Co
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- Director of Marketing, Future Partners
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- Member of the Development Committee
- President & CEO, Visit Pittsburgh
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- Member of the Development Committee
- Tourism Director, Visit College Station
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- Director Public Affairs, Destination Stewardship and Sustainability, Destination Greater Victoria
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- Member of Governance and Nominating Committee
- Vice President of Sales, Richmond Region Tourism
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- Member of the Development Committee
- Founder & CEO, Sunshine & Bourbon
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- Director of Strategic Alliances, Experience Columbus
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- Marketing and Communications Manager
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- Director, Shenandoah CVB ( Dba Visit Shenandoah Texas )
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- Manager, Meetings and Events
John Moritz is dedicated to crafting unforgettable experiences that resonate on a profound level. Diving into the events industry in 2016, he found his calling and hasn't looked back since. His journey began in sports events but has since spanned both the association and corporate realms, showcasing a diverse and comprehensive understanding of the industry.
In late 2023, John embraced a new chapter as the Manager, Meetings and Events at Destinations International (DI). His role is infused with a commitment to bringing creativity and passion into every facet of event management. Prior to his role at DI, John thrived as a Meetings and Events Planner at the National Veterinary Associates (NVA), orchestrating 12-15 in-person well-being programs and contributing to company-wide national meetings. His global perspective was honed as a Global Meetings and Events Planner for Scrum Alliance, where he played a vital role in organizing educational conferences across North America and Europe.
Based in Denver, Colorado, John has been an active member of PCMA Rocky Mountain Chapter since 2019 and has previously served as a Board Member for the chapter. A graduate of Regis University in Denver, he originally hails from Elkhorn, Nebraska. John brings a wealth of experience, a passion for unique event experiences, and a dedication to fostering professional growth within the industry.
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- Chairman of the Development Committee
- Co - Chair ), President & CEO, Destination Niagara USA
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- Executive Director, Mammoth Lakes Tourism
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- Chief Operating Officer, the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau
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- Member of the Membership Committee
- Executive Director, Destinations Wisconsin
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- Member of the Board of Directors
- President & CEO, Visit Cincy
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- Member of the Development Committee
- President & CEO, Destination Door County
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- Member of the Membership Committee
- Vice President of Membership Engagement
For 25 years, Julie Holmen has been actively selling individual hotel properties and entire destinations in the global travel market. Most recently, Julie was with Meeting Professionals International where she worked with their global supplier accounts and strategic alliance partners to enhance MPI's presence around the world. Julie developed a personal passion for destinations sales when she took on the challenging role of Director of Citywide Sales and Event Engagement from 2006 to 2017 with Destination Toronto. Julie and her team focused on attracting Canadian, US, and International corporate events and incentives and re-creating a "Toronto Experience" in numerous destinations and at many industry events. Dedicated to her profession, Julie has served on several industry boards and committees with organizations such as MPI Toronto Chapter, MPI Global, FICP, and Humber College and has won several prestigious awards including being inducted into the M&IT Hall of Fame under the industry mentor category. A true advocate for the meetings and events industry, Julie has mentored many "up and comers" within the hospitality industry.
Job Titles:
- Member of Governance and Nominating Committee
- Client Relationships & Insights Manager, Tourism Economics
After graduating from West Virginia University, Justin Martsolf returned to his hometown of Harrisburg, PA where he spent the last 20 years in the local tourism, marketing, and sales industry. He began his tourism career with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Office of Tourism, Film & Marketing as their Marketing and Website Content Manager and later served twelve years as Partnership Director for Visit Hershey & Harrisburg (VHH). As Partner Manager, Justin is responsible for supporting Destinations International's strategic partner and business member initiatives, and to ensure benefits and partner activations are fulfilled.
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- Director of Destination Planning, MMGY NextFactor
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- Member of the Membership Committee
- Director of Global Sales, Visit Lake Charles
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- Member of Governance and Nominating Committee
- President & CEO, Visit Estes Park
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- Chief Financial Officer, Visit Pittsburgh
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- Executive Director, Hocking Hills Tourism Association
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- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Destinations International Committee
- Director of Finance, Visit San Antonio
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- President & CEO, Destination Gettysburg
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- Senior Sustainability Manager, Hamilton County Tourism
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- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Destinations International Foundation Audit Committee
- EVP, Richmond Region Tourism
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- Director, Destination Planning, MMGY NextFactor
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- Director, Destination Development, Ottawa Tourism
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- Senior Director of Partnership
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- Member of the Membership Committee
- Director of Hospitality and Information, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism
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- Member of Governance and Nominating Committee
- President & CEO, Discover Long Island
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- Member of the Development Committee
- Executive Director of the Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Executive Director, Pasadena Convention
- President & CEO, Visit Pasadena
Kristin McGrath, Executive Director of the Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau since April 2022, has more than 25 years of tourism industry experience, specializing in destination management, sales, and marketing. Prior to making the move to Pasadena, she held sales leadership positions at Visit Albuquerque, Richmond Region Tourism, and the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Since earning her CDME in 2010, McGrath has served in a variety of Destinations International volunteer leadership positions, including DMAP Board Member, CDME Board Member, and co-chair of the Professional Development Committee. She was named an Industry Trendsetter in 2014 by Meetings Focus Magazine, and in 2020 Smart Meetings recognized her as a Smart Women in Meetings-Industry Leader. Having been the beneficiary of mentorship by female destination organization leaders during her career and eager to pay-it-forward, McGrath continually seeks opportunities to work with the next generation of talent building their careers.
As a life-long New England Patriots fan now living in Los Angeles Rams territory, Kristin has turned her attention to college football and enjoys cheering for the UCLA Bruins - a team that calls Pasadena's iconic Rose Bowl Stadium home.
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- President & CEO, VisitNorfolk
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- Member of Governance and Nominating Committee
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President & CEO, Visit Lake Charles / Secretary
- President / CEO, Visit Lake Charles
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- Member of the Membership Committee
- Vice President of Membership, Sales and Education, Louisiana Travel Association
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- Member of the Development Committee
- President of Destination Marketing, Miles Partnership
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- Member of the Executive Committee
- President & CEO, Banff & Lake Louise Tourism / Association Treasurer
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- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Destinations International Foundation Audit Committee
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- Director of Human Resources & Culture
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- Member of the Membership Committee
- Destination Optimization Project Manager, Miles Partnership
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- President & CEO, Business Events Sydney
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- Member of the Awards Committee
- President & CEO, Visit Mesa
Job Titles:
- President / CEO, Springfield MO CVB
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Destinations International Committee
- Member of the Destinations International Foundation Audit Committee
- President
- FDN Treasurer
- President & CEO, Meet Boston
Job Titles:
- Member of the Awards Committee
- Chairman of Awards Committee
- Co - Chair ), FCDME, Executive Director, Visit Irving
- Executive Director, Irving Convention & Visitors Bureau
Job Titles:
- Member of the Awards Committee
- Chairman of Awards Committee
- Co - Chair ), CAE, President & CEO, Meet Minneapolis
Job Titles:
- Member of Governance and Nominating Committee
- President & CEO, DMAwest
- President & CEO, One West Tourism Alliance
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- Senior Director of Government & Community Affairs, Visit Baltimore
Job Titles:
- Member of the Awards Committee
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President & CEO, Ottawa Tourism
Job Titles:
- Member of the Development Committee
- Director of Partnership, LS Direct
Job Titles:
- Director, Destination Experiences, VisitGreenvilleSC
Job Titles:
- Member of Governance and Nominating Committee
- Member of the Awards Committee
- CAE, FASAE, CQIA
- CAE, FASAE, CQIA / President & CEO, ASAE
- President & CEO, ASAE
Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE, serves as the President and CEO of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), where she is focused on advancing the professional practice of association management. Prior to ASAE, Michelle served as the President and CEO of Association Forum for seven years; as Managing Director of Strategy and Innovation at the American Society for Quality (ASQ); and Vice President of Strategic and Future Focused Research Programs at ASAE. Michelle currently serves on Alzheimer's Association National Capital Area Chapter, Destinations International Foundation, and Tourism Diversity Matters (TDM). Michelle is a Chicago Business Journal Women of Influence Honoree 2019, Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Honoree 2019, the CEO Update Professional Society CEO of the Year 2020; and Smart Women in Meetings Hall of Fame inductee 2022. Michelle is a Certified Association Executive (CAE), Fellow of the American Society for Association Executives (FASAE) and a Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA).
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Guatemala Conventions Bureau
Job Titles:
- VP Sales / Executive Director of Visit Charlotte, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
Job Titles:
- Member of the Awards Committee
- President & CEO, Discover the Palm Beaches
Job Titles:
- Destination Specialist, Tourism Industry Association of Canafa
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Public Affairs, Think Iowa City
Job Titles:
- Member of Governance and Nominating Committee
- Vice President, SearchWide Global
Peyton Glover has developed a background in destination marketing & sports marketing since earning his bachelor's degree from Middle Tennessee State University. He will be responsible for supporting all members and partners of Destinations International. Peyton most recently worked with the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation as a visitor services specialist and is working to obtain his master's degree in management and leadership. Peyton is currently located in Nashville, Tennessee, and was born and raised there. In addition to his passion for destination marketing, Peyton is passionate about traveling and attending live music events.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Membership Committee
- Vice President of Community Engagement, Visit Phoenix
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- President CEO, Glacier Country Regional Tourism Commission
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- VP of Community & Government Affairs, Experience Scottsdale
Job Titles:
- Member of the Membership Committee
- Manager, Membership, Visit Dallas
Job Titles:
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Destinations International Foundation Audit Committee
- Member of the Development Committee
- President & CEO, Explore Brookhaven
Job Titles:
- Director of Corporate Communications & External Affairs, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Director of Content, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Job Titles:
- Member of the Development Committee
- CEO, Hunden Partners
Job Titles:
- Member of the Awards Committee
- SVP of Marketing & Communications, Destination DC
Job Titles:
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Destinations International Foundation Audit Committee
- Chief Operating Officer, Greater Miami CVB
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President of Professional Development
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- Head of Associations & Sectors, VisitScotland
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- President & CEO, Visit Spokane
Job Titles:
- Member of the Awards Committee
- CEO, Simpleview
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- VP / Chief Sales Officer, Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB / Explore Branson
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President & CEO, Visit Tampa Bay
Job Titles:
- Member of the Membership Committee
- President / CEO, Visit Ogden
Job Titles:
- Senior Principal Client Partner, Tripadvisor
Job Titles:
- President & CEO, Visit Dublin Ohio
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Governance and Nominating Committee
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President & CEO, Greater Palm Springs ( Co - Chair )
- President & CEO, Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau / Chair Elect
Job Titles:
- Director, Community Engagement & Advocacy, Discover the Palm Beaches
Job Titles:
- Information Technology Manager
Shaniqua comes with 4 years of expertise in Information Technology and over 7 years dedicated to non-profit work. As the Information Technology Manager, she seamlessly navigates the intersection of tech and social impact. Responsible for maintaining the technology infrastructure, while skillfully channeling her expertise to serve and support members, staff, and vendors.
Beyond the tech realm, Shaniqua, has a passion for exploring diverse cultures through travel and savoring culinary delights as a dedicated foodie. Above all, their heart belongs to family, fostering a deep and enduring love for those closest to them.
Job Titles:
- Senior Sustainable Tourism Specialist, GreenStep Solutions
Job Titles:
- Member of the Awards Committee
- Principal, Shelly Green, LLC
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- Chief Researcher, ANA Strategic Research Institute Co., Ltd
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- Member of the Board of Directors
- Chief of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Visit Sacramento
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Chief Inclusion Officer
Sophia Hyder Hock has spent 20+ years developing tailored strategy, training, facilitation, and coaching services on topics pertaining to diversity and social inclusion, gender empowerment, community engagement and outreach, emotional intelligence, and cultural awareness for clients in the international development and travel industries. She integrates human centered design thinking, and mindfulness practices into her work as a holistic way to develop sustainable outcomes that align with business performance and the enabling environment. Operationally, Ms. Hyder Hock has experience creating and managing budgets of $145M+ for development programs around the world.
Sophia has spoken at universities, travel industry events, and entrepreneurial platforms about how to implement inclusion initiatives in a practical and sustainable manner. She has traveled to 40+ countries and is always excited to learn about people, history, and cultural nuances.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Membership Committee
- Vice President of Marketing, Simpleview
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- Advocacy and Data Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Membership Committee
- Senior Sales Director
Stephanie Durnford, Senior Sales Director + Team Lead for US East Destinations & Attractions, Sojern
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- President, Visit Winston - Salem
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- Head of Destination Marketing, Americas, TripAdvisor
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- President & CEO, Discover Durham
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- Ejecutiva De Proyectos, Bureau De Medellín
Job Titles:
- Member of Governance and Nominating Committee
- FCDME, President & CEO, Visit Seattle
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- Senior Research Manager, Longwoods International
Job Titles:
- Member of the Awards Committee
- President & CEO, Visit Albuquerque
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- Senior Manager, Professional Development
Job Titles:
- Principal, Clarity of Place
Job Titles:
- Member of the Membership Committee
- VP of Marketing and Communications, Sonoma County Tourism
Job Titles:
- Director, Government Relations, Houston First Corporation
Job Titles:
- Member of the Awards Committee
- Director of Destination Partnerships, Tourism Economics
Job Titles:
- Member of the Development Committee
- President & CEO, Traverse City Tourism
Job Titles:
- Member of the Development Committee
- Managing Director, 2Synergize
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member of the Membership Committee
- CEO, Cimino Consulting
- Executive Director and CEO of Visit Williamsburg
Victoria Cimino is executive director and CEO of Visit Williamsburg, the official destination marketing organization for Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown, Virginia. Serving in this role since 2019, she provides expertise, leadership, and vision in all sales and marketing efforts, ensuring increased visitation and economic impact throughout the region.
Under Cimino's direction, the destination has realized its highest hotel occupancy in more than a decade, expanded its market share, and produced award-winning advertising campaigns. In 2021, she was named one of the "Top 25 Extraordinary Minds" in marketing by Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI).
She has served on a variety of boards and committees, including Discover New England, New Hampshire Travel Council, U.S. Travel Association's (USTA) National Council of State Tourism Directors and ESTO Planning Committee, and National Governor's Association's Annual Meeting Committee. Currently, Cimino sits on USTA's board of directors, Meetings Mean Business Coalition, and Research Advisory Committee, as well as Capital Region USA's Allied Member Advisory Committee.
With more than 20 years of hospitality and destination marketing experience, she previously held positions as director of the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development and director of international marketing for the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Development Committee
- Co - Chair ), President & CEO, Visit Mississauga
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- Director of Sales & Business Development, River Parishes Tourist Commission
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- National Sales Director, Discover Puerto Rico
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- President, Visit Oklahoma City