People & Jobs: Our Dynamic eTourism Community

PEOPLE

Cleo Battle, currently chief operating officer for Louisville Tourism, is about to take on the role of president and CEO as of July 1 (The Travel Vertical, 2/21/2021). 

“It’s a long time coming,” Battle said with a smile. “I’ve spent many years in the hotel business, and this is my 25th year on the DMO side.”

Meetings Today notes that Battle joins a number of Black DMO leaders in the role of president & CEO: Elliott L. Ferguson III, Destination DC; Al Hutchinson, Visit Baltimore; Julie Coker, San Diego Tourism Authority: Melvin Tennant, Meet Minneapolis; Timothy Bush, One Spartanburg; Bennish Brown, Augusta CVB; and Rickey L. Thigpen, Visit Jackson. (updated)

Marc Anderson has been named as the new president & CEO of Visit San Antonio from June 1, succeeding Casandra Matej, who joined Visit Orlando in January. For the past six years, Anderson has served as COO at Choose Chicago. He is currently on the board of directors for U.S. Travel Association and co-chair of its CEO Roundtable, an executive committee member of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, and a member on Destinations International’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Sonya Bradley has a new job, announcing: “I’d like to share that today I take on the role of Chief of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Visit Sacramento. I’m excited and nervous to take on this newly created role. I look forward to working with my fellow tourism pros who are doing this work and help make a difference in this area.” Bradley transitions into the new role from chief of marketing at Visit Sacramento for 15 years.

Zeek Coleman, Director of Data Intelligence at Visit Savannah (and valued member of the eTourism Summit Advisory Board) is moving on to a new chapter. In his own words, “After 10+ years at Visit Savannah, I’m leaving our organization near the end of this month. On April 30th, I’ll be in a new role with the awesome team at ADARA (very excited about what’s to come).”

And in turn, Lauren Cleland has taken on an expanded role at Visit Savannah, promoted to Director of Data Intelligence & Digital Marketing. She had been Director of Digital Marketing at the DMO where she has served in several positions since 2015. Lauren has also been a popular speaker at recent eTourism Summit conferences.

Choose Chicago and its CEO, David Whitaker, have agreed not to renew five-year deal as the agency struggles with cuts forced by the pandemic. Whitaker’s five-year agreement expires July 6. The organization indicated the decision to not renew the contract was mutual. Before Choose Chicago, Whitaker was CMO at Brand USA. Previously, he served for served for eight years as president & CEO at Destination Toronto. For nearly 17 years, he was also EVP of Greater Miami CVB.

In Wisconsin, Tim Malenock is the new executive director at Walworth County Visitors Bureau in Delavan on Lake Geneva. His previous tourism roles include Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum and Shedd Aquarium.

In North Carolina, Dianna Pierce has retired following more than 21 years at the Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau. She contributed a couple of decades’ service as vice president of sales and, prior to that, as director of tourism.

Ann Pilcher has departed Pocono Mountains Convention & Visitors Bureau following 23 years of service, joining Lamont Associates, a site selection and meeting resource firm, as senior director of global accounts.

Emily Lessard, Chief Strategy Officer at Bellweather Agency, has announced a refresh for Visit Napa Valley as a team effort involving audits, research, strategy, design, content, and more. She writes, “This project was a collaboration of three agencies working together: Mering led the rebrand and Simpleview led the website development.” Early results:

• +9% new users vs 2019
• +195% new users vs 2020
• +27% organic traffic vs 2019

Todd O’Leary, VP Marketing & Communications at Sonoma County Tourism in Northern California’s wine country has worked with Miles Partnership to transform what was an official visitors guide in print into an immersive, interactive digital product to inspire travel. Take a look.

David West, Executive Director Destination Marketing at Herschend Family Entertainment (Dollywood, Stone Mountain, Calloway Resort & Gardens, Newport Aquarium, Kentucky Kingdom, and more), has announced the company’s first international partnership: Vancouver Aquarium.

Lady Liberty has the best headshot. New York State, including the global gateway New York City, has ended a mandatory quarantine and testing requirement for international travelers, but recommends they still do so. Note: The C.D.C. requires all international travelers arriving in the United States to show proof of a recent negative test result before boarding their flights. 

Matt Cutts, Administrator of the U.S. Digital Service since 2016, has announced his departure.

Author on a dozen patents for web search ranking and technology, the former Google Distinguished Engineer, an SEO expert who developed the search engine from 2000, writes, “As this new Administration takes off, we need the help of even more folks who are passionate about how technology can make government more equitable and accessible. If you’re an engineer, designer, product manager, acquisition strategist, or policy expert who cares about making government work better for real people, please consider applying to join us, or reach out.” Contact us at usds@omb.eop.gov or visit our Hiring FAQ.

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JOBS

President & CEO — Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau

President & CEO — Visit Phoenix

President & CEO — Visit Franklin, TN

President & CEO — Visit Greenville, SC

President & CEO — Explore Newnan-Coweta, Inc., GA

Chief Marketing Officer — Rhode Island Commerce Corp.

Sr. Vice President-Marketing — Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau

VP-Marketing and Communications — Experience Rochester | Mayo Convention Center, MN

VP-Information Technology — Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority

VP-Marketing — Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority

VP-Marketing AND VP-Sales — Visit Wichita

VP-Marketing — Visit Florida

Chief Marketing Officer — Nevada Division of Tourism

Director-Informational Technology — Visit Seattle

Director of Brand Marketing /Content Development — Sonoma County Tourism, CA

Director of Sales & Marketing — Dayton Convention Center, OH

Director Insights & Analytics AND Partner Services & Relationship Manager — Destination Cleveland

Senior Manager SEO Integration — NYC & Company, Remote

Marketing Director AND Director of Business Development — Visit Napa Valley, CA

Director of Marketing — Discover Long Island, NY

Executive Director — Explore Utah Valley, Provo

Executive Director — Corpus Christi Sports Commission, TX

Executive Director — Central Wisconsin Convention & Visitors Bureau, Wausau

Executive Director — eXplore Lawrence, KS

Executive Director — Douglas County Travel and Tourism, GA

Executive Director — Discover Dunwoody, GA

President & CEO — Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority, WA

President & CEO — Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, AZ

President & CEO — Greater Brighton Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau, CO

President & CEO — Sumter County Chamber of Commerce, Americus, GA

President & CEO — Big Sky Chamber of Commerce & Visit Big Sky, MT

CEO — Experience Olympia & Beyond, WA

Director — Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

Executive Director — Park County Travel Council, Cody, WY

Executive Director — Valdosta-Lowndes Co. Conference Center & Tourism Authority, GA

Executive Director — Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Foundation, Washington, VA

Executive Director — Willamette Falls and Landings Heritage Area Coalition, Marylhurst, OR

Executive Director — Tulsa Community Foundation, OK

Executive Director-Downtown Odessa, Inc.  — City of Odessa, TX

Executive Director — Madison Chamber of Commerce, CT

Executive Director — Sabine Parish Tourist Commission, LA

VP-Sales — Explore Asheville CVB, NC

National Acct. Executive — Visit Milwaukee (in Washington, DC)

Director of Finance & Administration — Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, MD

FInance & HR Manager AND PR & Communications Manager — Visit SLO CAL, CA

Director Marketing-Canada — German National Tourist Office, Toronto

Director Tourism Investment (closing 4/14) AND Specialist-Media Relations & Consumer Marketing (closing 4/20) AND Specialist-Stakeholder Engagement (closing 4/16) — Travel Alberta

Public Relations Manager — Visit California

Director of Communications — Santa Monica Travel & Tourism

Director of Brand Marketing / Content Development — Sonoma County Tourism, CA

Director of Marketing and Public Relations — Visit Beloit, WI

Director, Content Strategy — Choose Chicago

Director of Market Experiences — Visit Halifax

Digital Marketing Storyteller — Visit Quad Cities, Moline, IA

Manager of Video & Digital Marketing — Think Iowa City, IA

Senior Director-Membership Engagement — Destinations International

Management and Program Analyst — U.S. Department of the Interior, Wash., D.C. (or remote)

Director of Marketing & Communications — North Louisiana Economic Partnership, Shreveport, LA

Director of Marketing & PR — Visit Beloit, WI

Director of Marketing & Communications — Golden Isles CVB, San Simons Island, GA

Marketing Project Manager — Travel Portland, OR

Marketing Manager — Visit Macon, GA

Marketing Manager — Visit Tri-Cities, Kennewick, WA

Marketing Manager — Visit Yuma, AZ

Deputy Director of Marketing — Destin-Fort Walton Beach, FL

Advertising Sales & Membership Development Manager — Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau

Research Manager — Experience Kissimmee, FL

Business Analyst — Visit Grand Junction, CO

Research & Analytics Manager — Visit Corpus Christi, TX

Research & Analytics Manager — Visit Valley Forge, PA

Strategic Communications Writer — Dept. of Transportation | State of Georgia

Director of Digital Marketing AND Digital Content Producer AND Domestic Marketing Manager AND Research Specialist — Georgia Department of Economic Development–Tourism

Digital Content Manager — Maryland Department of Commerce-Division of Marketing, Tourism, and the Arts

Communications Manager — Downtown Long Beach Alliance, CA

Content Marketing Writer AND Creative Producer AND Multimedia Designer — Wisconsin Department of Tourism

Marketing/Sales Manger — Wisconsin Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Director of Sales & Marketing — Official ASM Global (Convention Center), Dayton, OH

Senior Leisure Marketing Manager AND Senior CRM & Digital Marketing Manager — Experience Columbus, OH

Director of Sales & Marketing — Official ASM Global (Convention Center), Columbus, OH

Group Sales Manager-Eastern Region — Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau, ID

Social Media & Content Associate AND Digital & Creative Associate AND Partner Relations Manager — Visit Pensacola, FL

Sports & Events Sales Manager — Travel Salem, OR

Cultural Heritage and Tourism Manager — Visit Natchez, MS

Communications Coordinator — Downtown Raleigh Alliance, NC

Digital Content Marketing Coordinator — Wild Horse Pass Development Authority, Chandler, AZ

Economic Development Tourism Manager — City of Danville, VA

Sales Manager-SMERF — City of McKinney, TX

Marketing Manager — City of Pearland, TX

Historic Preservation Coordinator — Commonwealth of Kentucky

Executive Director — Pleasanton Downtown Association, CA

Destination Services Manager — Discover The Palm Beaches, FL

Event Services Manager — Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau, ND

Grants Coordinator — Travel Oregon

Business Development Coordinator — Visit Visalia, CA

Tourism & Economic Initiatives Coordinator — City of Prescott, AZ

Tourism & Marketing Events Coordinator — City of Katy, TX

Executive Director — Discover Dunwoody, GA

Executive Director — Pleasanton Downtown Association, CA

Executive Director — Lake Eufaula Association, Eufaula, OK

President — Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, TX

Economic Development Tourism Manager — City of Danville, VA

Social Media Strategist Fellow — Visit Sitka, AK

Marketing Manager — City of Pearland, TX

Marketing Assistant — Visit Buffalo-Niagara, N

Marketing Associate — Visit Modesto, CA

Creative Services Manager — Visit Bucks County, PA

Digital Marketing Associate — 1Berkshire, Pittsfield, MA

Marketing Coordinator — Destination British Columbia

Digital Content Marketing Coordinator — Wild Horse Pass Development Authority, Chandler, AZ

City Manager — City of Saint Louis Park , MN

Economist — Tourism Economics, Wayne, PA

Sr. Marketing Content Manager — Expedia Group Media Solutions, Seattle

Client Services Manager AND Client Success Manager AND Partnership Outreach Manager (remote) AND SDET/QA Automation Architect AND Product Owner (onsite) — Bandwango, Murray, UT

Email Marketing & Automation Campaign Manager — MMGY Global, Overland Park, KS

Account Executive — MMGY Global, Myrtle Beach, SC (Remote)

Chief Sales Officer — Arrivalist, NYC or Naples, FL

Digital Content Editor AND Content Coordinator AND Business Intelligence Manager AND Conversion Specialist AND Product Manager AND SEO Sitemap Analyst — Simpleview, Tucson (or remote)

Account Director AND Digital Account Manager — Miles Partnership, Remote

Sr. WordPress and Front End Developer — Madden Media, Tucson

Search Engine Optimization Manager — Tempest, Philadelphia

Sr. Account Executive (Sales) – Tourism — Journera, Chicago

SEO Specialist AND PR/Content Coordinator — Relic Advertising + EKR, Provo, UT

Director Branding & Promotions — Amtrak, Wash., D.C.

Specialist, Global Advertising — Hawaiian Airlines, Honolulu

Principal Marketing & Public Relations Representative (Limited) — Port of San Diego, CA

Media Buyer-Programmatic — Creative Digital Agency, Las Vegas

Digital Advertising Analyst — Search Influence, New Orleans

PPC Specialist — Mediagistic, Tampa

Hotels Market Manager-Tennessee AND San Francisco AND Mexico (Remote) — Hopper

Director of Public Relations — Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, Nashville

Director of Public Relations — Peek, NYC

Marketing Manager — Sunriver Resort, OR

Chief Commercial Officer — Camelback Resort, PA

Area Director of Marketing AND Director of Hybrid Events (remote) — Pacific Hospitality Group, Napa, CA

Experience Director — Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa, Moab, UT

Brand Marketing Manager — River Park Square, Spokane, WA

Director of Digital Marketing — SpeedVegas, Las Vegas

Senior Destination Manager — GetYourGuide, NYC

Destination Management-Senior Project Manager — Silversea Cruises, Miami

Project Manager-Ticketing Operations (Theme Parks, Aquariums, Attractions) — Herschend Family Entertainment, Peachtree Corners, GA

Manager, Marketing Entertainment & Special Events at Grand Canal Shoppes — Brookfield Properties, Las Vegas

CRM Manager — Summit One Vanderbilt, NYC

Marketing & Sales Manager — Meow Wolf, Santa Fe

Director — Jack Daniel’s Homeplace, Lynchburg, TN

Event & Venue Coordinator — Genesee Country Village & Museum, Mumford, NY