The Travel Vertical

Weekly stories curated exclusively for digital tourism marketers

‘We’re Hiring!’ Dozens of Job Listings.

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VisitPITTSBURGH – President & CEO

Visit Salt Lake – President & CEO

Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CA) – President & CEO

Visit Pensacola – President & CEO

Visit Lancaster (PA) – President & CEO

Greater Lansing Michigan Convention & Visitors Bureau – President & CEO

Travel Portland – VP of Community Engagement & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau – VP, People Strategies

Galesburg Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (IL) – Executive Director

Spartansburg Convention & Visitors Bureau (SC) – Chief Tourism Development Officer

Saugatuck Douglas Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (MI) – Executive Director

Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau – CEO

Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center (WV) – Executive Director

Colorado Tourism Office – Director of Destination Development

Visit San Antonio – Director of Market Strategy

Shelby, KY Tourism Commission & Visitors Bureau – President & CEO

Ouray Tourism Office (CO) – Executive Director

Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau – Senior Sales Director

Visit Orlando

  • Director of Visitor Services
  • Applications Delivery Manager
  • Business Analyst
  • Email Marketing Manager

Experience Rochester (MN) – VP, Marketing & Communications

Experience Grand Rapids – VP, Sales & Services

Visit Anaheim – Business Intelligence Director

Visit Bellevue – Director of Visitor Experience

Visit Seattle – National Account Director

Visit Baltimore – Regional Director of Sales, Midwest

DuPage CVB (IL) – Sports Tourism Development Manager

Visit Milwaukee (in D.C.) – Convention Sales

Visit Norfolk – Director of Sales

Greensboro CVB – National Sales Manager

Travel Marquette (MI) – Group Marketing/Sales Manager

Wyoming Office of Tourism – Communications Senior Coordinator

Georgia Department of Economic Development – Marketing Account Manager

Visit Santa Cruz County – Marketing Communications Coordinator

Visit Scottsdale – Communications Coordinator

Visit Alexandria – Destination Sales Manager

Sitka Tribe of Alaska – Tourism Manager

ILoveNY.com (NYC) – Digital Production Coordinator

Visit SLO CAL – Executive Assistant to President & CEO

City of Virginia Beach – Convention Sales Rep

Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau (TX) – Director of Media Relations

Tulsa Regional Chamber – Experience & Events Manager

City of Ste. Genevieve (MO) – Director of Tourism

Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority – Public Relations Manager 

Visit Omaha – Sales & Marketing Coordinator

Visit Mobile – Corporate and Association Account Executive

Destinations International

  • Senior Membership Engagement Community Manager
  • HR Manager

Skift (NYC)

  • Events Coordinator
  • Digital Campaign Manager

CrowdRiff (Toronto) – Director, Product Marketing

Aqua Marketing & Communications (Fort Lauderdale) – PR Account Executive

MMGY Global (NYC) – Account Supervisor PR / Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Simpleview (Tucson) – Communications Specialist

Expedia Group (San Jose) – Associate Travel Market Manager

Miles Partnership (Sarasota) – Account Director

Finn PR (Wash., DC) – PR Consultant for Brand USA

Malen Yantis PR (Denver) – Senior Account Exec., Travel & Tourism 

Bread & Butter PR (San Francisco) – Account Executive / Hotel & Tourism

Wagstaff Media & Marketing (NYC) – Account Supervisor / Travel & Destination

Oregon Shakespeare Festival – Executive Director

Holland America Line (Seattle) – Manager, Destination Product Marketing

Silversea Cruises (Miami) – Destination Management Business Analyst

San Francisco Giants – Tourism Sales Manager

Washington Nationals – Manager, Event Marketing & Admin.

National Comedy Center (Jamestown, NY) – Marketing & Communications Manager

New York City Ballet – Assistant Group Sales & Tourism

New York Botanical Gardens – Associate/Manager of Group Sales

Hornblower Cruises & Events (NYC) – Tourism Sales Manager

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (Nashville) – Website Content Coordinator

…and Aqua Nicaragua Resort Management Internship, a structured program for an age 21+ student currently enrolled in a 2- or 4-year hospitality/hotel/tourism bachelor’s degree program. Spanish language required. Email: paul@ielimited.com

What’s New? CEO for San Diego Tourism; Las Vegas Tagline; People, Places & Jobs

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PEOPLE & PLACES (including outer space)

San Diego Tourism Authority announced the appointment of Julie Coker as the new president and CEO effective in March. Currently serving as president and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, Coker will succeed Joe Terzi, who announced his retirement following 10 years with the San Diego DMO. Coker has served as chair of the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s Women in Lodging council and as a member of the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality. She currently serves as an executive committee board member of Destinations International and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and is on the executive committee of U.S. Travel Association.

Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau welcomes Mike Sophia as Vice President of Sports Business Development. In his new role, Sophia will be leading the sports business development team’s efforts to attract professional, collegiate, amateur and recreational sporting events to Broward County. Sophia comes to Fort Lauderdale from his previous position as director of the Sacramento Sports Commission, prior to which he worked with the Atlanta Committee for the 1996 Olympic Summer Games, the Florida Sports Foundation and the Miami-Dade Sports Commission.

Jennifer West, a former television production manager for New Line Cinema, is the first manager of the new Sacramento Film Office. Previously housed within Visit Sacramento where film commissioner Lucy Steffens spent 36 years, the city made a decision to transition the department. The California capital, with its Everytown USA quality, has had success with major films such as “Lady Bird,” “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “American Beauty” and “Almost Famous.” 

In Greater Los Angeles, Nevo Waintraub has joined Arrivalist as senior business development director. He had previously been at HomeAway, now Vrbo, for a decade and also at TripAdvisor.

NYC & Company has announced a two-year cooperative tourism marketing agreement with Marketing Manchester in the UK. The DMOs will exchange marketing assets worth $500,000 in each destination. Digital billboards on Manchester’s main roads and public transport will promote NYC and bus shelters and digital screens throughout NYC’s five boroughs will promote Manchester. The deal signed by Marketing Manchester’s Managing Director Sheona Southern and NYC & Company’s President & CEO Fred Dixon, also includes the sharing of best practices in tourism marketing and destination management, such as strategies around arts and culture, sports, and LGBTQ+ travel.  

In related news, NYC & Company has teamed up with Singapore Airlines for an out-of-home campaign that depicts Lady Liberty telling Singaporeans that she ‘Welcomes You. Always’. 

In case you missed the rumor, (The Travel Vertical, 1/7/2020), it’s confirmed. According to Fox News sources, Steve Hill, President/CEO of Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, says the city’s award-winning slogan will be retired and replaced this month. A multi-million national ad buy is expected to align with the 62nd GRAMMY Awards airing Jan. 26, 2020 on CBS.

Related: Is Aerosmith Hinting at a Refresh for the Las Vegas Tourism Slogan?

Sensorio, a temporary illuminations installation in Paso Robles

The New York Times, “52 Places to Go in 2020” list has Washington, D.C. ranked #1 in the position Puerto Rico held in 2019. Other U.S. destinations that rock the list include Paso Robles, Calif. (#6); Colorado Springs, Colo. (#13); Grand Isle, La. (#19); Austin, Texas (#27); Richmond, Va. (#29); Glacier National Park and Whitefish, Mont. (#52).

Fallingwater, in Pennsylvania, and seven other sites designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright have been named to UNESCO World Heritage List. In seven states, these eight buildings are Fallingwater, Unity Temple, Frederick C. Robie House, Taliesin West, Hollyhock House, Herbert and Katherine Jacobs House, Taliesin and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

This group is now among only 24 sites in the U.S. out of 1,000-plus worldwide.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced a $300 million proposal to upgrade the Erie Canal with recreational hotspots and environmental improvements to combat flooding, restore wetlands, and enhance agricultural irrigation. Revamping the 19th-century waterway spanning 363 miles from the Great Lakes to the Hudson River is expected to bring a wave of economic development to 225 nearby cities and towns.

Sixty miles out there at the very edge of the continent on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Mass. goes about things a bit differently. Right now, the tourism board is thinking about how more visitors impact the local scene and is asking everyone to contribute their two cents about what the new website should include.

The site is in a soft launch and expected to be done in late February. But first, @PtownTourism is asking every resident and visitor: “Contact us. We want to hear from you. The email address is tourism@provincetownma-gov.”

Sister Cities International, established in 1956, has appointed Leroy Allala as its new president and CEO. The announcement was made by San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Sister Cities International Board Chair. Allala has most recently been executive VP, World Business Chicago, a public-private partnership to drive inclusive economic growth and promote Chicago as a leading global business destination. He also served as executive director of Chicago Sister Cities International.

North Dakota Tourism unveiled its new 2020 marketing materials and destination marketing strategies inviting visitors to “Be Legendary.” The DMO will spend $2.9 million advertising the state this year, continuing with North Dakota native actor Josh Duhamel as the spokesperson, as it has done since 2013. Advertising efforts had more than 100 million impressions through TV, print, out-of-home and digital advertising last year. Reports indicate that verified arrivals in 2019, tracked through digital advertising, increased 2%. Arrivals from the Chicago market where marketing efforts were targeted increased 22%. Inquiries requesting visitor information and travel guides increased 44%. Behind-the-scenes shots with the actor and a video are found here.

Kentucky is highlighting 2020 as the “Year of Music” in its official visitor’s guide. The Kentucky Department of Tourism Visitor’s Guide features Kentucky native and Nashville performer J.D. Shelburne on the cover, and a news release says the issue includes many Kentucky artists.

“Curiouser and curiouser,” cried Alice in Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass.” Basically, that’s been the wide-reaching reaction to the newly unveiled camouflage (for hiding in orbit?) uniform design released by the U.S. Space Force, the newest division of the U.S. military.

Pointing out that there are neither green trees nor brown underbrush in space, the Twittersphere had a heyday with this announcement, posting comments such as this.

JOBS

Shelby, KY Tourism Commission & Visitors Bureau – President & CEO

Experience Scottsdale – Communications Coordinator

Visit Sonoma County – Media Relations Manager

Santa Monica Travel & Tourism – Marketing Coordinator

Visit York County (SC) – Communications Manager

Visit Santa Cruz County – Marketing Communications Coordinator

Visit Alexandria (VA) – Destination Sales Manager

Montana Office of Tourism – Administrative Assistant

Vermont Chamber of Commerce – Communications Specialist

Atlas Obscura (Brooklyn) – Account Executive

Simpleview (Tucson) – 1) SEO Analyst and 2) Communications Specialist

Travelzoo (NYC) – Brand Marketing Manager

Associated Luxury Hotels International (Dallas) – Marketing Coordinator

District Detroit (Detroit Red Wings) – Director of Marketing

Washington Nationals – Event Marketing & Administration

Boston Duck Tours – Director of Sales & Marketing

City of Plano (TX) – Tourism Consultant

Delaware North (NYS) – Director of Marketing

Alamo City Sports Complex (San Antonio) – Director Marketing & Communications

Sitka Tribe of Alaska – Tourism Manager

GetYourGuide – Senior Destination Manager NYC

Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum (Nashville) – Website Content Coordinator

NYC Ballet – Assistant Group Sales & Tourism

Miami City Ballet – Manager, Audience Development & Partnerships

Company X (Museum in Tulsa) – Director of Marketing & Communications

…plus more job listings in last week’s edition of The Travel Vertical.

20/20 Visions, Adrian Award Winners, People Moves & Jobs

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SEE TOMORROW

The Travel Vertical has crystal ball readers with insights for 2020 tourism marketing. Here are two from TwoSix Digital marking six years. Send us your 20/20 visionary contribution for publication in next week’s newsletter.


Dave Serino, Founder and Chief Strategist, Two Six Digital: “Although engagement of content is still continuing to grow, it’s being outpaced with overall content creation each year.

The DMO is competing with reservation engine websites, media/publishing outlets, travel product providers like companies that sell backpacks highlighting new trail experiences, influencers and their own hotels, restaurants and attractions. Everyone is telling their story in with content in one form or another, online.

Because of the content glut, we have to be more creative finding those consumers who align best with our message and deliver it at the right time.  To do that, we need to build better audiences for promotions through the use of personal data, online behavior, geographic targeting, and machine learning tools.  Then we need to get better at strategically moving that content to digital audiences and work them through the funnel in the most effective way possible.”

Brian Matson, Senior Director of Strategy and Education, Two Six Digital: “DMOs need to be taking a much more serious look at a paid, strategic approach to support their social content. There is so much fantastic content being created in this industry but so little of it is actually supported with paid efforts.

During the last couple of years, I’ve seen budgets shifting significantly to support social content and that’s really exciting to see. The ones that do are seeing remarkable results. The ones that don’t are struggling or at least not getting the most out of their efforts. I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to leave organic strategies in the dust and begin to implement more thoughtful paid programs to support the remarkable content that destinations are creating so regularly.”


Happy Birthday.

Note: Don’t miss TwoSix Digital’s analysis of the Q4 2019 results of state tourism website traffic next month. We’ll link to it in The Travel Vertical.

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association (HSMAI) celebrates the Adrian Awards Dinner Reception and Gala on Jan. 21, 2020, at the New York Marriott Marquis. Among the honorees are HSMAI’s Top 25 Extraordinary Minds, selected for sharing innovative ideas and achieving exceptional results in the preceding 18 months. Congratulations to all, including several active members of the eTourism Community.

To see DMOs and their agency partners as Adrian Award gold winners in advertising, digital marketing, integrated marketing and PR, visit the list found here.

Related: DMO Storytelling: Five Clever New Campaigns Tackle the Off-Season

Starting Feb. 10, Mark Tester steps into the role of executive director for Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, second-largest convention center in North America, behind Chicago’s McCormick Place. He previously was director of the Austin Convention Center in Texas and is a veteran of the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau. Tester takes over as the facility is about to undergo a $605 million expansion adding 60,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, 80,000 sq. ft. for a ballroom and another 200,000 sq. ft. of flexible space for completion in 2023.

Lori Harnois was confirmed as the first New Hampshire state tourism director appointed by the Department of Business and Economic Affairs and Gov. Sununu. For the past five years, Harnois has served as executive director of Discover New England where she developed and executed a “Live Free” rebranding and strategy that resulted in a 22% increase in international visitation and a 41% increase in international visitor spending. State tourism Deputy Director Amy Bassett has served as acting director since April 2019.

Next door in Vermont, a grassroots legislative tourism caucus is lobbying for an extra $500K to boost the $3 million tourism budget, stuck at the same level for the past six years. Extra funds would be spent on direct destination marketing, not admin, says the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing. Officials point out that neighboring Maine’s annual tourism marketing budget is $17 million, New Hampshire’s is $9.4 million, and Massachusetts has more than $13 million to work with.

Jeffrey Hentz has been appointed to fill the vacant position of CEO, North Lake Tahoe Resort Association/Chamber of Commerce. Hentz will relocate to North Lake Tahoe from Mustang Island, Texas where he served as President/CEO of Mustang Island/Port Aransas CVB, Chamber of Commerce since 2016. Hentz previously held positions at FINN Partners/Catalyst Destinations International, Volusia County Florida/Daytona Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau and Destination Yosemite/Mariposa County CVB.

Stanford Smith, Integrated Marketing Manager at Detroit Metro CVB, is “Telling Detroit’s Stories.” Smith announced, “New decade – new opportunities! Along with the DMCVB’s content marketing and social media initiatives, I will also be managing our advertising campaigns. Detroit is an amazing city and I love telling its story.”

Visit Dana Point (CA) has appointed Rachel O’Neill-Cusey as director of sales. She joins the DMO team with over a decade of hospitality sales experience in the local market as the senior sales manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, and previously at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa. 

Evan Frank, CEO of Context Travel (‘Learn the stories of the cities we live in & the cities we visit, told by a local expert‘), is looking for a Head of Travel. Based in NYC, Frank is a co-founder of Onefinestay.com, a vetted luxury home rental startup, acquired by AccorHotels.

VisitPITTSBURGH – President & CEO

San Diego Tourism Authority – President & CEO

Visit Salt Lake City – President & CEO

Visit Pensacola – President & CEO

Discover Lancaster (PA) – President & CEO

Greater Lansing Michigan Convention & Visitors Bureau – President & CEO

Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CA) – President & CEO

Saugatuck/Douglas Convention & Visitors Bureau (MI) – Executive Director

Ouray Tourism Office (CO) – Executive Director

Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau – Chief Executive Officer

Visit Orlando – Director of Visitor Services

Visit San Antonio – Director of Market Strategy

Experience Rochester (MN) – VP, Marketing & Communications

Experience Rochester (MN) – VP, Sales

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau – VP, People Strategies

Explore St. Louis – VP, Sales

Visit Norfolk – Director of Sales

Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau – Senior Sales Director

Orange County Convention Center (FL) – Managing Director

Travel Marquette (WI) – Group Marketing / Sales Manager

Las Cruces Convention Center (NM) – General Manager

Virginia Tourism Corporation – International Marketing Manager

Choose Chicago – National Sales Manager, Business Development

Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau – Senior VP Convention Sales

Chicago’s North Shore CVB – Sales Manager, Meetings & Events

Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board – Destination Sales Specialist

Visit Oceanside (CA) – Marketing Manager

Visit Durango – Marketing Manager

Santa Monica Travel & Tourism – Marketing Specialist

Visit Elizabeth City (NJ) – Marketing & Communications Specialist

Visit El Paso – Director of Convention Development

Visit Baltimore – Regional Director of Sales, Midwest

Experience Grand Rapids – V.P., Sales & Services

Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau (TX) – Print & Digital Multimedia Producer

Visit Plano (TX) – Sales Consultant

City of Virginia Beach – Convention Sales Rep

New York State Dept. of Civil Service (NYC) – Digital Production Mgr., ILOVENY.com

Wyoming Office of Tourism – Communications Sr. Coordinator

West Virginia Dept. of Natural Resources – Executive Director of Parks and Recreation

Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center (WV) – Executive Director

Destination DC – 1) Tourism & Visitor Services Specialist and 2) Meeting Services Manager

Visit Greensboro (NC) – National Sales Manager

Visit SLO CAL – Marketing & Brand Manager

Visit SLO CAL – Executive Assistant to the President & CEO

Visit Bellevue (WA) – Director of Visitor Experience

Bellevue Convention Center Authority (WA) – Marketing Assistant

Holland America Line (Seattle) – Manager, Destination Product Marketing

Kimball Art Museum, Fort Worth – Head of Marketing & PR

Ice Cream Museum (NYC) – Community Marketing & Tourism

Ryman Auditorium/ Opry Entertainment – Brand Communications Manager

Southern Living – Travel & Culture Manager

Hornblower Cruises & Events (NYC) – Tourism Sales Manager

National Comedy Center (Jamestown, NY) – Marketing & Communications Manager

Destinations International – HR Manager

Streetsense (D.C.) – 1) Social media content rockstar; 2) Content intern (it’s paid!)

Madden (Tucson) – Business Development Director

Simpleview (Tucson) – Associate Project Manager; 2) Project Manager

MMGY Global (NYC) – Account Supervisor NJF / PR, Travel & Tourism

MMGY Global (NYC) – Destination Marketing Account Executive, Myriad

Wagstaff Media & Marketing (NYC) – Account Supervisor, Travel & Destination

DCI (Denver) – Sr. Manager, Digital Marketing

Bread & Butter PR (San Francisco & NYC) – Hotel & Tourism Executives

TikTok (NYC) – 1) Head of Events & Industry Relations; Consumer & Advertiser Insights Partner; 3) Brand Marketing Lead (LA)

Airbnb (San Francisco) – Policy Manager

Our Crystal Ball Gazing Readers, Jobs Corner & News Roundup

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20/20 Vision

Lucky us! The Travel Vertical has crystal ball readers with insights for 2020 tourism marketing. (One or two sentences works just fine!) Send us your 20/20 visionary contribution for publication in next week’s newsletter.

Ariel Azoff, Head of Partnerships, Atlas Obscura: “As privacy laws make online tracking and targeting more difficult, developing real relationships with readers and consumers will be paramount. Marketers will seek out communities of travelers that are primed for their messages and engage with them on a deeper level through custom content and on-the-ground experiences.”

Ed Harris, Chief Marketing Officer, Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board: “This may sound crazy, but I believe five years from now organizations are going to have to adapt to a new world centered around “VOIP” (Voice over Internet Protocol). From Google home products to Siri and Alexa, we as marketers will have to evolve the way we connect with consumers and the messaging in our copy will need to adjust to be part of a new conversation with consumers. Other technological advancements that make it easier for consumers to have a more efficient booking experience – like chatbots – will also continue to evolve and get better.”

Taisa Veras, Director of Social Media, NYC & Company: What will the digital travel marketing landscape look like five years from now? I believe that we’ll see most, if not all, bookings on mobile and we’ll see Amazon get into the travel space as well. Also, I think that Instagram will continue finding ways to build out Instagram Stories because of its continued success and adoption. 

Job Corner

VisitPITTSBURGH has retained SearchWide Global to conduct an executive search to find their next President & CEO. This leader strategically directs, manages, and oversees all VisitPITTSBURGH strategies, operations, activities and personnel to achieve the mission, vision, objective, purpose and goals of the organization. Top priorities of this position include developing strong and strategic relationships with all relevant community stakeholders, including the hotels and convention center and the local and state lawmakers and politicians to push the TID legislation for approval.

Searchwide Global has announced the appointment of Annie Kristi Korsmo as the new international VP to lead the global business efforts of the leading recruitment firm specialized in travel, tourism, hospitality, convention, trade association, venue management and experiential marketing industries. Korsmo most recently served as director of conventions for Visit Oslo and has 20 years of hotel and DMO experience, as well as having served on the board of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). Korsmo is based in Oslo, Norway.

News Roundup

On New Year’s Day, the California Consumer Privacy Act went into effect. It creates new rights around the use and sale of sensitive personal information. Does CCPA apply to nonprofits? No. Unlike the European GDPR, which doesn’t contain any exemptions for nonprofit organizations, the California Act applies exclusively to businesses.

Best practice: VisitPITTSBURGH has a “Privacy” tab on their website that provides a detailed explanation for consumers who want to know what is and is not being collected and how it is used, including a link to the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on for Google Analytics.

It’s now legal to buy and smoke marijuana in Illinois. More than $5 million worth of pot products were sold in the first two days of January, $11 million in the first five days. The governor’s office said that puts the average sale at about $40. There were long lines lasting several hours at dispensaries throughout the Chicago area and now some have closed for lack of inventory. News reports indicate that the state plans to award 73 new dispensary licenses by May 1, 2020.

A series of significant earthquakes in Puerto Rico have taken their toll on a natural coastal tourist attraction. Sadly, the arch has crumbled in Punta Ventana, Guayanilla. CNN reports that Puerto Rico‘s governor signed a state of emergency declaration following the most damaging quake to impact the island since 1918.

North Little Rock CVB will unveil the bureau’s new brand on January 13, said Stephanie Slagle, director of marketing for the DMO. Slagle said the new brand is part of a larger effort to promote North Little Rock as a tourism destination and to differentiate the city from Little Rock. A year-long destination market research project with Gray Research Solutions of Nashville, Tenn., led the bureau to the idea of creating a fresh approach for the city, including a new logo. Stamp Idea Group in Montgomery, Ala. partnered on a six-month rebranding exercise. Slagle said the entire rebranding process cost the marketing department $40,000.

It’s ‘The Year of Milwaukee,” according to Kristin Settle, director of communications for VISIT Milwaukee. On the heels of the Democratic National Convention (July 13-16) and the 43rd Ryder Cup (Sept. 25-27), Milwaukee will play host to the world’s largest travel writer convention, the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW). The event on Oct. 11-15 will bring 300 of the most prestigious travel journalists for its annual convention. For SATW, Travel Wisconsin is coordinating statewide expeditions with various destinations, said Sara Meaney, Secretary-designee for the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.

Macy’s has announced it will close at least 19 stores in 12 states over the next two to three months. In other bricks and mortar retail news, Pier 1 Imports is closing 450 of its 942 store locations. See the Macy’s closure list in USA Today. Update 1/8/2020: 28 stores will close per CNBC.

LGND founder Patrick Gallagher describes the app as a mix between TripAdvisor and Match.com. When he launched LGND in the spring, it was only a guide covering Charleston. Guides for Asheville, Nashville, Savannah and Chicago were added in the fall. Gallagher said the format is meant to cut down on the amount of content a person sifts through while planning a trip by delivering a set of recommendations that matches a user’s preferences. Gallagher said he’s hoping to announce five more city launches by March or April and potentially five more later in 2020 for a total of 15 cities.

Colorado Tourism Office is taking a national lead in sustainable tourism. Strategic Marketing & Research Insights finds that 42% of travelers nationally say a destination’s sustainability practices are at least somewhat important to their choice of destinations, with 20% indicating very important, up from 36% and 15% respectively in 2017. Colorado was the first state to partner with Leave No Trace to develop messaging for travelers in 2017. Colorado Tourism Office has recruited six statewide organizations to join in its Care for Colorado messaging: Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association, Colorado Association of Destination Marketing Organizations, Colorado Association of Ski Towns, Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association, Colorado Mountain Club and Colorado River Outfitters Association.

Facebook/iTunes App Store via Adweek

Six weeks ago, Facebook’s New Product Experimentation (NPE) team quietly launched a meme-creation app called Whale, a bizarre spin-off aimed at capturing a younger TikTok-obsessed audience. It lets people layer doodles, emoji, and visual effects over their own photos or stock photos before sharing on social channels. Some of the wackiest of 90 stock photos include a man using two toilet rolls as binoculars, a woman holding a carp, two giggling nuns, and a cat owner hissing back at the cat. (Yes, Facebook staff gets paid a good salary for this.) It’s available only on iOS and is being tested in Canada (considered a good proxy for the U.S.) via the App Store, making its ties as a Facebook product discreet.

Eastern Airlines hasn’t flown since the Reagan era, but it was formerly the official carrier of Walt Disney World before folding after deregulation of the skies in 1991.

The new Eastern rises from the ashes of Dynamic International Airways in 2018, which held all the intellectual rights over the iconic airline name, inherited from sister charter company, Swift Air.

Headquartered in Wayne, Penn. and operating with a JFK hub, Eastern is planning to serve points in the Caribbean, South America, and Asia.

Sports and entertainment content company Endeavor Group Holdings is carving out a space in the tours and activities sector with its $660 million majority stake purchase in experiential hospitality provider On Location Experiences. As the official hospitality partner for the NFL and partner to 150+ rights holders in major sports and music festivals, On Location arranges high-end immersive experiences and special access for corporate clients and fans, reports Phocuswire.

On the Oregon coast, the City of Lincoln (whose DMO is Explore Lincoln City) is looking for a public relations firm to help it project a positive image to the public. Scope of work and the RFQ is found here; the deadline for proposals is 1/24/2020.

Jargon-busting note: January 18 is National Thesaurus Day. How did you do on killing off these five marketing buzzwords that Digital Media Solutions called the “most played-out” in 2019? >> Gamification, storyfication, bandwidth, clickbait, disruptor. What marketing jargon are you planning to retire in 2020?

Smiling People on the Move and 67 Jobs

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PEOPLE

Destination Toledo has named Lance Woodworth its new president and general manager. Throughout 2019, Woodworth was VP sales and relationship management at the DMO. Previously, he spent 14 years as GM of the Jet Express ferry service and served as board chairman of the Lake Erie Shores & Islands and the Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce. He was on the board of Erie County Visitors and Convention Bureau and served on the Ohio Travel Association.

Tracy Farhad, who for the last 14 years has served as executive director at the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau (CA), has been named the new CEO of Visit Tri-Valley (CA). Farhad takes over the position from Barbara Steinfeld, who announced her retirement in October, effective Jan. 6. Farhad has been marketing tourism in California for nearly 20 years. Prior to leading the team at the Solvang CVB, she was Cultural Tourism and Membership Manager at Visit Santa Barbara. 

Jim Wood has been named as the new CEO of the Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau. Wood, who has been CEO of Atlantic City’s Meet AC since 2014, announced his intention to depart that organization earlier this year (The Travel Vertical, 10/14/2019). For 11 years previously, he was president and CEO of a DMO now known as Louisville Tourism.

Lisa Verbeck is appointed CMO at Visit SLO CAL in San Luis Obispo County, Calif. Since 2008, she has served as Director of Marketing, The Americas for Tourism Australia.

Frank Geisler is the new president & CEO of Monterey Peninsula (CA) Chamber of Commerce with its 600 members in Carmel, Del Rey Oaks, Marina, Pacific Grove, Sand City, Seaside, Big Sur, Carmel Valley, Carmel Highlands and Pebble Beach. He has served as board chair at the chamber and board chair of the Monterey Jazz Festival, president of the Rotary Club of Monterey, and board chair of the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Carrie Di Guido has been appointed marketing and communications manager for Visit Dana Point (CA). Di Guido has spent the past five years as travel industry sales manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Her luxury hotel background also encompasses Florida and New Orleans.

Greg Marshall, senior vice president/director of marketing for Visit Rochester (who knows every blade of grass in his city), has formally announced that he is leaving the DMO where he has served since 1978.

Tim Brady, vice president of sales and marketing for the Charleston (West Virginia) Convention and Visitors Bureau for seven years, has been named as the next president and CEO. Before joining the Charleston bureau, Brady spent four years as executive director of the Greater Bridgeport CVB in West Virginia.

Juraj “George” Sojka has joined Travel Nevada as the new international market manager to oversee the state’s efforts in Europe and the U.K. Sojka comes to the Nevada Division of Tourism from Aramark Lake Tahoe / Lake Mead, where he has held a variety of positions since 2011, most recently senior sales and marketing manager.

Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau is putting new policies in place after its former finance director pleaded guilty to three felony charges in relation to the embezzlement of more than $4 million from the organization. Bridget Johnson, a 20-year veteran of the DMO, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Matt Johnson is the new president of BizBash, a trade media company for event and meeting planners acquired by Connect Meetings in December 2019. Johnson had been in a leadership role at Connect, which he joined in 2005. Johnson is based in Greater Atlanta.

You don’t have to be witty to win a #WITTI Award…but you do have to be an outstanding woman in travel & tourism. Nominations range from Rising Star to Lifetime Achievement. Oh…and plan on a Feb. 19-21 trip to Kissimmee, FL to accept the award at Connect Travel Marketplace and Connect Travel Marketing Leadership Summit 2020. But hurry, nominations close Sunday, Jan. 5. Check it out here.

P.S. Did we mention? This gentleman is also attending!

JOBS

San Diego Tourism Authority – President & CEO

Visit Salt Lake – President & CEO

Visit Pensacola – President/CEO

Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CA) – President & CEO

Discover Lancaster (PA) – President & CEO

Greater Lansing Michigan Convention & Visitors Bureau – President/CEO

Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce / Whitewater Tourism Council (WI) – Executive Director

Visit Morgan Hill (CA) – Executive Director

Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau – CEO

Meet AC (Atlantic City, NJ) – President & CEO

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau – VP of People Strategies

St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission – VP Sales

Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau – Sr. VP Convention Sales

Visit El Paso – Director of Convention Development

Visit San Antonio – Director of Market Strategy

Visit Orlando – Director of Visitor Services

Visit Orlando – Destination Services Manager

Arizona Office of Tourism – Social Media Marketing Manager

Experience Columbia (SC) – Director of Marketing

Experience Rochester (MN) – VP, Sales

Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau – Director, Media Relations

Destination DC – Meeting Services Manager

Destination DC – Marketing Manager

Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing – Digital Outreach Coordinator

Visit Anaheim – Business Intelligence Director

Visit Durango (CO) – Marketing Manager

Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority – Public Relations Manager

Destination Toledo (OH) – Partnership Manager

Visit Bellevue (WA) – Director of Visitor Experience

Visit Elizabeth City (NJ) – Marketing Communications Specialist

NYC & Company – Digital & Integrated Advertising Sales Manager

City of Gig Harbor (WA) – Tourism & Communications Director

Visit SLO CAL – Executive Assistant to President & CEO

Visit SLO CAL – Marketing & Brand Manager

Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau – Manager Destination Services, Meetings, Events

Brevard County (FL) – Tourism Development Public Relations Manager

Empire State Development – Digital Production Coordinator, ILOVENY

Sonoma County Tourism (CA) – Accounting Specialist

State of Nebraska – Capitol Tour Guide

Wyoming Office of Tourism – Brand Integration Production Coordinator

Wisconsin Department of Tourism – Research Analyst, Office of Outdoor Recreation

Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts, Culture – Manager, Regional Tourism

Destinations International – Education & Certification Manager

Rockefeller Center Marketing (NYC) – Senior Director

Oregon Shakespeare Festival – Executive Director

Chewy (Dania Beach, FL) – Chief Marketing Officer

San Francisco Giants – Director of Marketing & Communications

Visit Britain – PR & Communications Officer, East Coast

James Madison’s Montpelier Home (VA) – President & CEO

Royal Caribbean Cruises (Miami) – Sr. Manager, Private Destination Product Development

DCI (Denver) – Sr. Product Manager, Digital Marketing

Turner Fahlgren Mortine (Denver) – Sr. Account Supervisor, Tourism Brand Manager

Finn Partners (Wash., DC) – PR Consultant for Brand USA

Universal Studios (Orlando) – Manager, Brand Marketing Product

National Comedy Center (Jamestown, NY) – Marketing & Communications Manager

Miles Partnership (Austin) – Travel Media & Sales Marketing Executive

MMGY / Myriad (NYC) – Destination Marketing Account Executive

MMGY / NJF (NYC) – Senior Account Executive

Sojern (SF) – VP Product Management

Sojern (SF) – Data Science Manager

Sojern (NYC) – Programmatic Account Manager

Madden Media (Boise) – Marketing Account Manager

Adara (Palo Alto) – Sr. Customer Success Manager

Adara (Palo Alto) – Digital Marketing Analyst

Simpleview (Tucson) – Communications Specialist

Tik Tok (LA) – Brand Marketing Lead

Staff

Laurie Jo Miller Farr, Editor
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