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Follow the Money: 9 Clues That Boost Recovery Hopes for 2021

January 12, 2021 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

Have you $potted $ome more $trong $igns of travel recovery? $hare the word.

Marriott International‘s luxury lifestyle brand Edition is plotting major global expansion in 2021, unveiling plans to open seven new hotels, including a 172-room property in Tampa.

In another development regarding the brand’s shuttered Times Square Edition hotel in New York, CFO Leeny Oberg said that “lenders have stepped in” and it could reopen.

Meantime, Sonesta International has turned into one of the largest U.S. hotel companies overnight with a global portfolio of 1,200 properties.

2. Twenty-plus giant cruise ships are set to launch this year and major cruise lines are planning restarts in 2021. A pre-pandemic 2020 had been intended to set records for ship deliveries and while many were completed and a few were delivered, they have yet to carry any passengers. Each one of the biggest of these floating cities with a capacity of 6,000+ passengers, is constructed at a cost well over $1 billion.

Celebrity Apex
Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady
Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic Endurance and Resolution
Princess Cruises’ Enchanted Princess
Silversea Cruises ships, Silver Moon, Silver Origin and Silver Dawn
Regent Seven Seas’ Splendor
Holland America’s Rotterdam
Carnival Cruise Line’s largest ship ever, Mardi Gras
Viking Ocean Cruises’ Viking Venus
Royal Caribbean International’s Odyssey of the Seas
Ritz-Carlton’s first ship, the Evrima
Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Endeavor
Quark Expeditions’ Ultramarine
Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot
Atlas Ocean Cruises’ World Navigator
Swan Hellenic’s Minerva
Costa Cruises’ Firenze

3. Is Las Vegas a harbinger of good fortune? The $4.3 billion, 3,500-room Resorts World is on pace to open this summer, giving a boost to the long-stagnant north Strip area. At Wynn Las Vegas, $14 million has been unvested in an upgrade of “Lake of Dream,” the exclusive-to-guests, popular hi-tech / futuristic theatrical experience that opened in 2005. The MSG Sphere at the Venetian is a distinctive music and entertainment dome by Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. due to open in 2023. At 366 feet high, more than twice Spaceship Earth at Epcot, it will seat 17,500.

4. There’s nothing like that new plane smell. JetBlue Airways’ first Airbus A220-300 out of a fleet order of 70, arrives at JFK International on New Year’s Eve following manufacture at Maas Aviation in Mobile, Alabama. With its low costs and small capacity, the aircraft is being touted as highly suitable for pandemic times. CFO Steve Priest said another seven A220s will arrive this year — one more than previously planned — and eight in 2022. Gradually replacing a fleet of 100-seat Embraer 190s by 2025, the A220 with 30 additional seats has 30% lower direct operating costs per seat and is projected to have 40% lower maintenance costs per seat. Delta is also flying the aircraft and startup Breeze will be next.

5. M&A: $100 million dollars in cash says it’s not as odd as it may seem for a pandemic hookup between a travel magazine and a timeshare company. Wyndham Destinations is buying Meredith Corp.’s 50-year-old title, “Travel + Leisure.” The new company will change its name to Travel + Leisure Co. and Meredith will continue to operate the media side of the business under a 30-year licensing agreement.

6. The Legoland Florida Resort has filed preliminary plans with the city of Winter Haven for an expansion of the 145-acre theme park. Travel Weekly reports that documents submitted include a demolition plan that outlines converting 4.5 acres of parking to another use.

7. On Feb. 11, JetBlue will launch its first of four new routes out of Miami, where Southwest debuted in late 2020. Southwest is also rolling out service at Chicago O’Hare in February and expanding into Bush International Airport in Houston in April. Allegiant announced a major service expansion of 21 routes in three new cities: Jackson Hole, Key West, and Portland, Oregon.

8. Hilton EventReady Hybrid Solutions is a new suite of offerings in properties around the world to address the anticipated pent-up demand for meetings and conferences. Event planners are directed to Hilton’s hybrid-ready hotels that provide them with dedicated planning resources. Presentation Stages are a clean and safe pre-built location to produce, record and/or broadcast a high-quality online event far exceeding production values available from the typical home or office. The Hilton properties equipped with event technology will accommodate 2-6 onsite presenters and up to 50 in-person attendees. Presentation Stages are currently at Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach, Hilton Atlanta, Hilton Anatole, Hilton Denver, The Beverly Hilton with more coming to Cleveland, Minneapolis, New York, Wash., D.C.

9. Travel startup funding: Hipcamp, a startup that pairs people who wish to pitch their tents with landowners who want to accommodate them, has finalized a $57 million Series C funding round. Hipcamp’ investors are betting that demand for quality outdoor experiences exceeds supply, giving the company a valuation north of $300 million. Drone Interactive, which builds drones for amusement parks, has raised a seed funding round of $1.2 million from Incit’Financement and angel investors.

People On the Move, PPP is Open, 88 Job Openings

January 12, 2021 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

Destination Madison announced that Ellie Westman Chin has been selected as the organization’s new president & CEO following a national search. Westman Chin currently serves as president & CEO for Visit Franklin, Tennessee. In 2018, she was awarded the 2018 Greater Nashville Hospitality Association Woman in Hospitality & Tourism Leader of the Year.

Zac Craig has been named president of the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau operated by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. Educated in Oklahoma, Craig comes to his new role following executive positions in sales and marketing for Omni Hotels and Interstate Hotels & Resorts.

Following the retirement of Bob Major who led the organization for eight years, North Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau has promoted Karen Trevino from SVP & COO to president & CEO. Trevino currently serves on the board of directors for Arkansas Travel Council, Skal International Arkansas and Southeast Tourism Society.

In upstate New York, Todd Garofano will serve as the new executive director of Discover Schenectady, the county’s DMO. Garofano has nearly 25 years of hospitality and tourism experience, including serving for eight years as president of the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau.

Lisa Mize, the interim executive director of Saugatuck Douglas Area Convention and Visitor Bureau, has been appointed as its new executive director, concluding a lengthy nationwide search. Following the resignation of Josh Albrecht in mid-2019, Mize had been serving as interim executive director in the “Art Coast of Michigan.”

Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board promotions and appointments: Jake Markezin to VP Operations.

Also, Rachel Riley to senior director of communications; Justine Garbarino Belyus to senior director of marketing & business development; Jared Spackman to creative manager.

New Mexico Tourism Department has announced Lancing Adams as tourism development director. He served the department from 2012-2015 as finance director. Most recently, Adams worked as assistant commissioner for the Arizona Department of Real Estate.

Cody A. Gray has been named as president & CEO at Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism. He had been serving on in the role on an interim basis, now stepping into the position previously held by Timothy Bush who joined OneSpartanburg, Inc. in South Carolina last fall.

Karin Aaron, CTA, CSEE, has joined KKD Tourism Advisors as Managing Partner. The tourism consulting firm specializes in destination development, sports tourism, and convention sales and marketing was founded in 2020. Formerly president & CEO of Greater Newark Convention & Visitors Bureau, her past DMO executive roles were with Visit Montgomery, Md. and Visit Loudoun.

Register here for a webinar on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021 at 10 a.m. PT/ 1 p.m. ET. Destinations International and Civitas will review key points: What is PPP Funding? Who is eligible? How does the application for PPP funding work? And, how to work with a local community bank for funding?

Register here for a webinar on Thursday, Jan. 14 at 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET. Adam Johnson, Sales Director-Midwest at ADARA, hosts a discussion on 2021 travel outlook and advance pace for several market types with industry experts:

Zeek Coleman, Director of Data Intelligence – Visit Savannah
Bonnie Carlson, President & CEO – Bloomington CVB (Minnesota)
Amir Eylon, President & CEO – Longwoods International

PPP

To stay up-to-date on Covid-19 relief admin and processes and the Paycheck Protection Program, visit the dedicated site from U.S. Travel Association, found here.

JOBS

President & CEO — Washington County Visitors Association, Beaverton, OR

Chief Executive Officer — Experience Olympia & Beyond, Olympia, WA

President & CEO, Visit Greenville SC

President — Darien-McIntosh County Chamber of Commerce, GA

Executive Director — Henderson County Tourism Development Authority, Hendersonville, NC

President & CEO — Explore Newnan-Coweta, GA (deadline 1/15/2021)

Executive Director — Lopez Island Chamber of Commerce, WA

Executive Director — Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce, NM

CEO — Visit Estes Park, CO

CEO — Moscow Chamber of Commerce, ID

EVP and Chief Sales Officer — San Francisco Travel Association

SVP-Multicultural & Community Development — Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau/Broward County, FL

Vice President — Experience Columbus SC

Vice President of Marketing — Visit Florida

Vice President of Marketing & Communications — Visit Kissimmee

Chief Marketing Officer — Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

Chief Marketing Officer AND PR & Communications Manager AND Finance & HR Manager— Visit SLO CAL, San Luis Obispo, CA

Director of Marketing — Washington Tourism Alliance (open to state residents through Jan. 27)

Director of Marketing — Steamboat Resort, Steamboat Springs, CO

Vice President of Sales AND Director of Public Affairs & Advocacy — Visit Corpus Christi

Chief Sales & Marketing Officer — Bermuda Tourism Authority, NYC

Vice President, Research & Analytics — Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.

Director of Research & Market Intelligence — Virginia Tourism Corp.

Marketing Manager — Experience Columbus, OH

Manager of Marketing & Communications — Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau, GA

Sales & Marketing Manager — Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism, Lafourche Parish

Integrated Digital Manager AND Visitor Experience and Programs Manager — Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, Alton, IL

Director Tourism — Muskogee Tourism Authority, OK

Director, Sports Sales — Visit Mesa

Director of Sales — Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau

Sales & Services Manager — Destinations International, Remote

Director of Finance — West Virginia Tourism Office, Charleston

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

Group Sales Manager — Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Social Media & CVB Relations Manager — Pinehurst Southern Pines Aberdeen Area, NC

Digital Marketing Manager — Visit Central Oregon, Sunriver, OR

Public Relations/Content Manager — Visit Clarksville, TN

Marketing Coordinator — Lake George Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau, NY

Communications Coordinator — San Diego Tourism Authority

Digital Marketing Assistant (part-time) — Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau, CA

Division Director — Georgia Department of Economic Development, Atlanta

Economic Development Director — City of Victoria, TX

Marketing Communications Consultant — City of Austin, TX

Communications & Marketing Specialist — City of Highland Village, TX

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Learning & Development Lead AND Senior Officer, Strategy Planning & Management, Division Office of the President — Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle (applications close Jan. 19)

Senior Specialist-Social Media — American Airlines, Dallas

Marketing Director — Atlas Ocean Voyages, Fort Lauderdale

Executive Director — Georgia Center for the Arts, Atlanta

Director – Revolutionary War Visitor Center, City of Camden, SC

SEO Analyst — Simpleview, Tucson

Vice President — See Source, Ogden, UT

Probability Statistician AND Senior Software Engineer AND Data Scientist — Entrada Insights, Salt Lake City

Senior Content Marketing Manager — Epsilon, Chicago

Project Manager AND Strategic Copywriter AND Business Development Coordinator AND Account Coordinator AND more creative/web roles — Relic Agency + EKR, Provo, UT

SVP-Travel AND Programmatic Media Planner — BVK, Milwaukee

Social Media Content Manager — United Landmark Associates, Tampa

Social Media Manager AND CRM & Email Marketing Manager — Summit One Vanderbilt, NYC

Sr. Project Manager/Business Analyst — Herschend Family Entertainment, Peachtree Corners, GA

Vice President Marketing — TaskRabbit, San Francisco

VP-Global Field Marketing — Hard Rock International, Davie, FL

Vice President Content — Snap, Inc., NYC or LA

Creative Content Strategy Manager — Shutterstock, NYC

Director-Consumer Communications & Social Media — Ancestry, San Francisco

Director, Regional Integrated Marketing — American Cancer Society, Dallas/Denver/Minneapolis-St. Paul

Director, Travel & Tourism Vertical / Velocity Group — Choozle, Denver

Senior Marketing Manager — The Presidio Trust, San Francisco

Content Strategist — Google Ads, Chicago

Director-Social Media — Whole Foods, Austin

Senior SEO Manager — RVshares, Austin

Director- Corporate Communications — Omni Hotels & Resorts, Dallas

Brand Manager, Marketing — Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Winter Park, FL

Public Relations Account Executive — Aqua Marketing & Communications, St. Petersburg, FL

Travel Editor — SFGate.com, San Francisco

Email & Social Marketing Manager — Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Chief Marketing Officer — The University of Texas at Austin

Chief Brand Officer and Director of Marketing Communications — University of California-Office of the President, Oakland, CA

In Case You Missed It: PPP, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Update, News, People, Jobs

January 5, 2021 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

DMOs scored a round two victory with the Payroll Protection Program of the Small Business Administration. The embattled massive Covid-19 relief legislation enacted in late December allows eligibility for PPP to DMOs in the 501(c)(6) category.

U.S. Travel Association will provide regular updates on their Travel Industry Relief Resources webpage. Get a summary in the link below from an earlier issue of The Travel Vertical.

Webinars for DMOs:

Destinations International and Civitas will have a webinar on PPP for DMOs on Jan. 13, 2021 at 10 a.m. PT. Key points: What is PPP Funding? Who is eligible? How does the application for PPP funding work? And, how to work with a local community bank for funding? Register here.

“Understanding and Accessing COVID-19 Relief for the Travel Industry” is a U.S. Travel Association webinar taking place on Jan. 7, 2021 at 12 p.m. ET. The government relations team will walk through the relief package and answer any questions about what is provided in the legislation, how to access relief and when funds will be made available. Register here.

It’s complicated. Travel Pulse has published a state-by-state Covid-19 travel restrictions as of January 2021…subject to change, of course. Check it out here.

U.S. Travel Association is offering “Let’s Go There” toolkits for National Plan for Vacation Day, on Jan. 26, 2021. The objective is to encourage Americans to start planning how to use time off in the year ahead while traveling safely. Get the toolkits on U.S. Travel Association’s website.

Sacramento International Airport

Destination Analysts‘ survey of American travelers during the first week of January shows the majority do not plan any travel during the first quarter of 2021. Of the 37.5% who do plan travel in the coming three months, 84.5% of these trips will be overnight trips, with over one-third staying with friends or relatives. Get the findings here.

TSA numbers indicate that 1.3 million-plus passengers traveled through the nation’s airports on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 — more than on any single day since March 15, 2020.

What’s Tier 5? It’s not good. With widespread areas, including London, already in Tier 4 since before Christmas, England, Scotland, and Wales have now gone into a full national lockdown expected to remain in place at least through the middle of February. People must leave home only for essential reasons. All schools, colleges move to remote learning and year-end exams are cancelled. Outdoor sports venues must close. International departures are now limited to those who have “a legally permitted reason,” such as work.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has just announced that German nationwide Covid-19 lockdown is being extended at least until the end of January.

In Minnesota, a proposal to merge Visit Duluth with the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center has been shelved for now. This year, the 85-year-old DMO will continue with a reduced budget of $1.5 million in tourism tax funding from the city — $500,000 less than pre-Covid. Duluth’s mayor announced her intention to submit a request for proposals from organizations interested in marketing the city from January 2022. Visit Duluth’s executive director, Anna Tanski, expressed confidence in her organization’s track record.

In Virginia Beach, local news reports that city council members voted 8-3 to ask the general assembly to allow them to create a new hybrid public-private organization to handle the city’s tourism marketing efforts. Council members added a resolution to the upcoming agenda allowing for the creation of Virginia Beach Tourism Authority.

Brand USA is holding its largest-ever Global Marketplace for Canadian travel agents, “Focus On Canada,” on Jan 13-14, 2021. Intended to promote diverse U.S. destinations to our #1 source international market (21 million visitors in 2019), Brand USA president & CEO Chris Thompson said, “When it is safe to do so, travel will resume and we are excited for the day when we can welcome back our Canadian friends. Our industry remains resilient, and through events like, Focus On Canada we’re working together to build the future of tourism.”

With training camps in Florida and Arizona due to open in mid-February, the MLB has announced its intention to stick to the spring training schedule. Will there be a full season? Some say the key is the crowds and whether MLB owners want to play games in empty ballparks again as they did in 2020.

The 63rd Grammy Awards are cancelled. Soaring coronavirus cases in Los Angeles have led organizers of this year’s event to postpone the music awards ceremony which was due to take place in Southern California on Jan. 31, 2021. The surging virus numbers have led the union representing 160,000 entertainment industry workers to call for a “temporary hold” in Los Angeles to shut down all film and television production until cases decline.

According to STR, the Florida cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg had a 51% hotel occupancy, highest among major U.S. destinations in 2020 through November. Phoenix was in second place at 50.3%, followed by San Diego (50.0%), Los Angeles (49.9%), and Norfolk/Virginia Beach (49.8%).

Residents of Los Angeles will be able to add proof of a Covid-19 vaccination to their smartphone’s Apple Wallet. LA County is partnering with software company Healthvana to begin offering the vaccination records to the Wallet app on iPhones or the competing Google platform.

Red Lion Hotels, a Denver-based company that focuses on the franchising, management and ownership of upscale, midscale and economy hotels, has agreed to a $90 million all-cash acquisition by Sonesta International. This is big news in the hotel world; the combined portfolio will have 1,200 properties.

Through mid-2020, the South has 10 of the top 15 fastest-growing large U.S. cities with a population of 50,000 or more. Frisco, Texas tops the list of the fastest-growing large cities with a growth rate of 71.1%, increasing its population by more than half since April 2010. Thirty miles north of downtown Austin, Leander, Texas has catapulted up the charts, growing 24 times faster than the U.S. average of 0.5%.

California’s famously beautiful Big Sur on the scenic Pacific Coast Highway is fed up with selfie tourism and poor behavior. Monterey County officials unanimously adopted a 120-page plan from the Community Association of Big Sur that outlines new restrictions and measures for controlling access by up to several millions of tourists. Read more about the destination management plans.

Now you can walk or bike from New York City to the Canadian border (it’s 750 miles) and from Albany to Buffalo, NY. Three years and $200 million later, the Empire State Trail is complete and officials estimate 8.6 million people will use at least parts of it every year.

Among the first to experience repeat Coronavirus fallout, the Honolulu Festival scheduled for March 12-14, is canceled for the second consecutive year. The event celebrating cultures across the Pacific Rim typically draws thousands of visitors to the Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Center, International Market Place, Waikiki Beach Walk and other locations. Meantime on the Big Island, Kilauea is having none of it; an eruption on Dec. 20 saw Paradise Helicopters’ business triple overnight.

David Jackson, CMP, HMCC, has joined KKD Tourism Advisors, a tourism consulting firm specializing in destination development, sports tourism and convention sales and marketing. He is Managing Partner based in Greater Philadelphia. Jackson was previously VP-sales at Pocono Mountains CVB and director of sales at Bucks County CVB.

Leslie Hooper has been named Chief People Officer at Entrada Insights. Currently based in Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, she recently had a global people management role at Adara.

At Facebook, the advertising integrity chief has abruptly resigned. Rob Leathern had been in the role for four years after joining via the acquisition of a leading Facebook Ads API partner company. Referring to Facebook, Rob Leathern’s LinkedIn page says, “The team works to protect the people and businesses who use Facebook’s commercial products by enforcing its policies and preventing abuse. We built enhanced advertiser authenticity and transparency (e.g. Ad Library) for all ads across Facebook/Instagram including for ads about social issues, elections & politics.”

MMGY NextFactor has released an updated OrganizationNEXT Report. Takeaways include:

A new section on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion with commentary from industry leaders
An overview of how destination organizations are reimagining their roles and key performance indicators
Updated global rankings of strategic priorities relating to community building, customer engagement and organization sustainability

MMGY NextFactor says, “There are signs that the global visitor industry is moving in a positive direction as we head into 2021. We believe that OrganizationNEXT provides a high-level overview to inform how destination organizations can stay in front of these transformational times effectively…Almost all of the destination leaders we’ve engaged this year are focused on how their organization’s mandate and impact needs to evolve in 2021, both internally and within their communities.”

Greg Oates, SVP Innovation at MMGY NextFactor, says, “Launching a new report that explores equity, diversity and inclusion strategy in the visitor industry, post-George Floyd. Thank you Melissa Cherry, Elliott Ferguson, Julie Coker, Bennish Brown and Timothy P. Bush for your insight into how we can increase equitable opportunities in our organizations and the communities where we live and work.”

Download the report here.

NEW JOB LISTINGS

Director of Marketing — Washington Tourism Alliance (open to state residents through Jan. 27)

Senior Officer, Strategy Planning & Management, Division Office of the President — Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle (applications close Jan. 19)

Senior Content Marketing Manager — Epsilon, Chicago

Senior Project Manager / Business Analyst— Herschend Family Entertainment, Peachtree Corners, GA

Chief Brand Officer and Director of Marketing Communications — University of California-Office of the President, Oakland, CA

Vice President — See Source, Ogden, UT

Public Information & Marketing Program Manager — City of Austin, TX

Director, Regional Integrated Marketing — American Cancer Society, Dallas, TX

Integrated Digital Manager AND Visitor Experience & Programs Manager— Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, Alton, IL

LAST WEEK’S JOB LISTINGS

VP, Research & Market Analytics — Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.

CEO — Grenada Tourism Authority

CEO — Moscow Chamber of Commerce, Idaho

CEO — Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce, Ellijay, GA

Executive Director — Tucumcari/Quay Co. Chamber of Commerce, NM

Manager Marketing & Communications — Discover Albany, GA

Advertising & Promotions Sales Manager — Galveston Island, TX

VP, Marketing & Digital Strategy — Omni Hotels & Resorts, Dallas

Account Executive — MMGY Global, Shawnee KS

Events Producer — Skift (Remote)

Local Phoenix Expert — WishTrip

Digital Marketing Manager — Columbia Hospitality, Seattle

Customer Success Manager, West — Milestone Inc. (Remote)

Tourism Data Sales Associate — Idealab, Pasadena, CA

Head of FB App Brand & Strategic Marketing Insights — Facebook, San Francisco

Internal Communications Manager & Events Producer — Google, San Francisco

CHRISTMAS WEEK – JOB LISTINGS

Executive Director — Visit Estes Park, CO

Chief Marketing Officer — Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, SC

Chief Marketing Officer — Visit SLO CAL, San Luis Obispo, CA

Sales & Services Manager — Destinations International, Remote

Chief Executive Officer — Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Lansing

President & CEO — Visit Orlando

President & CEO — Destination Madison

President — Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau

President & CEO — VisitGreenvilleSC

Vice President of Marketing — Visit Florida, Tallahassee

Executive Vice President & Chief Sales Officer — San Francisco Travel Association

SVP, Multicultural & Community Development, Broward County — Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau

Director of Finance — West Virginia Tourism Office, Charleston

Chief Sales & Marketing Officer — Bermuda Tourist Authority, NYC

Director of Sales — Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, AR

Vice President, Sales AND Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy — Visit Corpus Christi

Deputy Director of Marketing — Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Director of Research & Market Intelligence AND Tourism Partnership Manager — Virginia Tourism Corp., Richmond

Business Analyst — Visit Grand Junction, CO

Senior Marketing & Communications Manager — City of South Padre Island, TX

PR & Communications Manager, Tourism Division — Collier County, Naples, FL

Public Relations Manager — Destination Cleveland

Finance & HR Manager AND PR & Communications Manager — Visit SLO CAL, San Luis Obispo, CA

Marketing Manager — Tulsa Regional Tourism

Director, Sports Sales — Visit Mesa, AZ

Director of Tourism — Muskogee Tourism Authority, OK

Convention & Tourism Rep — Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

CVB Marketing Coordinator — Mesquite Convention & Visitor Bureau, TX

CVB Communications Coordinator AND CVB Director of Media Relations — City of Grapevine TX

Cooperative Marketing Program Coordinator — State of Missouri, Division of Tourism, Jefferson City

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

Communications & Marketing Manager — Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce, NY

PR/Content Marketing Manager — Visit Clarksville, TN

Manager, Paid Media — Discover The Palm Beaches, FL

Digital Marketing Manager — Visit Central Oregon, Sunriver, OR

Operations Manager — Explore Georgia, Atlanta

Communications Coordinator — San Diego Tourism Authority

Marketing Communications Specialist — City of Austin

Social Media Manager — Pinehurst, Southern Pines Aberdeen Area CVB, NC

Marketing Manager — Lake George Regional CVB, NY

Executive Director — Lopez Island Chamber of Commerce, WA

Business Services Manager — City of Richmond, VA, Department of Economic Development

Marketing Manager AND Marketing Coordinator — Connect Travel, Greater Atlanta

Email Marketing & Automation Coordinator — MMGY Global, Overland Park, KS

Travel & Hospitality PR Account Director AND Account Executive, PR — MMGY NJF, NYC

Account Strategist — Madden Media, Tucson, AZ

Data Scientist AND Probability Statistician AND Data Engineer AND Data Advisor — Entrada Insights, Salt Lake City

Advertiser Marketing Specialist AND Creative Services Coordinator AND Product Manager — Simpleview, Tucson

Integrated Marketing Manager AND Programmatic Sales Director — Leaf Group , NYC / LA

Copywriter — Destination Counsellors International, NYC

Chief Experience Manager — Brightline Trains, Miami

Sr. Manager, Marketing / CBM Product Strategy — Universal Orlando Resort

Digital Marketing Director — Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Co., PA

Director of Tourism — Six Flags, Valencia, CA

Marketing Project Manager — The Mob Museum, Las Vegas

Director Sales & Marketing — Legends, Atlanta

Director of Sales & Marketing — Novotel Miami Brickell

VP of Marketing — OpenTable, San Francisco

Senior Strategist — The New York Times, NYC

Travel Editor — SFGate (San Francisco Chronicle)

Director of Marketing & Communications AND Email and Social Marketing Manager — Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Director, International Marketing — Warner Music Group, NYC

Digital Marketing Lead, Partnerships — Facebook, Menlo Park, CA

[new] Chief of Staff, Go-To-Market Strategic Operations — Google, San Francisco

Senior Marketing Manager (12 months) — The Presidio Trust, San Francisco

DMOs Are Putting the Accent On Shop Local Plus Something Special in Wisconsin

December 22, 2020 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

As small, family-run, and local businesses face the brunt of the pandemic against rising online sales, DMOs embrace the special fabric of our communities in ways that go beyond a website listing.

Let’s keep it moving in 2021…share your destination stories and community initiatives.

An important, powerful and poignant appeal on behalf of small businesses comes from the owner of T.C. O’Leary’s, a little Irish pub in Portland where you could always get a properly pulled pint of Guinness. — shared by Travel Oregon.

Visit Austin features small business owners speaking for themselves about “what makes Austin, Austin.” (Or did he say, “what makes Austin awesome”?)

Hotels matter. VisitLEX suggests paying it forward with an emphasis on visiting friends and family / staycations and asks, “Feel like you’ve been stuck in ‘The Shining‘ for the past year? This holiday season, show some compassion for your stir crazy friends and family by giving them ‘The Gift of Time‘— a gift certificate for a night’s stay (or two or three nights) in one of Lexington’s relaxing hotels.'”

It’s a low budget spin on a classic film. Ad agency Team Cornett says, “Is it going to win an Academy Award? Probably not. But it’s a scrappy piece of creative that ekes a lot of entertainment out of an executive creative director’s actual living room and a $10 Jack Nicholson impersonator from Fiverr.

Small local theaters and live production groups need a boost, too. In San Francisco, they’re offering gift cards for when the curtain rises again.

In Downtown SLO (San Luis Obispo, CA), there’s a triple incentive to shop local with 350 merchants: Spend $100 to get a $20 gift card, a Santa-styled scavenger hunt for the kids and free parking days.

Not just for Christmas

We like this roundup of DMOs doing online shopping guides to support and highlight local small businesses. The content is curated by Simpleview.

“Give the Gift of Oregon” is a curated landing page filled with content about handmade items and where to get them in every region of the state.

Gifts of food & drink
Gifts for the outdoors
Gifts for arts & culture
Gifts for future travel

Plus, there’s a write up on “Oregon’s Festive Main Streets.”

Go Providence puts it this way,”The things that make Rhode Island so special — our renowned restaurants, eclectic shops, stellar arts organizations, fun family attractions — need our support right now more than ever.”

The smallest state has a lot to say about togetherness. This effort is a partnership by the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Block Island Tourism Council, South County Tourism Council, City of Warwick, Discover Newport, and Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau.

They’ve enhanced small shopping forays with themed ~~Rhode~~ road trips, too.

At NYC & Company, taking the long view on supporting local is everything, a commitment made in the years before “Covid-19” became our shared reality. “Tourism Ready” was created by NYC & Company in 2015 to spread economic prosperity throughout the five boroughs. The goal of this program is to increase visitation to off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods throughout the city and help local businesses reap the monetary benefits of tourism.”

In 2020, the DMO doubled down on local with “All In NYC” initiatives. All five boroughs are involved in offering 150 ideas and ways to save, showcasing a lineup of deals at local attractions, cultural institutions, restaurants, hotels, museums, shopping and tours across the city…even experiences as tickets for streaming cultural performances and big band sounds like Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Mastercard supports the new initiative by offering cardholders up to $100 in statement credit when spending at participating businesses.

Building charity-driven two-way partnerships: Dozens of DMOs have teamed up with Wisconsin Tourism for the tenth annual “Big Bundle Up.” They ask the community to donate new or gently used winter coats, sweaters, snow pants, mittens, gloves, hats, and scarves to be donated to local charities for distribution to families in need.

Some visitor centers, like Visit Beloit and Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau serve as collection points. In Middleton, staff deliver the winter items to Lake Mills Cleaners & Dyers, which has generously offered to clean them for free before they go to Middleton Outreach Ministry for distribution. More than 185,000 items have been collected statewide over the years.

News: 13 People and 74 Jobs & 1 Pledge From CEOs

December 22, 2020 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

Meet Minneapolis President and CEO Melvin Tennant, II has been named as one of the 100 people to know by Twin Cities Business.

Discover The Palm Beaches has appointed Lindsey Wiegmann as director of public relations and social media where she will work alongside The Zimmerman Agency, the DMO’s PR agency of record. A PR veteran, Wiegmann joins from Hemsworth Communications and previously, Hill & Knowlton.

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism, Lafourche Parish’s marketing organization, has officially named Cody Gray as president and CEO. He had been serving as interim in the role president since October and previously at Columbia County Tourist Development in Lake City, FL. Gray’s predecessor, Timothy Bush, left Louisiana to become chief tourism development officer at OneSpartanburg, Inc.

Julie Kirkpatrick moves from interim president of the Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau (meetNKY) to president. As reported in June, she had stepped into the interim role following the retirement of Eric Summe. She joined the organization in 2014.

In Ohio, Highland County Chamber of Commerce (HCCOC) and Visitors Bureau Highland County (VBHC) welcomed a new executive director, Jamie Wheeler. She succeeds Destiny Bryson, who departed the organizations in July for a new role with the Ohio Southeast Economic Development team.

Adrianne (Woodward) Glass has been promoted to marketing director at Gulf County Florida Tourist Development Council in Port St. Joe. She has been involved in the council’s marketing efforts for more than six years.

Cori Day is the new executive director of Missouri Travel Alliance. She has previously been with Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau, City of Independence Tourism Department, and Visit KC.

Michelle Russ, CSEE, former director of sales for the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission, has been promoted to vice president of sales, sports and events.

In Michigan, Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau has named Polly Schneider as the new executive director. She steps into the role as her colleague Scott Herceg leaves Jan. 31 to pursue other interests.

In Indiana, Anderson Madison County Visitors Bureau will begin 2021 searching for a new leader. Executive Director Matt Rust departs at year-end following five years’ service.

Jennifer Kirchner has taken on the lead role at Kentuckians for Better Transportation. She was most recently executive director for the Danville Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Shirin Jafari has joined MMGY Next Factor in Toronto as a sustainable tourism development specialist. In 2020, she was an international tourism development fellow at San Francisco Travel Association.

In New York City, Tamica Clanton has joined Hornblower Cruises as VP-Marketing & Partnerships. She had previously been in marketing at Madison Square Garden and the NFL Experience in Times Square.

Destinations International has launched the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion CEO Pledge, making the announcement at the association’s virtual CEO Summit on Dec. 16. Learn more below and see the growing list of CEOs taking the pledge.

* JOBS *

[new] Executive Director — Visit Estes Park, CO

[new] Chief Marketing Officer — Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, SC

[new] Chief Marketing Officer — Visit SLO CAL, San Luis Obispo, CA

[new] Sales & Services Manager — Destinations International, Remote