P E O P L E
Gathan D. Borden is joining Destinations International as Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications starting August 15. He has been Vice President of Marketing at VisitLEX since 2015, and was previously with Louisville Tourism. In 2021, Borden was selected as one of the “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Optimization” by Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International.
Jill Kidder will be the new President & CEO at Visit Baton Rouge replacing Paul Arrigo who retires in September. She is currently President & CEO of the Louisiana Travel Association and also heads up the Louisiana Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus. Kidder was previously Executive Director of Alexandria/Pineville CVB.
*Hiring*—An excerpt from an open letter by Kyle Edmiston: “…the LTA Executive Committee selected Young Strategies, Inc. to guide our efforts in the hiring of a new President/CEO. The Executive Committee has approved a search committee made up of Alana Cooper, Ralph Ney, Ben Berthelot, Walt Leger and me…If you have any questions about this transition or would like to submit a candidate for the LTA position, please don’t hesitate to email me…” kedmiston@visitlakecharles.org
Lauren Bruggemans joins Visit Greater Palm Springs as Director of Sustainability and Community Engagement, a newly created role. She was founding CEO of We are One United, Inc., a social enterprise focused on youth engagement, workforce development, and mental health. Bruggemans also consulted to the City of Palm Springs.
Polly Phelan-Flachman is the new Vice President of Community Engagement at Visit Phoenix. She joined the DMO in 2012 and was previously Director of Member Relations & Visitor Experience.
Douglas Chang, General Manager of the Ritz-Carlton Residences at Waikiki, has been appointed Chair of the Kilohana Collective transition team to help the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement fulfill its new duties of marketing Hawaii to American visitors. Included on the 13-member team former HTA Vice President Frank Haas and former Hawaiian Airlines Senior Vice President Ann Botticelli. Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau lost the $34 million U.S. marketing contract earlier this month and is appealing the HTA’s decision to award it to CNHA. [The Travel Vertical, 6/29/2022]
Razak Kadiri has joined Visit Pittsburgh as National Sales Manager based in Washington, D.C. Previously the Senior Event Services Coordinator for NTP Events in Alexandria, Kadiri was an under-35 honoree by the International Association of Exhibitions and Events.
Kate Lieto has been promoted to Associate VP of Marketing at Experience Grand Rapids, which she joined over 10 years ago.
About 30 miles north of Dallas, Visit McKinney recently named Aaron Werner as their new Executive Director. In previous roles, he was with both the City of Denison / CVB and the City of McKinney’s Main Street organization.
Andrew Forrester is the new Executive Tourism Director of Visit Madison and Jefferson County in Indiana. He was Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb since September 2019.
Courtney Spiess, Executive Director at Marietta Visitors Bureau in Georgia, departs her role of 4.5 years to join Miles Partnership as a Content Director. She has recently been recognized as one of nine 2022 Emerging Tourism Stars by eTourism Summit.
José Arana moves to a new role as Group Marketing Director at Discover Puerto Rico. He was previously Marketing Manager at the organization, which he joined in 2015.
Visit Mobile has announced the promotion of Abby Wise Tingle, Digital Content Coordinator, to Content Manager. She joined the DMO earlier this year from Discover Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana.
Visit Lake Charles has expanded its sales team to include Johanna Moseley as Destination Services Specialist. She is a Lake Charles, Louisiana native and recent graduate of McNeese State University.
Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau announced the promotions of Diana Long (left) to Director of Community Engagement and Joy Barlogie (right) to Director of Marketing.
Lindsay Garcia (left), Content Manager, and Tyler Graves (right), Digital Community Manager, have joined Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority in North Carolina.
Experience Maple Grove, Minnesota has named Gretchen Wilbrandt as its first-ever President/CEO at the new 501(c)6 non-profit destination marketing organization. She joins from Minnetonka Yacht Club where she was Executive Director.
The City of New Bedford, Massachusetts has hired Ashley Payne, a local marketing freelancer, as its new Director of Tourism & Marketing.
Tammy Koerte has been promoted to Senior Research Manager at Longwoods International, which she joined in 2019. She has been the project lead on the ongoing American Travel Sentiment tracker.
Mandi Cox has departed Sparkloft Media where she was Senior Director Distribution & Partnerships. Prior to 2015, she had been Director of Marketing at Experience Columbia SC. She has joined The Honey Baked Ham Company LLC as Senior Director Digital Marketing.
The folks at NYC & Company are brave souls.
P O D C A S T
New Episode: The Travel Vertical Podcast is out! Talking people, jobs and more. Keep sending your updates to laurie@thetravelvertical.com.
J O B S
Senior Vice President Integrated Marketing — Brand USA, Washington, DC preferred (new)
Champion of People & Culture — Destinations International, Washington, DC
President & CEO — Visit Tri-Cities, WA (new)
President & CEO — Louisiana Travel Association (new)
President & CEO — Visit Greenville, SC
President & CEO — Fredericksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau, TX
CEO — Placer Valley Tourism, CA
CEO AND Convention Sales Manager — Discover Santa Clara, CA
President & CEO — Visit Bath, VA
President / CEO — Explore Gatlinburg, TN
Executive Director — Visit Walla Walla, WA
Executive Director — Cartersville-Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau, GA (new)
Executive Director/CEO — Alexandria/Pineville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, LA
Executive Director — Pacific County Tourism Bureau, WA
Executive Director — Muncie Visitors Bureau, IN
Downtown Vacaville Executive Director — City of Vacaville, CA (new)
Vice President Digital Marketing — Memphis Tourism, TN
Vice President Sports / Special Events AND Marketing Manager PR — Visit Lauderdale, FL
Vice President of Marketing — Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, IL
Vice President Marketing & Communications — Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau, LA
Vice President of Media Relations AND Director Corporate Communications AND Director Black Hospitality Initiative AND Graphic Designer — Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
Vice President of Sales — Experience Rochester, MN (new)
Vice President Sales — Visit Albuquerque, NM
Vice President Sales — Visit Wichita, KS
Chief Marketing Officer — Visit Williamsburg, VA (new)
Chief Financial Officer — Visit Cincy, OH
Director of the Film & Creative Industries Office — Visit Dallas
Tourism Sales Manager — Choose Chicago
Senior Manager Convention Sales (South & Southwest) —Destination Cleveland
Manager of International Marketing AND Brand Marketing Manager-Partnerships AND Content Manager AND Marketing Assistant AND Helpdesk Coordinator AND Promotions Contractor — Visit California
Associate Director Events AND Events Manager AND Events Coordinator AND Marketing Assistant AND Membership Manager AND Partnerships Manager AND Partnerships & Alliances Assistant AND Sports Coordinator AND Tourism Sports & Visitor Services Administrative Assistant AND National Account Director-Corporate (West) — Destination DC
Strategic Marketing Manager — Visit Mesa, AZ (new)
Marketing Manager — St. Cloud Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, MN
Manager Tourism Development — Visit Lehigh Valley, PA (new)
Domestic Tourism Specialist AND National Sales Manager-Detroit Sports Commission — Visit Detroit (new)
Director of Communications — Santa Monica Travel & Tourism, CA
Communications Coordinator AND Partner Services Development Manager AND Group Sales Coordinator — Visit Park City, UT (new)
Communications Manager — Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, NC
Corporate Communications Manager — Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, NC (new)
Public Relations Manager — Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau, FL (new)
Public Relations Manager — Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau, CA
Media Relations Manager — Discover Long Island, NY
Marketing Program Coordinator — New Mexico Tourism Department (new)
Creative Copywriter — Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (new)
Social Media Manager — Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, LA (new)
Social Media & Content Manager — Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau, NC (new)
Digital Marketing Manager — Visit Winston-Salem, NC (new)
Sports Business Development Manager — Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority, WA (new)
Sports Event Manager — Savannah Sports Council, SC
Director Partnership AND Destination Services AND Marketing Manager-Leisure AND Marketing Manager-Meetings AND Public Relations Manager-Meetings AND National Account Director AND Destination & Convention Services Manager AND Convention Sales & Services Coordinator AND Marketing Coordinator AND Coordinator Partnership & Tourism AND Graphic Designer — Visit Seattle (new)
Director — Visit Mankato, MN
Director of Convention Sales — Visit Jacksonville, FL
Director of Group Sales — Visit Vancouver, WA
Director of Tourism — Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce, GA (new)
Tourism Director — Warren County Tourism Department, NY
Partnership Development Manager — Visit KC
Director of Destination Development — Greenbrier County Convention & Visitors Bureau, WV
Business Analyst & Marketing Strategist — Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, NY (new)
Business Analyst AND Data Analyst — Visit Grand Junction, CO
Tourism Operations & Outreach Specialist — Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority, NC (new)
Tourism Marketing & Communications Manager — Pasco County, FL
Tourism & Marketing Manager — Town of Marana, AZ (new)
Marketing Projects Manager AND Events Manager — Greater Topeka Partnership, KS (new)
Partnership Development Manager — Destination Madison, WI
Digital Marketing Manager — Visit Anaheim
Industry Engagement Support Specialist — Destination Cleveland, OH
Destination Services Site Manager — Visit Orlando (new)
Sales & Marketing Coordinator — Visit Dana Point, CA (new)
Sales & Communications Program Manager — City of Loveland, CO (new)
Digital Content Specialist — City of Glendale, AZ (new)
Director of Sales — Visit Ogden, UT (new)
Senior Director of Media AND Senior Content Director AND Manager Communications-International AND Email Marketing & Personalization Coordinator AND Coordinator Member Programs & Services AND Regional Director/Sales Manager AND Sales & Services Coordinator AND Staff Accountant — NYC & Company
Executive Assistant to the CEO AND Web & Digital Marketing Manager AND Human Resources Manager AND Communications Manager AND Hotel Relations Coordinator AND Sales Manager-Event & Media Sales — Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau
Accounting Specialist — Visit Phoenix (new)
Communication & Marketing Assistant — Columbus Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, NE (new)
Vice President Sales — Bermuda Tourism Authority, NYC
Manager Marketing — Hong Kong Tourism Board, Los Angeles
Project / Administrative Assistant — Tourism Diversity Matters
Senior Event Marketing Specialist — Expedia Group, Seattle (new)
Economist — Oxford Economics — Wayne, PA
Senior Vice President — Longwoods International, Midwest
Director of Sales — Epsilon, remote
PR Senior Account Executive/Spanish speaking (New York or Florida) AND PR Account Coordinator (Los Angeles) — MMGY NJF
Senior Data Scientist AND Analyst AND Manager of Sales Ops Analyst AND Business Development Representative — Sojern, remote (new)
Data Product Manager AND Digital Copy Editor AND Systems Administrator — Simpleview, Tucson
Senior Digital Ad Sales Manager — Kayak, remote
Senior Account Executive — Digital Edge Marketing Agency, Jacksonville, FL (new)
General Manager — Los Angeles Convention Center
Deputy Director — Orange County Convention Center, Orlando
General Manager — Moscone Center, San Francisco
Director of Sales & Marketing — Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas
Manager Loyalty Partnerships — Amtrak, Washington DC (new)
Manager Digital Content Strategy AND Specialist Destination Marketing AND Integrated Marketing Planner AND Product Owner eMail AND Specialist Marketing Analytics Development and more — Delta Air Lines, Atlanta
Product Marketing Manager-Travel — Google, San Francisco (new)
