Roger Dow, President & CEO at U.S. Travel Association, has announced his retirement in July 2022 following 17 years of service.
Dow has guided U.S. Travel and the broader industry through periods of remarkable growth—marked by 10 consecutive years of expansion from 2009 to 2019—followed by enormous pandemic challenges beginning in 2020.
Dow is credited with leading the legislation that created Brand USA, the nation’s destination marketing organization, and developing policies and programs that enabled domestic and international inbound travel to thrive by ensuring an understanding of travel and tourism as a linchpin of the American economy.
In the coming months, the U.S. Travel National Chair Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, will name a representative search committee so the organization’s board can begin “a transparent and inclusive process to identify the association’s next top leader.” To read the press release, visit www.ustravel.org.
Announcing: Connect 2021 in Tampa on Aug. 30-Sept. 1.
A moderated conversation with former First Lady Michelle Obama. (Sponsored by Visit Milwaukee, Detroit Metro CVB, Meet Minneapolis, Discover Puerto Rico)
Timothy Wolfe is the new Colorado Tourism Director. A veteran of the state tourism interests, Wolfe was a hotel executive who served on Visit Denver’s board of directors, as board chairman for Colorado Tourism Office, and chaired Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association board. Wolfe replaces Cathy Ritter, who was ousted from her six-year position in April by Pat Meyers, Colorado’s new director of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
In a restructuring to support the goal of Mālama Kuʻu Home (caring for my beloved home), two executives are promoted at Hawaii Tourism Authority. Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā has been promoted to chief brand officer and Caroline Anderson has been promoted to director of planning.
In Wisconsin, Destination Sturgeon Bay (Door County) has appointed a native, Cameryn Ehlers-Kwaterski, as its next Executive Director. She will join from Visit Rome, where she has served as Executive Director for three years and was recognized by the Governor’s Rising Star Award.
Bart Blaisdell has been named as Senior Vice President-Finance & Operations at Visit Salt Lake. A Utah native, he joins from a previous role as CFO at Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines.
Karen Kuhl, Executive Director, Tour Cayuga County in New York’s Finger Lake Region, is our latest guest on The Travel Vertical Podcast in conversation with Adam Stoker and Laurie Jo Miller Farr. Karen discusses the destination’s special attribute as the longtime home of Harriet Tubman and how smaller DMOs can promote authentic qualities that distinguish them.
Take a listen here: https://bit.ly/3zLB7xt
A familiar face has rejoined San Francisco Travel. Beth Melanson is welcomed back as Senior Manager Convention Sales covering the Southeast and Southwest regions.
In Northern California, Redding Chamber of Commerce announced it has hired Danny Orloff as tourism marketing director of Visit Redding, a new position. He joins from outside the travel industry.
Joshua Lambert joins Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau as Social Media Specialist. His previous DMO experience includes five years in marketing roles at The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel.
Anastasia Straley has a new role as Social Media Content Specialist at Delta Air Lines. She has previously handled social media at San Francisco Travel Association, Choose Chicago, and Visit St. Paul.
In Ohio, Katie Thompson joins Visit Dublin as Marketing Coordinator. She’s a recent grad from Kent State University where she was involved in previously PR Comms and interned in PR at Destination Grandview.
Emily Bates has joined the New Mexico Tourism Department as tourism development coordinator. She had previously been in tourism promotion for a DMO in Bordeaux, France.
In Sarasota, Florida, Nicole Brownell has joined Paradise Advertising & Marketing as VP-Digital Marketing. Her past experience includes Miles Partnership and the Regional Office of Sustainability, a DMO in Lake Placid, New York.
Joe Tropia has joined Legends / One World Observatory in NYC as Tourism & Trade Manager. His background includes attractions such as Harry Potter & the Cursed Child, National Geographic Encounter, Blue Man Group, and the Metropolitan Opera.
Destination Canada has announced that Meaghan Ferrigno is appointed to be the new Chief Data and Analytics Officer. She joins from the health sector.
22 Destinations Receive DMAP Designation
The Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) from Destinations International recognizes a destination organization’s commitment to industry excellence and meeting industry standard for performance and accountability. It requires successful compliance with a number of mandatory and voluntary standards across performance areas related to the management and marketing of destination organizations including governance, finance, human resources, sales, communications, destination development and research. The full active list of over 200 accredited destinations is found here. Announced for 2021:
Newly Accredited:
- Chattanooga Tourism Co. (with distinction)
- Convention & Visitors Bureau of Dunwoody
- Finger Lakes Visitors Connection
- Ottawa Tourism (with distinction)
- Southern Delaware Tourism, Convention & Visitors Bureau of Sussex County
- Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island
- Visit Beloit
- Visit Corpus Christi
- Visit Elizabeth City
- Visit Stillwater
4-Year Renewals:
- Experience Kissimmee
- Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Meet Minneapolis
- Memphis Tourism
- Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Tabasco Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Visit Knoxville
- Visit Norfolk
8-Year Reaccreditation:
- Banff & Lake Louise Tourism Bureau
- New Orleans & Company
- Visit Orlando
- Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
What makes a great travel story? From Uber Eats to Twitter Fleets, Spotify to TikTok, and of course, Instagram Stories and Reels, the story format has captivated consumers and marketers alike.
What makes a travel story memorable, engaging, and actionable? Should you use photos, videos, or both? And, most importantly, how can you make the most of the story format to attract interested travelers to your destination?
