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Happy Birthday, USA: America250 Appoints Hospitality & Tourism Advisory Council

October 26, 2021 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

Led by the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission (too challenging to pronounce), America250 is gearing up for 2026 when the nation reaches the ripe old age of 250 years.

America250 represents a coalition of public and private partners all working to create initiatives and programs that honor our first 250 years and inspire Americans to imagine our next 250. The commemoration period began in 2020, culminates on July 4, 2026, and officially concludes in 2027. For more information: www.america250.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

Eleven advisory councils across a variety of industries and specialities are formed to expand the reach, resources, and inclusivity of the main commission. The current roster of Advisory Councils includes: Arts & Culture; Health & Wellness; History Education; Hospitality & Tourism; Innovation, Science & Entrepreneurship; International; Parks, Preservation & Public Spaces; Sports & Entertainment; Veterans, Military & Family Members; Youth Engagement; and Young Leaders. As America250 continues planning and preparations, additional Advisory Councils will be created.

Hospitality & Tourism Advisory Council
The hospitality and tourism industry will be essential in Americans’ engagement in the semiquincentennial, with national and international visitors welcomed into every region and community of the country. From big cities to small towns, American culture has been shaped and influenced by our nation’s rich travel traditions, and the Hospitality & Tourism Advisory Council will uplift and highlight our collective commitment to exploring America’s places.

Members:

Brad Dean, CEO, Discover Puerto Rico
Gretchen Hall, CEO, Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau
Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Director, Historic Hotels of America
Laura Huerta Migus, Deputy Director, Office of Museum Services, Institute of Museum and Library Services (Ex-Officio)
Parker McMullen Bushman, Chief Operating Officer, Inclusive Guide
Travis Owens, Vice President, Cultural Tourism, Cherokee Nation Businesses
Dee Patel, Managing Director, The Hermitage Hotel (Co-Chair)
John Ricks, Executive Director, Nebraska Tourism Commission
Sherry Rupert, CEO, American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (Co-Chair)
Stephen Wolter, Executive Director, Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands at Indiana University

Other appointments:

Joseph C. Daniels is President & CEO of America250, formerly head of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City.

Also named are Kyle Anderson as Senior Vice President and Matt Schatzle as Chief Development Officer.

Anderson was Executive Director of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Congressional Black Caucus and director of communications and marketing with the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer.

Schatzle has successfully conducted major multi-million dollar campaigns, including the Naval Academy’s $275 million Leaders to Serve a Nation campaign, the Ocean Conservancy’s $35 million Campaign for the Oceans, and the United Services Organization’s (USO) $100 million campaign in response to 9/11.

Puerto Rico #RockinEve on New Year’s 2022 | Travel South USA Partners With Bandwango

October 12, 2021 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr 1 Comment

SAN JUAN, P.R. — Say goodbye to 2021. At last week’s press conference with Governor Pedro Pierluisi, the Discover Puerto Rico President & CEO Brad Dean shared the news:

“… [We] could not be prouder and more humbled to be the newest countdown dest and the first Spanish-language countdown for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, the most watched holiday television broadcast, especially as they celebrate their 50th anniversary. The biggest global broadcast ever in the history of Puerto Rico…”

“…And, staying true to our heritage, this countdown will be in Spanish! Beyond the entertaining broadcast hosted by ABC celebrity Ryan Seacrest, this will provide an amazing opportunity to showcase all that our Island paradise offers. 2022 Starts Here!”

Shining a spotlight on the destination, the announcement was made on “Live With Kelly and Ryan,” reaching an audience of millions of mainstream TV viewers. Dean also mentioned 40 sales and trade events throughout North America in the coming weeks as well as messaging support from airlines and other partners.

Watch the press conference here.

Watch the video here.

“3-2-1 🎉 It’s time to share the news: 2022 starts here! 🥳 🇵🇷

We’re excited to announce that our Island is adding its unique rhythm and flavor to the first-ever Spanish language countdown on Dick Clark’s New Year’s #RockinEve LIVE from Puerto Rico at Distrito T-Mobile.

Join the celebration as we count down to a new spectacular year on December 31st starting at 8/7c on ABC. Start your 2022 in Puerto Rico and welcome the new year from #PRdise. 💃 🕺🏻🎆 #PRxRockinEve #DiscoverPuertoRico“

At the recent Travel South Ultimate Ad Challenge, southern state tourism offices gathered to hear pitches from print and digital marketing companies, including Bandwango, where a new generation of experience-based passports took off.

Creativity was in good supply. Bandwango CEO Monir Parikh said, “The day of the Travel South Ad Challenge was one of the most exciting days in Bandwango history. We have been absolutely thrilled by the ideas these clients have brought to the table, and we’re looking forward to long partnerships with each of them.”

“This type of collaboration on programming offers state tourism offices to co-op regional marketing promotions and leverage their buying power with particular attention to small towns, undiscovered areas, and off-the-beaten-path places,” said Liz Bittner, president & CEO of Travel South USA. “Alabama Tourism, Kentucky Tourism, Louisiana Office of Tourism, Missouri Division of Tourism, Tennessee Tourism, West Virginia Tourism, Visit North Carolina, South Carolina Tourism Department, and Visit Mississippi, are planning the most creative collection of passes I have ever seen.”

Kentucky, Louisiana and Tennessee have already launched their first passports with Bandwango.

Kentucky Tourism’s Parks Pass launched in August 2021 and features 44 state parks and 8 National Park properties. The pass is gamified and encourages all pass holders to check in to win various prizes. Passholders who check in to 5 parks will receive a koozie or pair of sunglasses, while those who check-in at all locations will receive a branded T-shirt and be entered in to win the Ultimate Park Prize package including a Kentucky State Park Overnight, a $100 State Parks Gift Card, plus an adventure prize package of a kayak, paddle, and life jacket.

Louisiana’s Office of Tourism crafted their “The Unusual is Our Usual Pass” to support their existing brand campaign by the same name. The passport features check-in points that celebrate the weird, kooky and out-there places Louisiana is best known for – including the Castle Tree and the Haunted Gothic Hanging Jail. Passholders who check in to 8 locations win a mystery prize.

Tennessee’s Department of Tourist Development is using the Bandwango platform to take their Ken Burns’ Country Music Passport | TN Vacation digital. In previous years, the initiative leveraged paper passports to guide visitors along the pathway.

In the pipeline: West Virginia’s Department of Tourism will spotlight the state’s 20+ waterfalls. Alabama is curating their state-wide attraction pass. Along with passes for the Missouri Division of Tourism, Visit Mississippi, Visit North Carolina, and South Carolina Tourism, these are expected to launch in winter and early spring 2022.

Did you know? Formed in 1965, Travel South USA is the nation’s oldest and largest regional tourism collaboration, a destination partnership effort involving 12 states.

Visit Duluth Gets Axed Plus More People & Places News

August 17, 2021 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

People

Brad Dean, Chief Executive Officer of Discover Puerto Rico, has been named State Travel Director of the Year by U.S. Travel Association at last week’s ESTO meeting. Since taking the lead of the destination marketing organization in 2018, Dean has guided the Island’s tourism industry through a remarkable period of recovery and growth following various setbacks from hurricanes to the pandemic.

Michael Heckman has been named by Mayor Sylvester Turner as the Chief Executive Officer of Houston First Corporation. He has held the interim position since August 2020.

Lisa Oliveira, CDME, has recently been named President & CEO of the Fresno/Clovis Convention & Visitors Bureau in California. She joined the organization in 2016.

Sarah Hupp Foster has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer at Madden Media. She joined the company in 2012 and was most recently serving as VP of Account Strategy.

Kirsten Lynch has been appointed CEO at Vail Resorts, Inc., the world’s leading mountain resort company at iconic locations. She has served in the role of EVP and CMO for the past 10 years.

Julie Holmen is the new Project / Program Lead for Membership Engagement at Destinations International. She joins from MPI and as a former team member at Destination Toronto.

In Tennessee, Matthew Bolas, former director of Discover Bristol, has been tapped as director of the new Bristol Regional Tourism Marketing Corp. For the past four years, Bolas led the tourism development division of The High Road Agency.

Stefanie Zinke moves from Senior International Tourism Sales Manager at The Beaches of Fort Meyers and Sanibel CVB to Director of Global Trade Sales at Visit Tampa Bay.

Todd Mitsuhata has been promoted to Director of Global Business Development at Santa Monica Travel & Tourism. He joined the DMO in 2016.

Sarah Waggoner is the new Tourism Manager at Visit Springfield in Illinois. She joins from the City of Litchfield where she was tourism coordinator for seven years.

Ariel Washington is the new Social Media Coordinator at Visit Tybee in Georgia. She comes to digital tourism marketing with a background in social media and communications.

Places

Duluth, Minn. — Mayor Emily Larson announced plans to pass up longtime Visit Duluth for the city’s next tourism marketing contract worth $1.8 million and instead choose Minneapolis-based Bellmont Partners and its partner, Sioux Falls-based Lawrence & Schiller. The decision comes after a months-long application process that included two local finalists – Visit Duluth and the DECC.

Visit Duluth has held the contract since 1935. In recent years, the DMO has received $2.2 million to provide promotion, marketing and convention sales.

The RFP sent out in May brought in 28 applications – 5 from Duluth, 15 from throughout the state and eight from outside Minnesota. Some local advertising executives have questioned how none of the Duluth firms are selected.

Bellmont presented to the Duluth city council on Aug. 17, 2021 and the agency was approved. Larson has offered Visit Duluth a much smaller $400,000 contract for next year to handle convention coordination and the visitor’s center, but that discussion has been tabled. Read the latest local reporting here.

In Travel Smart News, industry observer Brian London writes, “the situation in Duluth is a good reminder that destination organizations are contracted agencies. Their contract is not promised forever. No need to wait for elected officials in your destination to pull the fire alarm. Take some time to be sure your activities are aligned with the goals and priorities of those who determine your future funding.”

*User:Dough4872, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

Ocean City, Md. — Tom Perlozzo, Tourism and Business Development Director, City of Ocean City told the local tourism commission that his office is continuing its efforts to identify and rebrand Ocean City’s image.

They have engaged Zartico as a partner to collect data on the visitor base, also working with AirDNA, which provides a snapshot of short-term rental platforms, as well as with Opinionworks, an Annapolis-based independent research organization to conduct the surveys.

Monterey, Calif. — On California’s Central Coast, the Monterey Visitors Center has closed, due to steadily decreasing visitor traffic. Rob O’Keefe, president & CEO of Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau, which ran the center, indicated to a local reporter that the DMO was spending about $400,000 a year on staffing and maintaining the facility. The services provided will be replaced by an app.

Sedona, Ariz. — Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau has agreed to suspend their destination marketing effort for at least one year. The council voted unanimously to approve a $2.1 million budget minus $250,000 that could have used for destination marketing. The effort to discourage tourists from coming to Sedona stems from council and community members objecting to increased traffic, the trampling of hiking trails, disrespect of Sedona’s sacred sites, overcrowding, the proliferation of Airbnb. Source: Sedona Biz

*credit: Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau*

Boston, Mass. — The local tourism industry in Boston is pushing for a tourism destination marketing district. The district would be able to charge overnight hotel guests an additional 1.5% of the guest’s bill, projected to raise $10 million in its first year, dedicated to a new fund to promote the city.

The fund would be managed by a 15-member committee composed mostly of lodging industry representatives.

Fort Collins, Colo. — The city council agreed to form a tourism improvement district, doubling the lodging tax to 6% and expected to raise $800,000 a year. Three-fourths of annual income from the new fee is budgeted for sales, marketing, communication and destination development. Visit Fort Collins, separate from the Tourist Improvement District, gets 70% of the current 3% fee; the rest goes to the city’s Fort Fund arts and culture grants. Source: Loveland Reporter-Herald

Sonoma County, Calif. — Sonoma County Tourism announced the debut of the “Sonoma Sound,” the destination’s first-ever official soundtrack. Created by local GRAMMY-recognized songwriter Cliff Goldmacher (Keb’ Mo’, Lisa Loeb, Ke$ha), the ‘Sound’ was developed through a collaboration between Goldmacher, Creative Sonoma, and Sonoma County Tourism, with partial funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. Featuring local artists and recorded at a local studio, the soundtrack is part of an ongoing effort to promote Sonoma County’s brand attributes (“Life Opens Up”) and creative talent.

To highlight how music and well-being intermingles in the region, Sonoma County Tourism and its partners are giving away a truly refreshing and rejuvenating escape to Sonoma County for two with the “Reawaken Your Senses” Experience. Learn more about the project here.

New York City — Despite ticket sales open for a few months, blockbuster shows such as Hamilton, The Lion King and Wicked, all of which have been dark for more than 18 months, have yet to sell out their opening week of shows in mid-September.

Producers attribute the sluggish ticket sales to industry volatility caused by the delta variant and industry experts say the muted response is not good news for New York City’s ongoing tourism challenges.

San Francisco became the first major U.S. city to mandate the presentation of proof of full Covid-19 vaccination to access certain venues and activities: indoor restaurants, bars, clubs, fitness facilities, theaters, cinemas, entertainment venues, and large events having 1,000 or more attendees. The updated health order is set to take effect on Aug. 20.

New York City has put a similar restriction in place, however proof of only a first vaccine is required and will be enforced from Sept. 13. There are two official apps, the Excelsior Pass and NYC Covid Safe, but paper is fine too.

In New Orleans effective since Aug. 16, proof of vaccines or a negative Covid-19 test taken within less than 72 hours will be required to enter indoor venues citywide, including bars, restaurants, gyms and music halls.

Los Angeles City Council has voted in favor of drafting a new law to require at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine to enter facilities including indoor restaurants, gyms, stores, movies and theaters. Palm Springs City Council is taking similar steps regarding indoor dining.

Starting this week, Puerto Rico hotels and other lodging require proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test from within 72 hours for guests and staff alike. This adds another layer of peace of mind, according to Discover Puerto Rico, since the island already has such requirements in place for arriving visitors.

New Orleans & Company has paused its national “Concierge” advertising campaign featuring local actor Wendell Pierce, tagline: “When you’re ready to come back, we’re ready to host.” Metro area and regional dining-centric ads will continue.

Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation has made a similar decision, indicating they’ll review on a month-to-month basis. Source: The Lens NOLA [H/T Travel Smart News]

Sydney, Australia — The new ad campaign from Tourism Australia isn’t about going on vacation…it’s about getting vaccinated against the coronavirus. “It’s Our Best Shot for Travel” campaign launched in Australia on August 16 in newspapers, on TV, online and across social media.

Another vaccine-related campaign featuring celebrity Aussie chefs is in the works for later this year. “Put a Jab on the Menu.”

Three Clever Campaigns: Coquí Frogs, Pirates of the High Seas and Avalanche Education

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

Have you explored Puerto Rico’s El Yunque National Rainforest? If so, you’ve likely heard the call of the coqui, a petite tree frog that is the island’s unofficial mascot. Listen >>

Discover Puerto Rico, in partnership with a local environmental / conservation organization, has launched “Adopt a Coquí” in support of the beloved, tiny 1″-2″ creatures and their fragile ecosystem.

“We’re inviting future travelers to be inspired by our natural offerings in a safe and responsible way, as many are dreaming about their first trip when the time is right,” said Brad Dean, Discover Puerto Rico’s CEO. “Adopt a Coqui gives the gift of hope during this holiday season, supporting conservation efforts in Puerto Rico and felt globally.”

A donation of $25 generates a personal digital adoption certificate from Conservacion ConCiencia.

And there’s more. A five-part video series, “Sounds like Puerto Rico,” takes visitors on a virtual journey with hosts José and Davelyn to discover and understand the Island’s jargon and its origins.

Ahoy, matey! Simpleview shares this fun case study about helping DMOs to find the best ways to successfully create popular local events as virtual happenings. Find out how it worked here.

“The team at Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau was no exception. Known for their beautiful beaches, the destination has seen impressive recovery numbers over the last few months as visitors seek a safe, outdoor escape within driving distance.

But with COVID-19 case numbers still rising all over the country, the team at Panama City Beach knew they wouldn’t be able to host their annual Pirates of the High Seas Fest this year — at least not in its traditional format.

Rather than cancel the popular leisure event, the team decided to create a fun and interactive online experience that visitors could experience from the comfort of their own homes. As a result, they partnered with Simpleview’s digital marketing team to help bring their ideas to life.” Get the details here.

Photos: Colorado Avalache Information Center

The Colorado Sun reports on a new four-month cooperative effort involving the state tourism office plus government and recreational agencies. In a change-up from more traditional messaging, “Colorado Backcountry Winter Safety” focuses on consumer education for outdoor adventurers.

Get Out in Front of Backcountry Danger

“In a normal year, late fall features Colorado ads enticing would-be vacationers from New York, Chicago, Dallas and Phoenix with images of powdery playgrounds.

But in this anything-but-normal year, the Colorado Tourism Office isn’t peddling vacations to out-of-state tourists. The office is redirecting its winter budget toward state residents with a call for responsible recreation in the remote winter wildlands. It’s not a clarion call to adventure in the backcountry. It’s a plea for heads-up playtime.”

“The message we are sharing is safety.” — Cathy Ritter, director of the Colorado Tourism Office

The partners are Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, Colorado Avalanche Information Center, Colorado Search and Rescue Association, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Read more here.

People, Places, Jobs…and Beer in Baltimore

December 15, 2020 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

Al Hutchinson, president & CEO, Visit Baltimore

Budget cuts had forced Visit Baltimore to pause its Education and Training Foundation, threatening the Diversity Apprenticeship Program.

Now, Guinness Open Gate Brewery (the US-based home of blonde lager and a Maryland visitor experience since 2018) is making a one million dollar commitment to its home via the Guinness Gives Back Baltimore Community Fund that includes fully funding the DMO’s program for the next year, with plans to support it for five years.

Visit Baltimore will facilitate the end goal of creating 10 or more hospitality career pathways with a focus on Baltimore’s Black community.

The 600-hour paid apprenticeship aims at employment by Visit Baltimore or a partner organization by promoting career interest in the hospitality and craft beer industries among minority students. In a partnership with SearchWide Global, apprentices shadow at Visit Baltimore, Guinness Open Gate Brewery and another local tourism entity in a three-part immersive learning experience. Applications are currently open; eligible candidates must be 21 years of age or older. Read more here.

Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & Convention and Visitors Bureau has hired Jason Outman as its next president and CEO, effective mid-January 2021. Outman, who succeeds Jeff Seifried, comes from Experience Columbia SC which he joined in 2010, serving as executive director since 2014.

Discover Kalamazoo has appointed Jane Ghosh as president & CEO. A long-time Kalamazoo area resident, Ghosh comes from outside the industry. She brings three decades of experience leading marketing at Johnson & Johnson and The Kellogg Company and as GM manager and executive director at Ferrara Candy Company. Ghosh succeeds Greg Ayers, who resigned in April after 12 years at the helm.

Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau announced Candace Carr Strauss will join as president/CEO in February 2021. She is currently CEO of the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce & Visit Big Sky in Montana. She replaces Jennifer Wesselhoff who left for a similar role in Park City, Utah.

Paul Beirnes is the newly appointed deputy director of tourism for Naples, Marco Island and Everglades CVB. Beirnes joins the team at Florida’s Paradise Coast with over 30 years of destination marketing experience that includes leadership roles at the likes of Hilton Worldwide, Visit Orlando and Disney.

Heather Brown is named as the interim executive director of Lake of the Ozarks CVB. Following seven years with the DMO, she left the Missouri organization five years ago while serving as director of member services. Tim Jacobsen, former executive director, recently took a position with Fort Smith Advertising and Promotions Commission in Arkansas.

Technology and travel leader Scott Garner has been appointed chief revenue officer at Journera, the real-time data exchange platform for creating more seamless travel. He was most recently chief commercial officer at ADARA, and was previously in executive roles at United Airlines and Orbitz Worldwide. Read the announcement here.

At Expedia Group Media Solutions headquarters in Seattle, Wendy Olson Killion is promoted to Global Senior Vice President and General Manager. Her thoughts: “This next year will be focused on helping to reignite the spirit of travel and MeSo that 2020 has tried to stomp out.I look forward to continuing to push our platform to aid the industry and our partners into recovery. I will work to be a worthy leader of an amazing team who has pushed through and persevered.”

Eric J. Lund, former president & CEO of Visit Estes Park for 12 years, takes on a role as VP – tourism development at the historic Stanley Hotel of “The Shining” fame. Prior to his Colorado days, Lund was previously with San Diego Tourism Authority.

Chelsea McCready departs her role as VP-Research & Market Analysis at Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. after more than a decade. She joins CoStar Group/STR as director of hospitality market analytics, Southeast.

Deb Hickok, president and CEO of Explore Fairbanks, is stepping down in June 2021 following 20 years in the job. Prior to joining Explore Fairbanks, Hickok served at the Bucks County CVB, Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau and the Pennsylvania Department of Commerce/Division of Tourism.

From U.S. Travel Association: “Congrats to our own President and CEO, Roger Dow, and EVP of Public Affairs and Policy, Tori Barnes, for being recognized by @thehill for your relentless efforts amid this incredibly challenging year. It has never been more important for the travel industry’s voice to be heard.”

Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, has been appointed Vice Chair of the U.S. Travel & Tourism Advisory Board for a two-year term. The 27-member group currently chaired by Kurt Ekert, president & CEO of CWT (formerly Carlson Wagonlit Travel), is the advisory body to the secretary of commerce on matters relating to the travel and tourism industry in the United States. The deputy assistant secretary for travel and tourism serves as the board’s executive director. Other DMO members are: Liz Fitzsimmons, managing director, Maryland Office of Tourism and Film; David Gilbert, president & CEO, Destination Cleveland and Greater Cleveland Sports Commission; Debbie Johnson, director, Arizona Office of Tourism.

The U.S. Travel Association has named Richard Peterson, president & CEO of U.S. Cultural & Heritage Marketing Council to the National Council of Attractions and Experiences (NCAE) Board of Advisors. Peterson is also currently serving as director-at-large at U.S. Travel Association.

Brand USA has announced two new members and one reappointed member of the 2021 board of directors.

Noel Irwin Hentschel, chairman and CEO, American Tours International, LLC (reappointed, representing the travel distribution sector)
Kristen Esposito, principal, Esposito Global Partners (newly appointed, representing the small business/retail sector)
Keiko Matsudo Orrall, executive director, Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (newly appointed, representing one of two seats for an official of a state tourism office)

Brand USA Board Chair: Kyle Edmiston, president & CEO, Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau

Brand USA Vice Chairs: Paul Brown, co-founder & CEO of Inspire Brands and Mark Hoplamazian, president & CEO, Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Treasurer: Alice Norsworthy, chief marketing officer, Universal Parks & Resorts

Additional Members: Todd Davidson, CEO, Travel Oregon; Dean Kantaras, owner and managing attorney, K. Dean Kantaras, P.A.; Donald Moore, Sr. VP of business rental sales & global corporate accounts, Enterprise Holdings, Inc.; Tom O’Toole, associate dean for executive education and clinical professor of marketing, Northwestern University.

In Memoriam: Marion “Butch” Fox, president/CEO at Jeff Davis Parish Economic Development, Tourism and Chamber of Commerce since 2007. She had worked in the industry for 30+ years serving at several CVBs, Louisiana Office of Tourism, Louisiana Office of Economic Development, and most recently had been active with Louisiana Travel Association and Louisiana Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus.

In Memoriam: Charlotte Bell, CEO, Tourism Association of Canada since 2015, based in Ottawa.

Sacramento, Calif.-based advertising agency Mering has agreed to be acquired by Columbus, Ohio-based ad agency TSY (The Shipyard) Enterprises Inc. Mering clients include Visit California; San Diego Tourism Authority; KSL Resorts; Monarch Beach Resort; Mammoth Lakes Tourism, Merlin Entertainments, (Legoland); Wine Institute; California Grown; and Visit Napa Valley. >> Open positions are: Designer in Columbus, Ohio and Sr. Copywriter in Newport Beach, CA.

JOBS

President & CEO — Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Lansing (new, deadline 1/15/2021)

VP Marketing — Visit Florida, Tallahassee (new)

President & CEO — Visit Orlando

President & CEO — Destination B.C., Vancouver

President & CEO — Destination Madison

President — Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau

President & CEO — Visit Greenville SC

Chief Sales & Marketing Officer — Bermuda Tourism Authority, NYC

Sr. VP, Multicultural & Community Development — Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau

Director of Sales — Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau

Public Relations Manager — Destination Cleveland

CEO, Lake Superior Community Partnership, Marquette, MI

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

Marketing Manager — Tulsa Regional Tourism

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

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

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

User Experience Designer — NYC & Company

Business Analyst — Visit Grand Junction, CO

Manager, Paid Media — Discover The Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach, FL

Content Coordinator — Visit Philadelphia

CVB Communications Coordinator — City of Grapevine, TX

CVB Sales Consultant — City of Plano, TX

CVB Marketing Specialist — Geary County, Junction City, KS

Executive Director — Douglas County Travel & Tourism, GA

Executive Director — Visit St. Mary’s, Leonardtown, MD

Convention & Tourism Rep — Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

Tourism Director — Muskogee Tourism Authority, OK

Marketing Coordinator, Santa Monica Travel & Tourism, CA

Marketing Coordinator — Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce, NY

Sr. Media Analyst — Net Conversion, Orlando

Product Manager AND Production Coordinator — Simpleview, Tucson

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

VP Sales & Marketing — The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, CO

Sr. VP Customer Marketing — Ontrak, Inc., NYC

Director of Partner Services — Huddle Up Group, Phoenix

Program Development Manager — Panorama Travel Solutions (a Wyndham Destinations Company), NYC

Chief Experience Officer — Brightline Trains, Miami

Sr. Communication & Marketing Rep, Aviation — Port of Oakland, CA

Director of Tourism — Six Flags, Valencia, CA

Director Sales & Marketing — Legends (Illuminarium Experience), Atlanta

Marketing Manager — Legends (Sky View Observatory), Seattle

Digital Marketing Manager — SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, Los Angeles

Vice President, Marketing Social Media — Audible, Newark, NJ

Content Marketing Manager — Cuvée, Denver

Marketing Automation Manager, Corporate — Hornblower Cruises, NYC

Director of Marketing — TurnKey Vacation Rentals, Angel Fire, NM

Copywriter — Development Counsellors International, NYC

Director, LATAM Field Marketing — Twilio, Remote USA

Content Business Development Manager — Twitter, San Francisco

Digital Marketing Lead, Partnerships — Facebook, San Francisco

NYC-based Peloton plans to add 1,600 employees across member support, sales, people, field operations, and other corporate functions, from business leaders to managers in Plano, TX, quadrupling its footprint at that location.