The Travel Vertical

Weekly stories curated exclusively for digital tourism marketers

Hawaii Tourism Authority: Trouble in Paradise. Plus DMO News From Vegas, Memphis, NOLA, Tampa, and Connecticut.

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Trouble in Paradise

As reported in The Travel Vertical [June 7, 2022] Hawaii Visitor and Convention Bureau lost its multi-year, multi-million contract with Hawaii Tourism Authority for the first time in its 100-year history. Now, the bureau has filed a formal protest regarding the $100 million award going to newcomer Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.

The contract is for the bulk of Hawaii’s tourism marketing, including its mainland USA brand management as well as global support services.

A popular local website, Beat of Hawaii, reports: “Here’s the unprecedented chain of events. HVCB first received the official nod for another multi-year contract. Thereafter, the current winner, CNHA, which again appears to have no marketing or hospitality experience based on their website, contested the award. Subsequently, the State of Hawaii rescinded the award. A second RFP was created, and this time, the loser became the winner.”

There’s a lot more to it and according to this coverage, “heads are going to roll over this” and that “This will be going on for months, if not longer. Even after that, the administrative review can then be appealed in state court. It looks like time for the parties to lawyer-up.” To read more: “Hawaii to Air $100M Dirty Travel Marketing Laundry.”

Elvis: We’re All Shook Up

Presley himself got married to Priscilla in Las Vegas in 1967, cementing his association with Vegas weddings. The Las Vegas wedding industry generates $2.5 billion a year and employs thousands. Lynn Marie Goya, Clark County Clerk, who led a marketing campaign promoting Las Vegas as a wedding destination, said the order for chapels to stop using Elvis couldn’t have come at a worse time for the sector, per Travel Weekly. “We are the No. 1 wedding destination in the world. We celebrated our 5 millionth wedding earlier this year. Obviously, Elvis is part of a big portion of that draw.” One venue, Graceland Wedding Chapel, performs 6,400 Elvis-themed weddings per year.

In May, Authentic Brands Group, a company that had purchased the intellectual property associated with the rock ‘n’ roll icon in 2013, issued cease and desist letters demanding that chapels stop using Elvis’ image and likeness. The company said it will halt unauthorized use of “Presley’s name, likeness, voice image, and other elements of Elvis Presley’s persona in advertisements, merchandise and otherwise.” The letter also said “Elvis,” “Elvis Presley,” “and “The King of Rock and Roll” are protected trademarks. By June, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, ABG clarified things by indicating they’d be open to partnerships rather than legal action.

Elvis: Memphis & the Movie

Summer is a time for blockbuster films. While “ELVIS” was filmed entirely in Australia, Memphis is looking for a boost. Indicating that the DMO never stopped promoting the destination to international markets during the pandemic, Memphis Tourism CEO Kevin Kane said, “We are so excited about this ‘Elvis’ movie, we think it will be a billboard for people to want to come to Memphis and to experience Graceland for themselves.”

Now, with COVID-19 restrictions loosened both locally and internationally for visitors,  Kane believes the city is in a prime position to reap the rewards of its work during the pandemic.

“I couldn’t be more excited to see that Baz Luhrmann’s latest film, “ELVIS,” with stars Austin Butler and Tom Hanks, is officially out! At the Memphis movie premiere, I had a chance to catch a sneak peek of the film, and I can say that you will not be disappointed. Luhrmann does a great job recreating all the historic places throughout Memphis that attracts visitors from around the world, including Elvis’ home Graceland, The Beauty Shop Restaurant, Beale Street, Sun Studio, The Arcade, and so many around. See the film today and then come to Tennessee to live the legacy!” — Mark Ezell, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

Tourism University in NOLA

New Orleans & Company has reinstated its Tourism University educational series after having to skip it for three years. Members are invited to hear from the team: Kim Priez, SVP of Tourism Sales; Mark Romig, CMO; Jeremy Cooker, VP of Marketing; and Fran McManus, Travel Media Manager with Miles Partnership. They share information on opportunities that include the DMO’s COOLinary New Orleans restaurant program, Holidays New Orleans Style, and advertising on NewOrleans.com, in publications and consumer newsletters.

“Our restaurants, hotels, music clubs and venues, and attractions help make New Orleans the Culture Capital of the South,” said Mark Romig. “Tourism University is a great opportunity for our organization to meet face-to-face with members and share with them the ways in which New Orleans & Company showcases the value our members bring to the hospitality industry.” 

Travel Agent Academy by Visit Tampa Bay

Visit Tampa Bay has expanded its popular Travel Agent Academy with the addition of Spanish and German language options. The updated program also includes multicultural tourism, LGBTQ+ and accessibility travel modules.

With each training module, specialists explore and learn about the destination’s unique experiences, world-class attractions, arts & culture, highly rated restaurants, luxury hotel developments, and more. Since launching in 2020, the program has enrolled over 3,800 travel agents and tour operators with an average conversion rate of enrollment to completion over 50% each month. Graduates of the Travel Agent Academy receive certification and are eligible to continue to earn additional education credits.

“Since the start of the year, we’ve welcomed our international travelers back in great numbers,” says President & CEO of Visit Tampa Bay, Santiago C. Corrada. “The expansion of the Travel Agent Academy allows us to continue to teach more agents how to promote Tampa Bay as Florida’s leading destination to reach larger groups of visitors.”

Connecticut: Find Your Vibe

Connecticut Office of Tourism is the first state to partner with the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA). “Every person has the right to be themselves, free of discrimination, fear, and prejudice, and we’re committed to sharing those values with all who live, work, and play in Connecticut,” said Gov. Ned Lamont. Connecticut Office of Tourism Director Noelle P. Stevenson said, “The LGBTQ+ community has always been an integral part of Connecticut’s fiber and the state’s tourism industry, and we’re putting that message front and center all year round in everything we do.”

The state recently launched a multi-million-dollar campaign titled “Find Your Vibe” to highlight Connecticut’s vibrant culture, featuring inclusive imagery and content on the website, plus a permanent LGBTQ+ section.

Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau Loses Multi-Million Dollar U.S. Contract to a Local Nonprofit

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Hawaii makes a big change in tourism marketing
The Hawaii Tourism Authority has awarded the contract to market the state to U.S. visitors to the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, replacing the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau.

Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) announced on June 2 that it has awarded its multi-million dollar US market contract to the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), which will provide branding and visitor education in Hawaii and on the mainland.

The contract did not go to the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB), which has held the US market contract for many years.

In December, the state rescinded the initial offer made to the company that won the contract, and HTA issued a new Request for Proposals in April. Both RFPs were shared in The Travel Vertical.

In addition to the in-market activities conducted in the previous contract, the RFP included coordination, communication, and promotion for initiatives for initiatives produced by the community through the Destination Management Action Plans. It also included support services for the website, app, social media channels, and creative content used for worldwide branding and educational purposes. This new contract will run from June 30, 2022 through the end of December 2024, with the option of extending for two years.

According to the RFP, the contract is worth no more than $16.3 million dollars for July through December of 2022, and no more than $18.8 million for next year. No dollar amount was listed in the RFP for 2024.

“The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) is humbled that the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) entrusted us as the entity to deliver the change that Hawaii has long demanded of our visitor industry, ” said Joe Kuhio Lewis, president and CEO of CNHA, in a statement released last week. “We understand there remains a process in place, and we will follow HTA’s lead in the days ahead to preserve the integrity of that process.”

CNHA is a member-based non-profit organization whose mission is “to enhance the cultural, economic, political, and community development of Native Hawaiians,” according to its website.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Strategic Plan 2020-2025 may be found here.

Busy People, Splashy Jobs, and RFPs

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B U S Y

P E O P L E

Nevada Division of Tourism (Travel Nevada), has selected Keelie Cox, MBA, as Marketing Manager. She spent five years in marketing with the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority prior to joining Travel Nevada.

Two promotions at San Francisco Travel Association are effective May 16: Lynn Bruni-Perkins, CDME, Senior Vice President Global Marketing becomes Interim CMO.

Dan Rosenbaum, Director Global Digital Marketing, becomes Senior Director Global Marketing.

Howard Pickett, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, will be retiring next month.

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau has appointed two new managers to join the Marketing & Tourism division:

Tammara Walker, Advertising Marketing Manager and Anthony Guivas, Social Media Manager.

Stasha Irby has started a new position as Sales Director at Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau. She had most recently been Destination Services Manager at the DMO, which she joined in 2021 following executive sales roles with Sonesta.

Danielle Rossetto is now Destination Sales Director at Destination Coronado in San Diego, California. Her hotel sales background includes 20+ years with Hyatt, Marriott, Wyndham, Ritz-Carlton, Camino Real and Leading Hotels of the World.

Destination Cleveland welcomes Lauren Federico, CMP, as Senior Director of Convention Services. She joins from the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland following eight years’ service and also worked for the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and The World Bank in Washington D.C. 

Caitlyn Best joins Experience Kissimmee as Business Operations Coordinator. She has spent nearly 10 years in guest services at The Walt Disney Company and was also a Tourism Account Executive with the Orlando Magic NBA Team.

Nichole Long has started a new position as Marketing and Tourism Coordinator at Burlington, WA Chamber of Commerce.

Melody Varner has joined Randolph County Tourism Development Authority. She comes to the Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau with a BA in Sustainable Tourism & Hospitality from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Ana Liberty is Director of National Accounts at Visit Spokane. She had previously been in a similar national role for seven years at Travel Portland.

Ray Hoyt has taken up a national position as Executive Director at USA BMX Foundation based at the Tulsa HQ and Hall of Fame. He had been President, Tulsa Regional Tourism for 11.5 years through February 2022.

Maya Hua has started in a new position as Manager, Partner Engagement at Brand USA. She joins from Mall of America where she had been Senior Tourism Manager since 2017, and previously was with Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board.

Cynthia Zhu was promoted to Project Manager, Member Engagement at U.S. Travel Association. An experienced meetings and events manager, she joined the organization in 2021.

Jeremy Fairley is Senior Account Executive Tourism – Customer Success at Adara. He joined from Spark last month and had previously been with Bandwango, Threshold 360, DMAI and Tampa Bay & Company.



Nothing fishy about this: Caitlin Bussey joins the Destination Optimization Program team at Miles Partnership as Program Specialist. Her DMO background includes Communications Manager at St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission in Louisiana.

Also at Miles Partnership, Olivia Burke has joined as Account Manager. She joins from Melon Local, a Google Premier Partner in Las Vegas.

Greg Rosenhan has been promoted from Senior Product Designer to Director of Product at Bandwango.

Also at Bandwango, Nicole Cox is the new Client Operations Specialist. She’s a graduate of Loyola University Chicago.

Sarah Roos-Essl is Director of Content & Brand Strategy at TourRadar.com. Now based in Vienna, Austria, she had been San-Francisco based in senior travel-related roles at Travelzoo, Facebook, and Twitter.

More people news:

DJ Doran, friend and supporter of Connect THRIVE Summit and owner of Aequalitas Media, a media company with an LGBTQ+ focus, has announced he is running for mayor of Chicago.

Glenn Jergensen has retired as Executive Director, Tourist Development Council Palm Beach County in Florida following nine years’ service. He had previously been with Palm Beach County Convention & Visitors Bureau and served as President & CEO at Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce.

R F P s

Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) is seeking proposals from experienced Massachusetts marketing agencies in public relations, marketing strategy, social media, graphic design, and advertising support services for a marketing campaign to promote Massachusetts to tourists and travelers, as described in the attached RFQ document. Click here for details. (new) Deadline: May 20, 2022 at 5 p.m. ET.

Hawaii Tourism Authority has issued a new Request for Proposals for brand management services for the United States market, as well as support services shared by Hawaiʻi’s brand management teams worldwide. This procurement is also seeking support services for Hawaiʻi’s official travel website, app, social media channels, and creative content used worldwide for brand marketing and visitor education.

All interested applicants must register their intent to apply by April 22, and proposals are due May 17.
HTA will conduct a pre-proposal conference via Zoom on April 20 at 8 a.m. HST for interested applicants to be briefed on the procurement and to ask questions. Register for the pre-proposal conference at bit.ly/rfp22-01-hta. The new contract will run June 30, 2022 to December 31, 2024 with an additional two-year option. More information found here.

The City of Solvang, California is inviting qualified firms to submit proposals for Professional Services to provide Tourism Marketing Managed Services from full-service, experienced tourism marketing
/ public relations consultants who can provide professional guidance and oversight, implementation and analysis regarding marketing and communications programs designed to attract tourists. The current Marketing/Media Plan for the Solvang marketing tourism contract ends July 31, 2022. The upcoming budget plan is for two years, with the opportunity to extend the contract another two years. Deadline May 6, 2022, by 5:00 p.m. More details found here.

TOURISM Santa Fe is seeking a high caliber, experienced public relations agency to assist in further defining and meeting the City’s tourism promotion goals. In collaboration with TSF, the Contractor shall perform the Detailed Scope of Work (Section IV, A) to continue to build destination brand awareness, create deep connections with the venturesome traveler, and inspire increased visitation to the city of Santa Fe. The resulting contract will be a single award. This procurement will be executed for a term not to exceed four (4) years. Closing date: 5/11/2022. Bid details found here.

S P L A S H Y

J O B S

President & CEO — Visit Casper, WY (new)

President & CEO — Experience Maple Grove, MN (new DMO)

President & CEO — Visit Greenville, SC

President & CEO — Discover Santa Clara, CA

Executive Director — Muncie Visitors Bureau, IN

Executive Director — Manistee County Visitors Bureau, MI

Executive Director / Marketing Director — Taos Ski Valley Chamber of Commerce, NM 

President & CEO — Alexandria/Pineville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and Randolph Riverfront Center, LA

Executive Director / Marketing Director — Taos Ski Valley Chamber of Commerce, NM

Executive Director-Diversity — Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, PA

Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion — Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, SC

Director — South Padre Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, TX

Chief Marketing Officer — Destination Cleveland, OH (new)

Chief Tourism Development Officer — Visit Spartanburg, Inc., SC

Chief Financial Officer — Visit Cincy, OH

Executive Vice President — Visit Tucson, AZ

SVP-President — Tulsa Regional Tourism, OK

Senior Vice President of Sales — Choose Chicago

Vice President Digital & Media AND Manager International Marketing AND Senior UX Designer AND Assistant Manager Communications-International AND eMail Marketing & Personalization Coordinator — NYC & Company

Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations AND Vice President of Sales & Services — City of Virginia Beach – Convention & Visitors Bureau (new)

Vice President of Marketing — Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, IL

Vice President of Sales — Visit Albuquerque, NM

Vice President of Sales — Visit Wichita, KS

Vice President Marketing & Communications — Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau, LA

Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications AND Champion of People & Culture — Destinations International, Wash., D.C.

Senior Director of Marketing Analytics AND International Market Executive Sales — Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (new)

Director of CRM and SaaS (new) AND Senior Manager Digital Analytics AND Senior Coordinator Integrated Marketing & Social Media AND Coordinator Partner Operations — Brand USA

Director of Communications — Colorado Tourism Office (new)

Director of Communications — Santa Monica Travel & Tourism, CA (new)

Director of Public Relations AND Public Relations Manager — Explore Asheville, NC

Senior Director of Marketing Analytics AND International Market Executive AND Senior Graphic & Motion Designer — Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, NV

Marketing & Sales Director AND Inclusivity Consultant AND Operations Assistant — Visit Durango, CO

Business Analyst AND Data Analyst — Visit Grand Junction, CO

Marketing Manager AND Partnerships Development Manager — Visit Pittsburgh, PA (new)

Marketing Manager Sales AND Tourism Sales & Services Manager AND Location Coordinator AND Visitor Information Specialist — Visit Dallas, TX

National Account Manager (DC-based) AND Marketing Coordinator AND Convention Services Coordinator — Visit KC, MO (new)

National Accounts Manager-Midwest/West — Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, PA

National Account Executive-Chicago AND Digital Marketing Content Associate — Meet Minneapolis, MN

Director Citywide Accounts East Region + International AND Director, Citywide Accounts DC/VA/MD — San Francisco Travel Association, CA

Director of Sales — Visit SLO CAL, San Luis Obispo, CA

National Sales Manager — Visit Mobile, AL

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

Senior Research Manager — Arizona Office of Tourism

Senior Manager Research — Destination DC, Wash., D.C.

Senior Product Development Manager — Houston First, TX

Senior Manager Destination Services — Discover The Palm Beaches, FL

Manager Social Media AND Manager Global Tourism Development AND Manager European Communications AND Director Talent Acquisition — Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, CA

Content Manager AND Social Media Manager AND Communications Manager AND Brand Marketing Manager — Visit Napa Valley, CA

Marketing & Communications Manager — Visit Fresno, CA

Destination Publicist — Newport Beach & Company, CA

Brand Marketing Manager-Partnerships AND Content Manager AND Manager of International Marketing AND IT Solution Architect — Visit California

Senior Manager Social Media AND Regional Partnership Manager (Central East Florida Region) AND Information Specialist AND Accountant — Visit Florida

Manager of Technology & Office Operations — Visit Baltimore, MD

Tourism Director — City of Carthage, MO (new)

Web & Digital Marketing Manager AND Marketing Communications Manager AND IT Manager AND Graphic Design Coordinator AND Manager Visitors Center at Boston Common — Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, MA

Senior Public Relations Manager — Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, NC

Public Relations & Communications Manager — Destination Madison, WI 

Marketing Specialist — Visit Indy, IN

Senior B2B Marketing Manager — Rhode Island Commerce (new)

Content Editor — Travel Oregon

Destination Publicist — Newport Beach & Company, CA

Communication Specialist — Travel Wisconsin (new)

Visual Content Creator — Indiana Destination Development Corporation

Marketing Coordinator-Writer — Maryland Department of Commerce

Senior Manager Destination Services — Discover The Palm Beaches, FL

Business Development Director — SportsPITTSBURGH, PA 

Digital Marketing Specialist — Visit Detroit, MI (new)

Digital Marketing & Content Manager AND Communications & Partnership Manager — Explore Brighton Howell Area, MI

Sales Manager — Traverse City Tourism, MI

Executive Meetings Manager — Visit Denver, CO (new)

Executive Meeting Manager — Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, FL

Senior Coordinator Sales & Marketing Operations — Visit Seattle, WA

Special Projects Coordinator — Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau, VA

City Center Business Improvement District Manager — Downtown San Diego Partnership, CA 

Economic Development Specialist — County of Rockland, NY

Business Development Manager — City of Elmhurst, IL

Economic Development Manager — City of Waco, TX

Regional Business Development Specialist — Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, Sacramento, CA 

Economic Development Manager — Port of Portland, OR

General Manager — Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA

Director Sales & Marketing — Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, TX

Vice President Global Sales — ConferenceDirect, remote

Social Media Coordinator AND Account Coordinator — MMGY Global, Los Angeles, CA

PR Account Supervisor AND PR Senior Account Executive AND PR Account Executive AND PR Account Coordinator (New York) AND PR Account Executive (Los Angeles) — MMGY NJF

Content Manager (x3) AND Content Coordinator AND Interactive Producer AND Senior Art Director AND Web Developer AND Web QA Specialist AND IT Specialist AND Accessibility Program Director AND Accessibility Specialist AND Media Planner — Miles Partnership, various locations or remote

Tourism PR Director AND PR Content Specialist AND Digital Marketing Manager AND Digital Marketer AND Account Coordinator AND Media Coordinator AND Podcast Editor AND Senior UI Designer — Relic Agency, Provo, UT

Senior Tourism Analyst — Rove, Canada or remote

Travel Trade Marketing Manager — Development Counsellors International, NYC

Content Director — Paradise Advertising & Marketing, Inc., remote

Economist-Travel Economics — Oxford Economics, Wayne, PA

Digital Marketing Manager — PCMA, Chicago

Destination Manager — Expedia Activities, Seattle

Chief of Staff (in NYC) AND Director of Marketing AND Marketing Strategist AND Chief People Officer AND Head of Communications AND Head of Marketplace (remote) and more roles — Peek

Manager of Visitor Experience Solutions AND Junior Account Executive — True Omni, remote

Airport Communications Officer, Content Manager — San Francisco International Airport (new)

Senior Manager-Strategic Ticket Sales & Tourism — New York Yankees

Senior Account Executive AND Account Executive — Hawkins International, a FINN Partners Company, NYC metro

Junior Data Scientist, Marketing Analytics & Campaign Execution — Holland America Line, Miami or remote

Digital Marketing Manager — Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, PA

People & Jobs | Four RFPs & a New Podcast

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The faces of Visit Austin in people news: Dana Perez is the new Sales Coordinator; Kelly Thomas has been promoted to Director of Midwest Sales; Jasmine Black has been promoted to Sales Manager.

Six people updates from Visit Franklin, TN. Joining the staff are (top row, l to r) Felecia West as Director of Visitor Experience & Retail, Katie Murdock as Marketing Manager, and Deborah Corey as Administrative Assistant.

Also (bottom row, l to r) Stacey Garcia has been promoted to Senior Director of Finance & Administration, Heather Doleshel was elevated to Stakeholder Engagement Manager, and Jenna Townsend is now a Sales & Service Manager. 

Joey Jewell is now Executive Director of the new Visit Corpus Christi Sports Commission. He joins from his previous role as Senior Director of Oregon’s Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission, where he spent the past 6.5 years.

Amelia Ritter joins Visit Detroit as Content Creator. She departs Explore Brighton Howell Area as Director of Marketing, where she previously served as Digital Marketing and Content Manager since 2018.

Cheryl Shallanberger has joined Tripadvisor as Senior Account Executive-Media/DMO. She had been Vice President Sales & Marketing at Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau in Southern California for more than eight years, prior to which she was Marketing Manager at Downtown Santa Monica, Inc, and Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Carolina Viazcan has been appointed Vice President of Sales for Visit Greater Palm Springs. She joins from the sales team at Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa.

Adam Stewart is starting a new position as Communications & Travel Trade Manager at Yakima Valley Tourism in Washington State. He had previously been Visitor Services and Social Media Specialist at Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority.

Lily Leiva departs as Director, Digital Innovation & Strategy at Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau after 9.5 years with the DMO. She is joining MMGY Global as VP, Group Account Director. (correction)

Rachel McCue, Creative Services Manager at Visit Richmond since 2017, has departed for a new communications role outside the travel industry.

Gerald Taylor was #opentowork. He’s taken up a new position with Richmond Region Tourism as the Sports Sales and Event Manager. His background in sports management, tournament, and event marketing also includes basketball, NASCAR, Big 12 Conference and college baseball player.

Mandi (Hefflinger) Stefanak has been promoted to Account Manager at Myriad International Marketing.

Mary Eggert will be joining Break the Ice Media in upstate New York as Digital Marketing Coordinator upon her university graduation next month.

Charles Beirne is the new General Manager of the Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. He previously served as GM of the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center in California and the Atlantic City Convention Center in New Jersey.

Hilton President & CEO Christopher J. Nassetta has been named as the national chair of U.S. Travel Association, effective February 2023. The announcement was made early in consideration of the upcoming change in staff leadership at the association when President & CEO Roger Dow retires. Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line, continues as the current chair.

R F P s

Hawaii Tourism Authority has issued a new Request for Proposals for brand management services for the United States market, as well as support services shared by Hawaiʻi’s brand management teams worldwide. This procurement is also seeking support services for Hawaiʻi’s official travel website, app, social media channels, and creative content used worldwide for brand marketing and visitor education.

All interested applicants must register their intent to apply by April 22, and proposals are due May 17.
HTA will conduct a pre-proposal conference via Zoom on April 20 at 8 a.m. HST for interested applicants to be briefed on the procurement and to ask questions. Register for the pre-proposal conference at bit.ly/rfp22-01-hta. The new contract will run June 30, 2022 to December 31, 2024 with an additional two-year option. More information found here.

VISIT FLORIDA is accepting proposals from a qualified vendor to conduct a Segmentation Study of Florida’s domestic visitors.

Responses/Proposals must be submitted online to be considered. Questions are due April 20, 2022 at 5 p.m. Responses to questions will be posted on April 21, 2022 at 5 p.m. Response Deadline: April 25, 2022 at 5 p.m. Read more here.

The City of Solvang, California is inviting qualified firms to submit proposals for Professional Services to provide Tourism Marketing Managed Services from full-service, experienced tourism marketing
/ public relations consultants who can provide professional guidance and oversight, implementation and analysis regarding marketing and communications programs designed to attract tourists. The current Marketing/Media Plan for the Solvang marketing tourism contract ends July 31, 2022. The upcoming budget plan is for two years, with the opportunity to extend the contract another two years. Deadline May 6, 2022, by 5:00 p.m. More details found here.

TOURISM Santa Fe is seeking a high caliber, experienced public relations agency to assist in further defining and meeting the City’s tourism promotion goals. In collaboration with TSF, the Contractor shall perform the Detailed Scope of Work (Section IV, A) to continue to build destination brand awareness, create deep connections with the venturesome traveler, and inspire increased visitation to the city of Santa Fe. The resulting contract will be a single award. This procurement will be executed for a term not to exceed four (4) years. Closing date: 5/11/2022. Bid details found here.

P O D C A S T

Tom Loftus, Vice President of Marketing at Richmond Regional Tourism, is our guest on The Travel Vertical Podcast. From 7 a.m. on Wed., 4/20, listen to Episode #27: Why The Big Pitch could have been called The Big Win. What’s it all about and how did the entire staff at Visit Richmond VA get involved in this cool marketing initiative?

J O B S

Chief Executive Officer — Discover Santa Clara, CA (new)

President & CEO — Visit Greenville, SC

President & CEO — Visit Baton Rouge, LA

Executive Director — Muncie Visitors Bureau, IN

Executive Director / Marketing Director — Taos Ski Valley Chamber of Commerce, NM (new)

President & CEO — Alexandria/Pineville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and Randolph Riverfront Center, LA

Chief Marketing Officer — Destination Cleveland, OH (new)

Director — South Padre Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, TX

Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications AND Champion of People and Culture  — Destinations International, Wash., DC

Senior Vice President — Tulsa Regional Tourism, OK

Vice President Digital & Media (new) AND Manager International Marketing AND Technical Project Manager AND Creative Operations Project Manager AND Senior UX Designer AND Coordinator Trade Shows and Events — NYC & Company

Executive Director Diversity AND National Accounts Manager-West/Midwest AND Content Manager AND Global Tourism Coordinator — Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, PA

Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion — Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, SC

Chief Sales Officer — Explore St. Louis, MO

Chief Financial Officer — Visit Cincy, OH

Chief Tourism Development Officer — OneSpartanburg, Inc., SC

Executive Vice President — Visit Tucson, AZ

Vice President of Marketing Communications — Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau, LA

Vice President Convention Sales AND Director Convention Sales — Choose Chicago, IL 

Vice President of Sales — Visit Albuquerque, NM

Vice President of Sales — Visit Austin, TX

Vice President of Sales AND Executive Meeting Manager — Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, FL

Vice President of Sales — Visit Wichita, KS

Senior Director of Marketing Analytics AND Senior Graphic & Motion Designer — Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, NV

Director of Sales — Visit SLO CAL, San Luis Obispo, CA

Marketing & Sales Director — Visit Durango, CO

Business Analyst AND Data Analyst — Visit Grand Junction, CO

National Account Executive-Chicago — Meet Minneapolis, MN

Executive Meetings Manager-West/Midwest AND Graphic Designer — Destination DC, Wash., DC

Marketing Manager Sales AND Sales Coordinator AND Tourism Sales and Services Manager AND Location Coordinator AND Visitor Information Specialist — Visit Dallas, TX

National Sales Manager — Visit Mobile, AL

Sales Manager — Traverse City Tourism, MI

National Sales Manager (SMERF) AND National Sales Manager (Corporate, Association, Incentive) AND Social Media Marketing Manager — Visit Greenville, SC

Sales Director Sports — Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, AK

National Sales Director (Northern CA, Oregon & Washington State) — Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, CA

Director Citywide Accounts East Region + International — San Francisco Travel Association, CA

Director of Group Sales — Visit Vancouver, WA (new)

Senior Research Manager AND Marketing Coordinator — Arizona Office of Tourism (new)

Director of Strategic Research and Analysis — Travel Portland, OR

Senior Product Development Officer — Houston First, TX

Manager Technology & Office Operations — Visit Baltimore, MD

Brand Marketing Manager-Partnerships AND Director of Engagement AND Manager of International Marketing — Visit California

Marketing Manager — Colorado Tourism Office, Office of Economic Development and International Trade

Senior Manager Social Media AND Regional Partnership Manager (Central East Florida Region) — Visit Florida

Manager Social Media AND Manager Global Tourism Development AND Manager European Communications AND Director Talent Acquisition — Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, CA

Content Manager AND Social Media Manager AND Communications Manager AND Brand Marketing Manager — Visit Napa Valley, CA

Marketing & Communications Manager — Visit Fresno, CA

Destination Publicist — Newport Beach & Company, CA

PR Manager AND Travel Specialist — Santa Monica Travel & Tourism, CA

Marketing Business Development Specialist — Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, FL

Public Relations & Communications Manager — Destination Madison, WI (new)

Director of CRM and SaaS (new) AND Senior Manager Digital Analytics AND Senior Coordinator Integrated Marketing & Social Media AND Coordinator Partner Operations — Brand USA

Director of PR AND Public Relations Manager — Explore Asheville, NC (new)

Senior Public Relations Manager — Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, NC (new)

Marketing Communications Manager AND Web & Digital Marketing Manager AND IT Manager AND Graphic Design Coordinator AND Manager Operations & Retail-Visitors Center at Boston Common — Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, MA

Digital Marketing Content Associate — Meet Minneapolis, MN

Visual Content Creator — Indiana Destination Development Corporation

Marketing Coordinator-Writer — Maryland Department of Commerce

Senior Manager Destination Services — Discover The Palm Beaches, FL

Business Development Director — SportsPITTSBURGH, PA (new)

Marketing Specialist — Visit Indy, IN (new)

Sales & Services Coordinator AND Senior Coordinator Sales & Marketing Operations — Visit Seattle, WA

Marketing & Events Manager — Visit Walnut Creek, CA (new)

Destination Publicist — Newport Beach & Company, California (new)

Group Sales & Marketing Specialist — City of Golden, CO

Financial Coordinator — Explore Lincoln City, OR

Manager of Tech & Office Operations — Visit Baltimore, MD

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Fish That Can Walk & the Tiny Frog That Won | National Parks, Alabama’s Freshwater Coast, Hawaii, Puerto Rico

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Destination Inspiration

https://youtu.be/KcI_xfryMD0

“A fish that can walk. Surfing hippos that want to catch the waves. Species found nowhere else on earth.” Barack Obama has a new job. He narrates a new five-part docuseries that uncovers the world: “Our Great National Parks,” beginning April 13 on Netflix.

In the USA? Monterey Bay merits an appearance.

Know a fourth-grader? Obama’s initiative to grant all fourth-graders free admission to U.S. National Parks remains active.

Lake Martin, Alabama has some swish fish. The tourism association has tagged and released 200 fish so folks get a chance to win cash, boats, a truck or maybe the grand prize of a million dollars. Huh?

“How To Catch The Million Dollar Bass That Is Swimming in Lake Martin” is all about people engaging with the brand and visiting the lake. (Frankly, plenty of people would do that for a fraction of $1,000,000.)

The tournament entry fee goes toward funding community high school fishing teams. Let the fishing begin.

By any account, David Beckham is another big fish. The former England soccer captain and Manchester United star has 72 million followers on Instagram. He put his social media reach to work last week when by handing over control of his account to a Ukrainian doctor working at a maternity hospital in the city of Kharkiv under dire conditions so she could get the message out. Good use of an Instagram takeover from an influencer instead of by an influencer.


Did you know? It’s been six years since algorithm-curated feeds were introduced, and now Instagram users will once again be able to view their feeds in chronological order. How it works: Users can choose between Favorites and Following, to either show the latest posts from a specific list of accounts or show posts from those they follow. Note: the algorithm-based feed remains the default.

Another big fish. Hawaii Tourism Authority is shopping for a partner to help in the pivot from destination marketing to destination management. The five-year contract is worth $100 million. Read more: Hawaii Senate Bill 1065.

The votes are in and the tiny frog from Puerto Rico won! Readers may recall the contest around endangered species, one of which would earn a portrait painted onto the tail of a Frontier Airlines jet. (The Travel Vertical, 2/8/2022)

Now consumers have the opportunity to help choose a name for the tiny coquí. Choices include ‘Rios,’ ‘Atabey,’ and ‘Bori.’ Visit Frontier Airlines on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter between now and April 4 to vote.

The one-inch Puerto Rican coquí, a small frog native to Puerto Rico, heartfully named after the sound it makes, has also been announced as the winner of Frontier’s Tropical Tails contest. As a result, it will be featured on the tail of one of their aircraft to highlight the need for conservation.

Aguadilla, P.R. (courtesy Discover Puerto Rico)

Frontier Airlines has just launched a new route between Orlando International Airport and Rafael Hernandez International Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The service will operate three to four times weekly and is the airline’s thirteenth route to Puerto Rico from destinations in the U.S. and Caribbean.

Discover Puerto Rico has partnered with Conservación ConCiencia, a Puerto Rico-based organization dedicated to environmental research and conservation that promotes sustainable development. Why not “adopt” a coquí? The $25 adoption is symbolic and commemorates support of conservation, sustainability and climate resilience efforts in Puerto Rico. Adopt a coquí here.

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Laurie Jo Miller Farr, Editor
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