People on the Move
Tom Norwalk has announced his retirement from his current position as President & CEO of Visit Seattle. He will continue in his role through March 31, 2022 and the search for his successor will begin in early in the new year. Norwalk, who joined the DMO in 2005, served as a longtime board member of U.S. Travel Association.
Choose Chicago has welcomed Eric Kincaid as Senior Director of Convention Sales based in Washington, D.C. He joins from Destination DC where he worked for nearly seven years, most recently as National Account Director of Citywide Sales, and is a Marriott alum as well.
Also at Visit Seattle, Kelly Hatfield has been appointed PR Manager, joining from Laura Davidson Public Relations where she was West Coast Manager. During her eight years at LDPR, Travel Portland (OR) was among Kelly’s clients.
David Gonzalez has been promoted to fill a newly created role as Vice President of Media Relations and Communications at Visit San Antonio. He joined the DMO in January 2017.
Discover Long Island (NY) has made three new appointments to lead destination marketing.
Danielle Ahmed as Director of Marketing, Marisa Losciale as Media Relations Manager, and Chris Belletti as Partner and Visitor Relations Coordinator.
In North Carolina, Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has expanded its staff with three new appointments.
Isaiah Griffin joins as Sales Coordinator, Joie Schubert joins as Visitor Information Counselor, and
Jennifer Betshlimon joins as Administrative Assistant.
As part of their “ONE TEAM” joint initiative to create a well-aligned team as meeting business returns, Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau and Rhode Island Convention Center, announce several returning and new hires. (Above, l. to r.) Elizabeth Buckley is Business Development Manager in a newly created role; Joanna Arrighie is Senior Sales Manager joining from the Providence Downtown Marriott; Veronica Van Jura is Senior Marketing Manager for the convention center, joining from a center in Worcester, MA; Donna Wing is the Catering Sales Manager with previous roles at Twin River Casino and Foxwoods Resort Casino.
Karina Parada is the new Creative Content Manager for Meet Chicago Northwest. Her background includes news and sports photographer, multimedia and on-camera reporter at WTVO 17/FOX 39 Eyewitness News in Rockford, Illinois.
David Samentello, a six-year veteran of Visit Rochester (NY), was recently promoted to Convention & Sports Sales Manager.
Angelica Perez has announced her new position as Manager, Special Event Sales at the San Francisco 49ers. She departs Visit Oakland where she had been Manager, Sales & Services.
Toby Morris, based in London, moves from ADARA to Epsilon as Senior Business Development Director – Travel.
Fabio Monteiro joins the team at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt in Midtown Manhattan. The attraction’s new Groups and Events Manager was formerly with City Experiences/Hornblower and Blue Man Group/Cirque du Soleil.
New Podcast Episode
Episode 13: Amir Eylon, President & CEO of Longwoods International joins The Travel Vertical Podcast to talk about the biweekly American Traveler Sentiment Survey that began at the dawn of the pandemic and continues to be a tremendous resource for the entire industry. Episode 13 goes live at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, 10/6/2021.
Are Americans ready to travel? What are they saying and thinking and does it match what they are doing? How, when and where will they go? What about business travel? What are people’s service expectations?
Subscribe today. Be a guest.
RFPs
Discover Puerto Rico has issued Requests for Proposals in which local, U.S. and international-based agencies may participate. The DMO issued RFPs for the following services:
- Digital Marketing Services & Web Development
- Traditional Media Buying Services
- Creative Services
- Public Relations
- International Services (PR & Sales Representation)
Interested agencies must obtain guidelines and requirements from www.discoverpuertorico.com/industry.
“We seek proposals that demonstrate an ability to continue elevating and amplifying Puerto Rico’s destination brand and keep the Island top-of-mind through our creative assets, digital strategy, earned media efforts and media buying. Executing an RFP process is crucial for continuing our mission, while remaining rooted in transparency.” — Leah Chandler, CMO of Discover Puerto Rico.
Submission deadline is Nov. 5, 2021. An industry task force has been developed to collaborate with Discover Puerto Rico’s executive leadership team in the selection of agency partners.
