Brand USA is Back & More than Fully Funded
Its aim is to tell the U.S. story better than any other marketer does it.
Flush with $250 million to help it recoup and recover in its marketing and promotion of the Visit USA travel product, the board of directors of Brand USA recently held its Q4 meeting in Puerto Rico, which turned out to be a nice, polite way of signifying to other national destinations that the United States was prepared to compete for international travelers and dollars in just about every imaginable way. But first:
“All together shout it now
There’s no one
Who can doubt it now
So let’s tell the world about it now”
—Happy days are here again.
Music by Milton Ager; lyrics by Jack Yellen
As it turned out, the board’s meeting was the longest session it’s had in the memory of most who were there. And as do occasions and agendas like this one, it seemed to have a theme, a signature, that was easy enough to conjure up, given the talent pool of the organization’s 11 members. Television, as well as all of its kindred media modes, and U.S. destinations of all sizes and locales and with their uniquely American sound and signature, comprise an inexhaustible inventory for storytelling. And tell the country’s stories they will.
Brand USA is very serious about this. Serious enough that, following a presentation on the subject of finding a way to valuate storytelling media, Tom Garzilli, Brand USA’s chief marketing officer, underscored its importance in his own words. “It’s not just important to us. So many of our stakeholders are now doing so much more on this,” he said. “What’s interesting is that there is no standardized valuation method to measure the value of a consumer choosing to watch a minute, five-minutes, twenty minutes, of what is really advertising in the form of story-telling. We are able to measure for example, the value of the film because we were able to talk to consumers coming and coming out … but it’s really hard to do via (current) methods.”
Garzilli pointed out that Brand USA is already working with partners to address this issue. Participants in the initiative include such entities as Odyssey, a production company, Tourism Economics, Destination Analysts and various DMOs. Explained Garzilli, “Working with those partners … we are looking at and trying to come up with a common valuation that we can attach to telling the stories of our story-telling.” Briefly, here’s the situation as it stands.
● Toward a standard for valuating the stories—the challenge: No standardized valuation method exists to measure the impact and value for branded entertainment content on digital streaming and connected TV programs. Thus, understanding “the value of a minute watched” is difficult, imprecise and ambiguous at best.
● The solution: Odyssey has established, and is leading, a working group of major tourism industry DMO partners, research organizations and media partners to established a standardized measurement approach. The approach seeks to publish and continually refine an advertising equivalent value using public data sources to measure content watched against cost averages for similar types of video advertising.
● Next Steps: With a baseline model established, the working group is meeting to publish an initial standard by early Fall 2022.
Those wanting to get involved and work with Garzilli on this project are invited to contact him and join the effort.
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About that $250 million for Brand USA: The global pandemic we’ve experienced (and still are experiencing) was certainly not an afterthought on any travel and tourism industry itinerary. Pushed beyond the limit of what was supposed to be a budget funded equally ($100 million in ESTA collected funds, matched by an another $100 million in matching industry contributions), Brand USA was ravaged by the pandemic, and had to scrambled merely to survive.
Mercifully, furious-but-effective lobbying by the U.S. Travel Association and its tourism sector associates and organizations was able to convince Congress to appropriate funds to help it stay alive. The $250 million is to be spread over three fiscal years (‘22, ‘23 and ’24)—the largest portion is going to be allocated by Brand USA in the upcoming FY 2023.
Board members used the occasion of their Puerto Rico meeting to approve the FY 2023 budget and give a required 60-day notice to the appropriate federal agencies to continue its operations.
Here’s the budget document, with the millions required and ready to tell all those stories about the USA.
Indeed, happy days are here again.
Slow and Weak, Brazil’s Recovery Still on
First, a snapshot of its overall picture:
—The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) tells us that, after a strong recovery by 5 percent in 2021, Brazil’s GDP growth is expected to slow significantly in 2022, to 0.6 percent, before picking up to 1.2 percent in 2023. Rising inflation, the war in Ukraine, and tighter financial conditions have eroded economic sentiment and purchasing power, which is expected to strongly dent domestic demand in the first half of 2022.
—As previously noted by INBOUND, Brazil’s 2022 presidential election is adding uncertainty, helping to keep investment subdued until 2023. During such times, a nation’s people who have the capacity and means to travel internationally are hesitant.
—And then, there is the matter of the largest quadrennial sporting event in the world—futbol’s World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Qatar from November 21 to December 18, 2022. It is expected to put a damper on international travel by anyone—unless you’re one of the fortunate few who has tickets and is making the trip to Qatar to watch the matches in person.
The table below shows us what an economy that has gone through two economic recessions, a fair degree of political turbulence and a global pandemic looks like. In spite of all it has experienced in recent years, Brazil and its people—including its population of international travelers—remain competitive on the marketplace.
A case in point is that, using NTTO data through the first six months of this year, Brazil ranks Number 5 as a source market for overseas visitors to the United States. Chances are that, once the summer travel season (it’s winter in Brazil) is over, the country could very well have sent enough visitors to approach the million-visitor mark for the year.
Overseas Arrivals to USA
From Brazil
2010-2022
| Year | Number of Arrivals (millions) |
| 2010 | 1.198 |
| 2011 | 1.519 |
| 2012 | 1.733 |
| 2013 | 2.108 |
| 2014 | 2.274 |
| 2015 | 2.228 |
| 2016 | 1.725 |
| 2017 | 1.912 |
| 2018 | 2.209 |
| 2019 | 2.104 |
| 2020 | 0.537 |
| 2021 | 0.239 |
| 2022* | 0.517 |
* Through June 2022
Population in 2010: 195.7
Population in Jun3 2022: 214.8
Change in population: + 9.8 percent
Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Travel & Tourism Office, tradingeconomics.com; Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBOE).
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Yes we can! In the latest Brazilian Overview Monthly Report (BOM Report)—a joint effort of the Brazilian publishing company PANROTAS and FecomercioSP, an economic research organization, José Guilherme Alcorta, CEO of PANROTAS, told readers, “As we advance in the second half of the year, we will still have many disruptions and headaches, that are impacting the tourism recovery after these months of pandemic restrictions.”
He adds, “Inflation, fuel cost, airlines tickets skyrocketing, flight delays and cancellations, especially in Europe and the US, and the devaluation of our currency against the U.S. dollar are factors that may delay even more the rebound of international travel in Brazil.”
We keep optimistic, after all we have some very great numbers and the covid restrictions are almost gone, but also alert, he says—taking note of some of some sluggish benchmark numbers that industry analysts point to:
- First, there is the Consumer Confidence Index, which retreated 2.1 percent in June and reached 103.6 points, considering the 105.9 points in the month of May. In comparison with the same month in 2021, there is a 3.5 percent decrease.
- Then, there is more inflation—according to estimates performed by FecomercioSP fuel cost, airline tickets are skyrocketing, and there are flight delays and cancellations, especially in Europe and the U.S. As well, the devaluation of its currency (the Real) against the US dollar are factors that may delay even more the rebound of international travel in Brazil.
- Tourism inflation, specifically, was 41 percent in the 12 months up to June, according to estimates performed by FecomercioSP. The index was driven by the increase in flight tickets by 122.40 percent. This item has suffered on behalf of the rise in the aviation kerosene prices. (This article, archived in the New York Times, explains the “ancient” importance of kerosene to the Brazilian economy.)
José Guilherme Alcorta closes out the latest BOM Report this way: “We keep optimistic, after all we have some very great numbers and the covid restrictions are almost gone, but also alert.
Have a great end of Summer (for those up North) or Winter (for us down here).”
You can contact José Guilherme Alcorta here: guilherme@panrotas.com.br
Click here to download the July edition of the Brazilian Overview Monthly Report
To recommend the Brazilian Overview Monthly Report to a friend or colleague, click here.
TRADE TALK & Travel Industry Buzz
● From a recent issue of FVW|TravelTalk, the respected German travel trade publication: “Where have all the workers gone? Aviation, tourism, the hotel industry, gastronomy, trade—suddenly there seems to be a shortage of staff everywhere, while three years ago unemployment was constantly increasing. Is this impression correct at all? And if so, what are the reasons?”
● International Visitors Spent $13.2 Billion in June 2022—Another Month with a Balance-of-Trade Surplus; Data recently released by the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) show that in June 2022:
—Visitors spent more than $13.2 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the United States, an increase of nearly 95 percent compared to June 2021.
—Americans spent $12.5 billion traveling abroad, yielding a balance of trade surplus of $670 million for the month. This is the eighth consecutive month during which the United States enjoyed a balance of trade surplus for travel and tourism.
—Year to date (January through June 2022), international visitors have spent more than $68.8 billion on U.S. travel and tourism-related goods and services (up nearly 105% when compared to the same period last year), injecting, on average, more than $380 million a day into the U.S. economy.
NTTO is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating international travel and tourism statistics for the U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System. For more monthly travel and tourism-related trade data dating back to 1999, please visit the International Travel Receipts and Payments Program.. Keep up-to-date on the travel and tourism industry by visiting and subscribing to TI News.
● New Tourism Segment? “Blended Travel” works its way into the tourism’s industry’s book of definitions. From the TravelMarketReport: “The times they are a-changin. Seasonal high peak destinations are no longer getting the cold shoulder during shoulder season—thanks, in part, to people working remotely.”
Travelers have traditionally sought out the shoulder and off-peak seasons to snag the best deals, says Ginger Taggart, vice president, brand management, Global Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts. “My view, informed by the trends revealed in Crowne Plaza’s new ‘The Future of Blended Travel’ whitepaper suggests that is all about to change.” She adds, “Blended travel—business and leisure travel together—provides greater flexibility and has empowered the traveler of today.” Click here for the complete article.
● From GlobalData’s Company Filing Analytics—it reveals that environment, social and governance (ESG), COVID-19 and geopolitics are the top three themes mentioned by European tourism companies so far in 2022, respectively, indicating that these are the most pressing issues that the continent’s tourism industry faces. As shown by the leading data and analytics company, ESG is the most mentioned theme totaling nearly 14,000 mentions in 2022 (as of July 28, 2022), demonstrating its importance. For the complete TravelDailyNews article on the issue, click here.
● Destination Canada’s Tourism Outlook Forecasts Recovery by 2025: In its most recent Tourism Outlook, Destination Canada—the country’s official tourism promotion agency—the organization said, “travel demand is high and domestic travel will continue to lead recovery, with US following closely behind. Our other international markets have been slower to recover; international arrivals from Destination Canada long-haul markets have only recovered to 35 percent of the equivalent September to April period in 2018/19.” While recovery is uneven among our markets, the Outlook explained, “momentum is building and we are forecasting that pleasure visitor segments will return to 2019 levels by 2025, with an upside to 2024 as our best-case scenario.”
● From Expedia Group Media Solutions: “The Top 5 Takeaways for DMOs from Destinations International’s Annual Convention 2022”
- Inclusion and diversity are top of mind for DMOs in their organizations and in their marketing efforts
- Cultural experiences are important to visitors, and good for business
- The transition from destination marketing to destination management
- Sustainability continues to rise in importance for all destinations
- Pay attention to emerging platforms, including TikTok for user generated content
For the complete commentary, by Mark Churchill, click here.
● Food as a Market in its Own Right? Top Japan chefs group to open Japanese cuisine theme park in China: (From an article published by Kyodo News) A group formed by top Japanese chefs will open a theme park in China as part of efforts to further popularize Japanese food culture in the world’s second-largest economy. The celebrity chef/company, Chefoodo said in a recent press release that it would collaborate with leading Chinese food conglomerate Bright Food (Group) Co. to bring the interactive facility to life, providing visitors with the opportunity to learn about and sample different styles of Japanese cuisine.
● According to a survey by CheapHotels.org, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, two island destinations located off the southern coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, are the most expensive places to stay in the United States this summer. The survey compared accommodation rates across all U.S. destinations during the month of August 2022. Only hotels or inns rated at least 3 stars and located close to a beach or city center were considered.
The List
- Nantucket (MA) $525
- Martha’s Vineyard (MA) $485
- Montauk (NY) $416
- Long Beach Island (NJ) $384
- Bar Harbor (ME) $383
- Saratoga Springs (NY) $372
- Avalon (CA) $371
- Huntington Beach (CA) $357
- Kennebunkport (ME) $354
- Poipu (HI) $353
For the full results of the survey, please visit:
https://www.cheaphotels.org/press/summer22.html
TheTourOperator.com Partner of the Week
Among the itineraries that draw visitors to Alabama are the U.S. Civil Rights Trail and the Music and Adventure in the Deep South Mountains of America. Now, read on.
Top Sites on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail
Major Alabama cities include Selma, Montgomery, Birmingham and Muscle Shoals. See where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. changed the world plus food and music of the south. This amazing educational adventure mixes fun with history. Embark on a journey of discovery and memories while standing where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached and marched. It’s not only a Top 10 King site tour, but a true southern USA experience. You will start in Atlanta and end in Memphis, but as visitors discover, Alabama stands at the center of southern cultural and history that changed the world.
Ideas for First Timers:
- In Montgomery go on More Than Tours, featured in the New York Times.
- In Birmingham go to 16th Street Church Sunday service for Gospel music.
- In Montgomery, eat at Cahaba House, downtown local food restaurant.
- In Montgomery tour the Alabama State Capitol Building, beautiful and free.
- In Birmingham seek out the Atomic Lounge, a hip retro 60s bar where one can borrow a costume from their closet and wear.
Ideas for Repeat Visitors:
- In Birmingham go to a show at either historic theaters, The Alabama or The Lyric.
- In Muscle Shoals area, shop at Billie Reid. This local fashion clothing designer has stores in New York, Austin, Charleston but this Florence store is his hometown headquarters location.
- Add Anniston, Alabama, to your trip for Freedom Riders site and outdoor fun.
- In Montgomery explore American Civil War history at the 1st White House of the Confederacy.
- Visit Muscle Shoals during the annual 10-day W. C. Handy Music Festival. Held in July, this annual festival is nearing its 40th year.
Music and Adventure in the Deep South Mountains of America
For this itinerary, which features Music and Adventure in the Deep South Mountains of America, major cities are Nashville, Memphis, Muscle Shoals, Birmingham and Fort Payne. Lovers of the outdoors and music of the Deep South USA will find this tour offers adventure and the sounds of the south. It begins and ends in Nashville, but you could easily add Atlanta and shift the days slightly for a circle tour from that gateway as well.
Ideas for First Timers:
- In Birmingham, go to the Saturday morning Market at Pepper Place. It’s Alabama’s largest farmers market and a way to experience the city like a local. Some 200,000 people attend yearly.
- In Muscle Shoals area, eat at Trowbridge’s, a historic ice cream parlor serving classic cones, shakes and sandwiches in downtown Florence.
- In Muscle Shoals area, go to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and make your own karaoke style recording.
- In Birmingham, be sure to see the world’s largest motorcycle collection at Barber’s Vintage Motorsports Museum
- In Birmingham, go to Vulcan Park and Museum to overlook the city and see Vulcan, the world’s largest cast iron statue weighing the 100,000 pounds.
Ideas for Repeat Visitors:
- In Muscle Shoals area, plan you trip around the 10-day W. C. Handy music festival in July in Florence, Alabama.
- In Fort Payne, go to Orbix Hot Glass to watch artist blow glass and make ornaments.
- In Birmingham, attend 16th Street Church Sunday morning service for Gospel music.
- Visit Helen Keller’s Home during June/July when outdoor play “The Miracle Worker” is performed.
- In Birmingham, see the city by using Zyp BikeShare. More than 400 bicycles available.
For more detailed itinerary suggestions, contact Alabama’s Verified Destination Contacts.
Verified Destination Contact
Graham Roderick
International Sales
ALABAMA TOURISM DEPARTMENT
Phone: 334.353.1907
Email: Graham.roderick@tourism.alabama.gov
Grey Brennan
Deputy Director
ALABAMA TOURISM DEPARTMENT
Phone: 334.242.4459
Email:Grey.brennan@tourism.alabama.gov
Rosemary Judkins
Domestic Group Sales Manager
ALABAMA TOURISM DEPARTMENT
Phone: 334.242.4493
Email: Rosemary.Judkins@Tourism.Alabama.Gov
Royalty-Free Hi-Res Photos—A Sampler from TheTourOperator.com Photo Finder
Want to see more? Then, click here for Alabama’s pages in TheTourOperator.com. For more information on how to partner with TheTourOperator.com, contact Betsy Cooper, Senior Director of TheTourOperator and Partner Engagement for Connect Travel.
bcooper@connecttravel.com
and/or 415.728.1085
What’s New and Cool
Here is this issue of INBOUND’s sample of new and/or cool attractions and experiences as they appear in the current annual issue of TheTourOperator.com.
In New Orleans, on the 33rd and 34th floors of the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans, Vue Orleans is a one-of-a-kind indoor and outdoor observation deck and exhibit featuring the only 360-degree panoramic riverfront views of New Orleans and beyond. It is a state-of-the-art cultural exhibit designed to honor, celebrate and share stories of the diverse cultures that converged to create the magic that is New Orleans. (vueneworleans.com)
Clearly Tahoe: In South Lake Tahoe, one will find unique guided tours in completely transparent kayaks, a sustainable concept designed to give back with every paddle that touches the water by monitoring the spread of invasive plants and animals. Planning and implementing trash removal also helps keep Tahoe as clear as can be. (clearlytahoe.com)
In Bellingham, Washington, visitors can plan a farm-to-table that features local produce from this corner of the state, which is home to nearly 700 farms, markets, and eating places registered with the finder. All have taken a pledge that 10 percent or more of their food purchases are local. (eatlocalfirst.org/wa-food-farm-finder)
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab & Alabama Aquarium on Dauphin Island, Alabama is a center for transformative U.S. oceanic and coastal research and education where research ranges from biogeochemistry and oceanography to ecosystem ecology. Work encompasses near-shore and estuarine processes in the northern Gulf of Mexico and globally. (www.disl.org)
Gondwana Ecotours: See the Northern Lights in winter and view grizzly bears in the summer. Expert local guides offer activities and trips that are accessible for older guests and those with low mobility, as well as active options for younger travelers. (gondwanaecotours.com)
HODGE PODGE: Appointments, Opening and Changes
Wit Tuttell, director of Visit North Carolina, has been named national State Tourism Director of the Year. Tuttell was announced as the honoree before more than 1,000 destination marketing professionals at the U.S. Travel Association’s just concluded Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) conference, held this year in Grand Rapids, Michigan. U.S. Travel’s National Council of State Tourism Directors—a body representing the official tourism offices of all states and U.S. territories—votes on the award annually ahead of ESTO.
Tuttell has 30 years of experience in the tourism industry and has been with North Carolina tourism since 2006. He previously worked for Universal Studios Florida and the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. Tuttell has also lent his expertise to U.S. Travel Association’s board of directors and has served as chair of Travel South USA’s board of directors. Candidates for State Tourism Director of the Year are nominated by state and territory tourism directors. A slate of three finalists is presented annually for selection by ballot.
Roger Dow, the outgoing president & CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, is the 2022 inductee into U.S. Travel’s Hall of Leaders. He will be the 104th travel luminary inducted into the Hall, which was established in 1969 with the goal of recognizing “sustained, noteworthy contributions that have positively impacted the travel industry.” Dow has led the organization for 17 years, announcing his retirement last year. Prior to his tenure at U.S. Travel, he worked for 34 years at Marriott International, where he led the company’s global sales and marketing functions. He notably developed the first hotel loyalty program, which would become Marriott Bonvoy and the related Marriott credit card. Dow has received many honors and accolades during his career and has served on many boards, including ASAE, GWSAE, MPI Foundation, PCMA, Tourism Diversity Matters, RE/MAX International, the Travel Institute, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, among others. Dow will be honored by the U.S. Travel board of directors at a dinner on November 14, 2022.
The Visit USA UK Association has appointed Kate Kenward as its new CEO. She brings to the position almost 30 years’ travel industry experience in association leadership, destination marketing, public relations and promotions. Before joining Visit USA UK, she worked as a board director for the African Travel & Tourism Association—serving in the last six months of this period as the organization’s managing director. Previously, she undertook the executive director role at AITO (The Specialist Travel Association) for 11 years, raising the group’s profile while leading their strategic and digital transformation.
Sabre Corporation has announced that Wade Jones, executive vice president and chief product officer of its Travel Solutions business, has departed the company. He has been succeeded by Garry Wiseman (right), who joined the company on August 1. Jones will remain with Sabre for a period of transition, before officially stepping away this fall. Wiseman brings more than 25 years of product, technology and digital leadership experience in developing and operating large-scale platforms at some of the world’s most innovative technology companies, including Dell, eBay, Microsoft, Nautilus and Salesforce.
It has been announced that Rainer Stoll, who has managed the German nature tour operator, Travel-to-Nature, for nearly three decades, will be reinforced by a second managing director, who will take over the position of CEO. In addition to his role in Travel-to-Nature, Stoll has organized and/or managed numerous tourism-related ventures over the years.
The Western National Parks Association has announced that Marie Buck has been named as its new CEO. Buck was most recently chief operating officer for the Grand Canyon Conservancy, where she successfully managed operations, organization strategies, and systems. She previously served on the board of directors for the Conservancy. As the senior director of business operations at Phoenix Raceway (NASCAR), Marie’s leadership was instrumental in the $180 million facility modernization project resulting in substantial increases in revenue and customer satisfaction. Buck has lived in Arizona most of her life and is an avid outdoorswoman. She succeeds Jim Cook who is retiring after more than 11 years.
TTC Tour Brands is expanding its UK sales team, with the appointment of two new sales managers: Freya Sutcliffe and Harry Taylor. Sutcliffe joins TTC Tour Brands from Jet2holidays, where she was national non-retail business development manager. Taylor recently joined the TTC team from JTA Travel.
TTC Tour Brands comprises sister brands Contiki, Costsaver Tours, Insight Vacations Luxury Gold, and Trafalgar. Both Sutcliffe and Taylor will report to Becky Francis.
The leading travel management company BCD Travel has appointed Michèle Lawley to the role of president, Europe. She will take over complete operational and financial responsibility for BCD’s activities in Europe, focusing on creating and capitalizing on opportunities to ensure long-term, sustainable growth in the region. A long-time travel industry veteran, Lawley brings over 35 years of industry experience to her new role. She was previously senior vice president, Europe. BCD Travel has its global headquarters in Utrecht, with regional headquarters in Atlanta, London and Singapore
Destination Toronto has announced the appointment of Paula Port as its new vice president of global marketing. With more than twenty years of experience and expertise at Destination Toronto, Port will lead the strategic development and implementation of marketing and communications for the destination. In her most recent role as director, brand & content, Port established content marketing as a core function of the organization, launching the re-imagined content hub DestinationToronto.com that prioritizes diversified content and editorial contributors; and developed a regionally-focused content and marketing strategy during the pandemic that provided urgently needed local support and direct value to the tourism and hospitality community.
Louisville Tourism has announced the appointment of Stacey Yates to the newly created position of chief marketing officer. Yates began her tenure at the destination marketing organization in 2005 as vice president of marketing and communications, heading up the agency’s branding and positioning throughout her 17-year career with the agency. Prior to joining Louisville Tourism, Yates served as the Kentucky Derby Festival’s primary spokesperson, maintaining press contact with more than 600 media representatives annually and overseeing the Festival’s public relations and promotional efforts. Also, Yates is a life-long Louisville resident
Dyninno Group of Companies, which operates products and services in travel, fintech, and entertainment technologies sectors globally, has announced the appointment of Gerard McEvoy as managing director of industry relations at the International Travel Network. McEvoy is a seasoned senior executive with over 25 years of experience within the airline industry, having held several leadership roles over the past twenty years with British Airways, both in the UK and the U.S.
Benjamin Maddy, a well-known figure in the tourism business in New York City, has joined the team at NYC’s Topview Sightseeing as director of business development and partnerships. Maddy has been part of the tourism scene for more than two decades, having served in managerial positions with such marquee brands as Madison Square Garden, Dave & Busters and Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square.
Maddy Simpson, director of NeoLux Consulting, in partnership with Mark Meredith at Rocket Travel Marketing, will now be representing Sonoma County Tourism in the UK & Ireland. Before she started NeoLux nearly two years ago, Simpson was director of public relations worldwide for Small Luxury Hotels of the World, based in the UK.
Merlin Entertainments has announced the promotion of Martin Moli to the position of trade sales manager under the North America trade team. He has been promoted from his support role as a sales support executive. His focus will be to build backup business in the Northeast, concentrating on Madame Tussauds New York and partners and clients in New York City. Originally from Nairobi, Kenya, Moli has 15 years of experience in the hospitality/travel trade world. He graduated from Ramapo College in New Jersey, majoring in sales and marketing. Prior to joining Merlin Entertainments in 2020, he worked as a contracting coordinator for the online travel agency Flight Centre.
Xplorie a Destin, Florida-based guest experience solution for lodging providers, has announced the appointed of Tom Kenyon as vice president of B2B product marketing. Before joining Xplorie at the beginning of June, Kenyon built up more than a decade of experience in product roles for a global B2B SaaS platform, where he was responsible for defining the product vision, roadmap and features. He will now focus on overseeing the B2B arm of Xplorie’s product marketing
Visit Panama City Beach is pleased to announce the appointment of industry veteran Steve Bailey as vice president of sales. A Panama City Beach native, Bailey, who is also a licensed real estate broker, previously served as director of sales & operations for The Resort Collection of Panama City Beach. In addition to Panama City Beach, Bailey brings prior hospitality experience from locations including Destin, Florida; Jackson, Mississippi; and Birmingham, Alabama.
Mobile app company Airship has announced the appointment of Tracey Ryan O’Connor as senior vice president of global sales. O’Connor will be responsible for driving Airship’s new business globally and is a member of the company’s executive leadership team. She will report directly to CEO and President Brett Caine. O’Connor has over 20 years of experience in digital marketing, e-commerce and personalization technologies for companies such as ATG, Neustar and Oracle. Most recently, O’Connor was group vice president of commerce at Coveo, an AI-based search technology SaaS company that acquired the Qubit personalization platform.
Heather Bagshaw has joined the team at Destination Niagara USA as its new vice president of marketing. She comes to the new post after serving for nearly ten years as director of tourism at Greene County, based in Catskill, New York. Previously, she had served as executive director of the Capital District (New York) YMCA. She also ran her own publishing company.
Industry Jobs
From SearchWide Global:
—The Springfield (MO) Convention & Visitors Bureau is searching for a president and CEO. More details here.
—Explore Sisters (Sisters, Oregon) is looking for an executive director. More details here.
—Experience Scottsdale has an opening for a national sales manager. More details here.
—Brand USA, the USA’s destination marketing organization, is recruiting for a senior vice president of integrated marketing. More details here.
—The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence has an opening for a new executive director. More details here.
—Explore Butte County in California is looking for an executive director. More details here.
—The City of Vacaville, California is searching for an executive director for its Downtown Vacaville. More details here.
—Visit Williamsburg has an opening for a chief marketing officer. More details here.
—Visit Walla Walla (“Where wine, culture and the beauty of the outdoors meet”) is searching for an executive director. More detailshere.
—The Fredericksburg (Texas) Convention and Visitors Bureau is recruiting for a new president and CEO. More details here.
—Visit Dallas has an opening for a director of the Film & Creative Industries Office. More details here.
—The Pacific County Tourism Bureau, which serves the Washington coast and Long Beach Peninsula and Pacific County, is looking for an executive director. More details here.
—Visit Vancouver WA is searching for a director of group sales. More details here.
—The Los Angeles Convention Center is recruiting for a new general manager. More details here.
—Visit Bath, in Virginia, is seeking a president and CEO. More details here.
—Discover Santa Clara™ is searching for a chief executive officer. More details here.
—Santa Monica Travel & Tourism has an opening for a new director of communications. More details here.
—Discover Santa Clara is looking for a new CEO. More details here.
—The Muncie Visitors Bureau is looking for an executive director. More details here.
—Visit Greenville SC is searching for a president and CEO. More details here.
—The Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau has an opening for a vice president of marketing and communications. More details here.
—Visit Wichita is searching for a new vice president of sales. More details here.
—The Cincinnati USA Convention and Visitors Bureau is seeking a new chief financial officer. More details here.
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From LinkedIn Jobs: Known to many across the board in the travel and tourism industry, the LinkedIn list (click here) has numerous job opportunities posted. Following is a sample of some of those jobs currently listed.
—The Virginia Tourism Corporation is recruiting for an international marketing manager. More details here.
—The Colorado Tourism Office has an opening for a marketing copywriter. More details here.
—Epsilon is searching for a vice president, sales (travel and tourism, remote). More details here.
—MGM Resorts International has posted a job for the position of public relations manager (hybrid) in Las Vegas. More details here.
—Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corporation is looking for a senior director, communications. Job is based in Burbank and reports to the senior vice president, marketing & communications. More details here.
—Santa Monica Travel & Tourism has an opening for a communications manager. More details here.
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Other Openings:
—There is an opening for a senior manager of social media currently available at Visit Florida. More details here.
—The Wisconsin Department of Tourism is searching for an Industry Marketing and Partner Relations Manager. The position is headquartered at the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s office in Madison, Wisconsin. More details here.
—Argonaut, a Noble House Hotel, has an opening for an area managing director in San Francisco. Click here for more details.
—Travel Wisconsin has an opening for a visual production specialist. More details here.
