Ron Erdmann, the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office’s (NTTO) deputy director for research and analysis, has announced his retirement, effective at the end of December. Erdmann, known by virtually anyone who has prepared a table of numbers on inbound travel to the United States, is leaving NTTO after 30 years of service as a federal employee. He is known universally as a professional truly dedicated to his duties—he once returned a phone call on a Saturday night to a recorded message left by INBOUND’s editor—and helpful to anyone with an inquiry.
Dan Lincoln, president and CEO of the Cincinnati USA CVB, and a highly respected and beloved industry professional will retire at the end of the year due to unspecified health concerns, the bureau has announced. The CVB has hired a national search firm to find a replacement. Mike Laatsch, CVB’s chief operating officer, will serve as Interim CEO until a successor is named. Lincoln has served in position since May 2006.
The United States Tour Operators Association named its 2018 board of directors, five of whom serve as the associations’ Executive Committee, at its Annual Conference & Marketplace, Nov. 27-Dec. 1 in Hollywood, Fla. Heading the Executive Committee as newly-appointed chairman will be Dana Santucci, vice president of development at EF Education First, who will joined by Harry Dalgaard, president of Avanti Destinations, as vice chair; Charlie Ball, executive vice president, Princess Cruises & Tours, as treasurer; Scott Wiseman, president, Travel Impressions, as secretary; and Paula Twidale, executive vice president, Collette, as immediate past chair.
Helen Parry is leaving her post as regional sales manager for trade at Jet2holidays to start her own travel agency. Parry had worked at Jet2holidays since 2013. Prior to that, she had worked for 18 years at TUI in various roles, lastly as general manager for TUI UK & Ireland.
Kyle Edmiston is leaving his post as assistant secretary for the Louisiana Office of Tourism to become as the new chief operations officer/deputy director of the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana CVB. Edmiston, who had held his post as assistant secretary for nearly six years, was previously president and CEO of the Ruston Lincoln Parish CVB. Active in numerous tour and travel industry organizations, Edmiston currently sits on the board of directors of Brand USA.
The board of directors of Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast has tapped Milton Segarra, currently CEO of Meet Puerto Rico, to be the new executive director of the organization. Segarra, who starts his new position on Jan. 8, succeeds Renee Areng after the board seven months ago did not renew her contract. Segarra has been with Meet Puerto Rico for almost five years. Previously, he held high-level marketing and business development positions with several different organizations.