“The leaders of Skal International in the United States want to recognize annually major contributions by an individual who has helped to grow tourism to and within the United States as part of our role as a tourism leadership group comprised of members from all segments of the travel industry,” said Burcin Turkkan, president of Skal International USA and a member of the Skal Club of Atlanta, Georgia.

“Fortunately, we did not have to look too far to find the right first recipient,” she said. “Chris Thompson has distinguished himself by guiding a first-class team of professionals at Brand USA, who promote the United States around the globe. Under his leadership, Brand USA has produced two outstanding IMAX® movies with global distribution: ‘National Park Adventure’ and ‘America’s Musical Journey.’ Chris is a consummate leader and well respected throughout the tourism world, both here and abroad.”

“We are very proud of him and are thrilled that this first award goes to a long time Skal member, as Chris has been a “Skalleague” in Tallahassee and Jacksonville, Florida and now in Washington, DC. His recognition will set the standard at the level we seek for future awardees. Having Chris with us at the North American Skal Congress, where he shared his message of welcoming the world to the United States, could not have been better.”

On hand for the award presentation were Susanna Saari, Skal International president from Turku, Finland, and Daniela Otero, Skal International CEO, from Torremolinos, Spain.

“It’s an honor to have my peers recognize me in this way,” Thompson said. “The members of the North American Skal club have supported me and guided me in so many ways throughout my career, and to be the first recipient of the National Tourism Leadership Award is humbling.”

“I am proud of the work we are doing at Brand USA to promote the United States as a premier travel destination.,” Thompson added. “The USA remains as aspirational as ever, and I look forward to welcoming all of you to the USA next year for the 2019 Skal North American Congress.”

Thompson has guided the expansion of Brand USA in its role as the coordinating force behind the marketing of the United States as a premiere travel destination in the global marketplace. Brand USA, which began with 14 founding partners and today has a network of more than 800 worldwide partner organizations.

During his more than 30-year career, Thompson served as president and CEO of the Tallahassee (Florida) Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and he later joined Visit Florida, where he became its chief operating officer in 2003, and president and CEO, six years later.

Thompson is currently on the board of Destinations International, and he is a member of the Advisory Board for the Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute, a part of the Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management at the University of Florida.

 

Source: Skal International

The Jamaica Tourist Board Groups & Conventions Department led by John Woolcock, Manager and Margaret Clarke-Wheatley, Business Development Officer converged on the U.S. Midwest region with an impressive team catering to the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) market. A number of key supplier partners including hoteliers, DMC’s and representatives from the Montego Bay Convention Center joined the JTB sales blitz travelling through Chicago, Minneapolis and St. Louis where they met with approximately 150 meeting planners in an effort to promote and position Jamaica as the destination of choice for their groups, conventions and incentive programs.