The California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CHCC), the premier organization promoting the development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and emerging Latino businesses in California, announced today highlights of its upcoming Annual Convention scheduled for August 22-24 in Los Angeles.

This year’s 39thAnnual convention theme “California’s Voice”, will celebrate the history of CHCC leadership, reflect on past accomplishments as well as promote the growth and contributions of Hispanic business to California’s economy.

Among this year’s convention speakers are: Richard Montanez; The Honorable Gaddi Vasquez; Actor Enrique Castillo; Carlos J. Valerrama – President at Center of Global Trade & Foreign Investment; Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher; Red. Lt. Col. Olga Custodio; Actor Pepe Serna; Mayor of Guaynabo Puerto Rico Mayor Angel Perez Otero; Mary Ann Gomez Orta – President at Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute; Marissa Solis – General Manager & Vice President-Hispanic Marketing for North America Beverages at PepsiCo; Alice Rodriguez – Regional Director, Consumer Banking and Wealth Management at JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA; Lisa Stevens – Regional Banking Executive, Western Region at Wells Fargo & Company, and many more.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and California Gubernatorial Candidate John Cox will be participating in fireside chats with CHCC President/CEO.

“We are excited to bring the largest gathering of California business leaders to Los Angeles for our historic 40thyear celebration,” said Julian Canete, President and CEO of the CHCC.

Convention panels and discussions surrounding business and Latinas will include the following:
• The State of Latinos in Hollywood: Taking Our Place at the Table
• Decoding International Trade
• The Future and Impact of Hispanic Chambers
• Are you prepared for the Cybersecurity Challenge?
• Building Resiliency: Managing the Impact of Increased Wildfires
• How robotics and AI will disrupt the Latino labor market and how prepare for it
This year’s convention will feature Procurement Matchmaking – where major corporations, government agencies and minority-owned business executives can meet.

As the CHCC celebrates 40 years-the CHCC has developed an aggressive strategic plan to address the needs of its membership and diverse small businesses across the state. The CHCC plans to embrace advocacy through identification and assessment of issues to combat through legislation with the help of grassroots strategies. Additionally, the CHCC will strive to share a compelling and vivid story of its members’ efforts through events and programs such as this major annual convention. Membership and branding goals have also been set, including more rigorous recruiting efforts, an accreditation program, and more comprehensive involvement of regional chambers.

“The conference will honor the accomplishments of Hispanic-owned businesses, while helping many small-business owners with the information and other critical details they need to survive and thrive,” added, Julian Canete, President and CEO of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce.

For more information, including registration, convention agenda, sponsorship or exhibitor opportunities, please visit www.chccconvention.com or call (916) 444-2221.

About the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce
The California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CHCC) has a network of over 65 Hispanic chambers and business associations throughout the State of California. Through its network of Hispanic chambers and business associations, the CHCC represents the interest of over 800,000 Hispanic business owners in California. The CHCC is the premier and largest regional ethnic business organization in the nation that promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and California’s Emerging Businesses. For more information, please visit our website at www.cahcc.com

Source: CHCC

The Board of Directors of Visit KC announced that it has selected industry veteran Jason Fulvi as its new President and CEO. With more than 32 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industries, Fulvi comes to Kansas City from VisitPITTSBURGH, where he has served for 16 years and most recently as the organization’s Executive Vice President. A Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME), Fulvi begins his new role at Visit KC on Sept. 12.

Visit KC Board Chairwoman CiCi Rojas and Kevin Pistilli, immediate past chair, led the six-month search process with the assistance of the recruitment firm Fenaroli & Associates and a committee within the Board.

“We achieved our goal of conducting a thorough, nationwide search to find the right person to lead Visit KC forward in promoting our great city and region,” said Rojas. “We were drawn to Mr. Fulvi because of his extensive background in hospitality, widespread industry knowledge and proven ability to lead and empower. I am excited and inspired by his selection.”

Fulvi grew up in a small town in Western Pennsylvania and graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management. He began his hospitality career as a hotel dishwasher, working his way up through the industry and serving companies such as Hilton Worldwide and Holiday Inn, before joining VisitPITTSBURGH in May 2002.

“I’ve never forgotten where I started and carry a strong, humble work ethic that matches well with Kansas City,” he said. “My wife, who is also a hospitality professional, and I were so impressed with how welcoming and inclusive everyone was when we visited.”

Key to his interest in the position was the city’s Downtown renaissance and convention momentum, Fulvi said.

“As a destination marketing professional, I am impressed by the commitment the city’s leadership has shown to make Kansas City a world-class destination for tourism, meetings and conventions. This is one of the best, well thought-out convention packages in the industry, and the city and local hospitality leadership should be proud of what they have accomplished,” Fulvi said. “The icing on the cake is the city’s continued momentum, including developments such as the Loews KC Convention Center Hotel and the new single terminal at Kansas City International Airport.”

In his role at VisitPITTSBURGH, Fulvi was responsible for key operations within the organization, overseeing several departments including convention sales, destination services, partnership development, sports and research. Prior to that position, Fulvi served as the executive director of convention sales.

“Congratulations to Jason and to Visit KC,” said Craig Davis, President & CEO of VisitPITTSBURGH. “This is another milestone in what has been an outstanding career, and a long-time goal for Jason. Over the last 16 years he has been a dedicated and hardworking leader whose contributions have been essential to our success. He has overseen his teams with determination and professionalism, and as a passionate advocate for the mission of this organization. Without a doubt, Kansas City is gaining a proven, dynamic leader.”

City Manager Troy Schulte spent time meeting one on one with Fulvi, and said he was impressed with Fulvi’s knowledge of the industry and his commitment to serving as a collaborative community leader.

“Visit KC’s work is important to the economic vitality of our city and region,” said Schulte. “With Jason at the helm, I feel confident that we have ensured the organization’s continued success and a fruitful partnership with the city.”

Mayor Sly James echoed Schulte’s sentiment, saying “I’m pleased to welcome Jason to Kansas City. The team at Visit KC does a fantastic job promoting our city to the world, and Jason’s impressive track record and dedication will certainly help lead that organization—and our region—forward.”

Fulvi is active within several industry organizations, including the American Society of Association Executives and the Professional Convention Management Association. In July, he was appointed Chairman of the Destinations International Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering destination marketers. Don Welsh, President & CEO of Destinations International, described Fulvi as “a natural leader who will bring a high level of energy, passion and professionalism to his appointment in Kansas City.”

Based in Downtown Kansas City, Visit KC is a non-profit organization of 47 employees whose mission is to ignite global passion for Kansas City and its 1,000 hospitality partners. Through marketing, sales and service of the convention and tourism industries, Visit KC supports a vital and growing component of the local economy—generating nearly 48,000 jobs and $5.5 billion in economic impact annually. For more information about the organization, go to VisitKC.com.

Source: Visit KC

“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.