IAEE supports new CEO of Corporation for Travel Promotion

The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) has announced its full support of the Corporation for Travel Promotion’s new CEO. This new CEO will be responsible for leading efforts to promote the United States as a travel destination.

Jim Evans, a longtime leader in the hospitality industry, is the Corporation for Travel Promotion’s new CEO. Evans will be responsible for strengthening the U.S. tourism industry.

The Corporation for Travel Promotion is a non-profit corporation created by Congress for the purpose of promoting foreign leisure, business and scholarly travel to the United States and maximizing the economic and social benefits of that travel for communities across the country.

“In continuing our collaboration with the US Travel Association, government leaders and tourism, travel, hospitality leaders, I am excited about Jim’s appointment and believe his background and leadership for this important initiative is exactly what is needed,” said IAEE President Steven Hacker. “I’m looking forward to working with him to achieve our collective goals of bringing more visitors to the U.S. to conduct business.”

Evans has an extensive background in the travel industry, which includes serving as president and CEO of Best Western International, where he developed a new global strategy and business plan focused on marketing and sales and recruited one of the best-recognized management teams in the industry; CEO of Jenny Craig, where he built a team leading to unprecedented growth, improving all key metrics and increasing annual revenue from $120 million to $500 million; and senior vice president of marketing of Hyatt Hotels, where he initiated a new global marketing strategy. Evans will be formally introduced to the industry and the media at International Pow Wow in San Francisco in May.