The Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau (VFCVB), representing Montgomery County’s hospitality industry, has announced the selection of an area hotelier as its new president.
William “Bill” Fitzgerald, currently general manager of the Sheraton Downtown Philadelphia Hotel, will replace Paul Decker, who’s retiring at the end of March after 20 years in the position.
“We’re fortunate to have found, so close to home, an extremely well-qualified leader to revisit strategic direction, take the staff and organization forward and continue the hospitality industry’s momentum out of the last few tough economic years,” said Richard W. Kubach III, chairman, VFCVB.
Fitzgerald’s 27-year hotel career includes more than 20 years as a general manager. Prior to the Sheraton, he spent many years with Hilton Worldwide as general manager of the Doubletree by Hilton Philadelphia for 10 years and worked for several Delaware Valley and central New Jersey hotels.
No stranger to local community and civic organizations, Fitzgerald was a member of the executive committee of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau and is a board member and chair of the audit committee of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation. He’s also a past president of the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association. Fitzgerald earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from East Stroudsburg University and is a certified hotel administrator.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to lead the hospitality community of my ‘hometown’ county to new levels and to strengthen its presence as a major regional-generator of jobs and economic impact,” said Fitzgerald. “We have a great, nationally recognized product to sell and an experienced staff that’s well-connected to our key customer audiences, and that’s a formula for continued success.”
Fitzgerald is a native of Jenkintown, Md., who resides in Yardley, Penn., with his wife and their four children. He’ll join the bureau’s staff on March 25th.
