The American Tourism Society, a nonprofit organization focused on building tourism to the Middle East and former Communist countries in Europe, has selected a new board of directors.

The biennial elections took place at the annual ATS meeting, held in Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Germany.

Leading ATS for second terms are Chairman David Parry of Academic Travel Abroad and President Phil Otterson of Tauck World Discovery.

Other board members elected to the executive committee are the Polish National Tourist Office’s Jan Rudomina, treasurer; Vacation.com’s David Spinelli, secretary; Travel Bound’s Nico Zenner, director; and Don Reynolds, executive vice president.

"In the 40 years that I have been in the U.S. travel industry, this past year has definitely been the most challenging one," Parry said in opening remarks at the meeting. "Despite the problems that we all are facing, ATS membership has remained stable and actively engaged in promotional activities."

The other new ATS board members are: Malia Asfour of the Jordan Tourism Board; Fred Berardo, Central Holidays; Pamela Hoffee, Globus; Gordon Stearns, Tour Designs; Donna Flora, American Express; Mirko Ilich, Traveling Times; Helena Novak, General Tours World Traveler; and Bob Whitley, U.S. Tour Operators Association.