The man who has been the face and voice of
the National Tour Association for over a decade and a half is
riding off into the sunset: Hank Phillips, NTA's president, is
leaving the association after 21 years. His resignation from the
NTA and its management company, Host Communications, is effective
Sept. 30.
Phillips joined NTA
in 1985 as director of education. He became director of government
and industry relations in 1986, then took over as the chief staff
member in 1989. His title was changed to president in
1998.
Phillips led the
organization through many changes, as it continuously expanded its
vision from that of a traditional domestic motorcoach tour operator
association to that of a global travel marketing organization.
While the
chairmanship of the NTA was an honorary, volunteer position held
for one-year terms by member tour operators, Phillips maintained
his role as hands-on leader and spokesman of the organization
throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
Phillips told
Travel Weekly his plans were not yet set. "It's going to take some
time to decompress and see what path to take," he said.
It's been wonderful
working here," he said. "It's a great place. And this kind of work:
one minute I'm talking to a reporter, next I'm working with
marketing, then lobbying. And you mix into that the neat people I
get to work with, it's great. But it's been 21 years, and I feel
like it's a good time for a change."
Lisa Simon, the
executive director of the International Coach Federation and a
former staff executive at the NTA, will assume Phillips' duties as
an interim leader until a permanent replacement is found. Host
Communications will continue to manage the NTA and plans to beef up
its personnel resources to help in the transition.
To
contact reporter David Cogswell, send e-mail to [email protected].