WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The Institute of Certified Travel Agents
appointed David Preece, who is vice president, North America, for
the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau in Honolulu, as its new
president and CEO, effective May 5.
He will take a position that has been vacant for more than a
year, since his predecessor, Jack Mannix, left ICTA to assume the
presidency of the Giants agency cooperative in New York.
ICTA, which has recently announced new strategies aimed at
ensuring it is the primary source for all educational needs across
all travel industry segments, deliberately took its time to find
the CEO to implement those plans. The search committee, headed by
Scott Ahlsmith, ICTA vice chairman, worked with the executive
search firm of Heidrick and Struggles.
With the selection of Preece, said Matthew Upchurch, ICTA's
chairman, the group found "the best person to lead us in this new
direction at a speed not attainable without such leadership."
Citing Preece's role in making Hawaii a top destination, Upchurch
added, "He brings vast industry experience and has demonstrated
real innovation in a dynamic, competitive environment."
Preece promised that "in the coming months you'll hear a lot
more about ICTA's strategic growth plan, including the possibility
of evolving the company's name as appropriate for its expanded
mission."
Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau president and CEO Tony
Vericella said Preece's selection reflects his success at HVCB and
his standing in the travel community. In nearly five years at the
bureau, Preece "made a significant contribution to the strength of
Hawaii's performance in the North America travel market," Vericella
said.