Karyl Leigh Barnes is President of the Tourism Practice at Development Counsellors International (DCI). DCI's current public relations client roster includes:
Development Counsellors International (DCI) is the expert in how North American travelers and business executives select destinations. We partner with destinations to increase visitor arrivals, disperse visitors, augment daily spend and increase business investment. Since joining DCI in 1998 from a New York State DMO, Karyl Leigh has led destination strategy and campaign implementation for destinations on every continent except Antarctica.
A creative and passionate marketing, communications and public relations leader with 20+ years of international experience working in the United States, Australia, Canada and the UK. After beginning my career in various agencies including multimedia, advertising and public relations, I transitioned over to client-side to specialize in marketing, communications and public relations in the tourism and hospitality sector.
Key areas of interest and specialization include marketing communications, public relations, brand management and development, programming and activations, social media, partnerships, advertising, sponsorship, events, promotions, packages, and copy writing.
I grew up in California but have lived in Toronto for more than three decades. I covered sports, politics and other issues for the Toronto Star for 32 years. The last five years of my career at the Star were served as Travel Editor. I left the paper to begin a freelance career in the summer of 2013. My work is now being featured in 44 Postmedia and Sun Media newspapers and websites across Canada, with daily circulation of almost 2 million. I'm also a regular contributor to Expedia.ca and Zoomer Magazine in Canada and have had stories published with Porter Airlines magazine, WestJet Magazine and EnRoute, the AIr Canada magazine. I also contribute to the Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle and the Australian, as well as Canadian Traveller and other publications. I try to bring the world to my readers with a bit of a Canadian perspective and a generous dose of humour.
I love travelling almost anywhere, but specialize in Canada, the U.S., the Caribbean and Europe. Follow me on Twitter @jimbyerstravel and on Instagram @jimbyerstravel1. You also can find me on Facebook and Pinterest under Jim Byers Travel. Feel free to drop me a line by email, too: jim@jimbyerstravel.com.
- See more at: http://jimbyerstravel.com/about/#sthash.fGYApive.dpuf
Vice President of Marketing & Film Commissioner
Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau
Jessica Dowdy Christopherson is the Vice President of Marketing at Visit Fort Worth and the Film Commissioner at Film Fort Worth. Prior to joining the travel industry Jessica worked in television marketing and public relations for FOX Broadcasting Company in Los Angeles.
Lisa Cole is a seasoned travel and tourism public relations professional having worked in the business for over 30+ years. As corporate communications director in the SE for the global hospitality company, Lisa handles the public relations activities including crisis management, media relations and strategic planning for over 70 managed and owned properties in the Southeast Region.
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, with a portfolio of 14 world-class brands comprising nearly 5,000 properties with more than 812,000 rooms in 103 countries and territories. Hilton is dedicated to fulfilling its mission to be the world's most hospitable company by delivering exceptional experiences – every hotel, every guest, every time. The company's portfolio includes Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection by HiltonTM, DoubleTree by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by HiltonTM, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton Honors. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose exactly how many Points to combine with money, an exclusive member discount that can't be found anywhere else and free standard Wi-Fi. Visit newsroom.hilton.com for more information and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
As director of public relations and communications, Davis oversees the global public relations strategy for VISIT DENVER, with the goal of increasing awareness for Denver as a convention, meeting and vacation destination. In addition, he provides strategic direction for the Bureau's content and social media efforts, among other duties. Davis previously served on the board of PRSA Travel & Tourism and is a member of the U.S. Travel Association's Communications Committee. Davis earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations-Journalism from San Diego State University and performed graduate studies in communications management at Syracuse University.
Senior Vice President at TURNER, leading the Tourism Australia North America account. I also work with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Bardstown, KY - the Bourbon Capital of the World!
I bring 20+ years of travel and destination marketing expertise to TURNER's New York City office. Drawing upon my experience with leading destination brands, working in-house and in a representation capacity, to develop results-orientated earned media strategy as a part of integrated marketing efforts to reach travel trade, business tourism decision makers and the end consumer.
I am also a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) accredited by Destinations International and hold a Bachelor of Arts in Tourism Management from the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia. After living in Brazil for six years as VisitBritain's Country Manager 2016 - 2022, I am also fluent in Portuguese.
I represent the city of Portland, Ore. and the surrounding area to leisure and business travel media and trade publications. As a former journalist myself, I'm committed to helping media find the newest and most interesting stories for their readers.
Travel Portland is the city's Convention and Visitor Bureau.
John E. DiScala (a.k.a. Johnny Jet) travels around 150,000 miles and visits over 20 countries each year. He and his website JohnnyJet.com have been featured over 3,000 times in major publications, including USA Today, Time, Fortune and The New York Times, and he has appeared on ABC, CBS, CNBC, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, NBC, PBS and recently hosted "Hot Spots 2012" on the Travel Channel. JohnnyJet.com has been named "one of the top best money-saving web sites for travel" by Budget Travel Magazine, while the L.A. Times calls it "one of the top 10 essential travel resources on the internet." Sign up today for Johnny Jet's free weekly travel newsletter at JohnnyJet.com and follow him live on Twitter.
Cathy Keefe Reynolds works in U.S. Travel's renowned public affairs department, where she is responsible for conveying the association's public affairs, research and advocacy initiatives to political, business and trade media, both domestic and international. She also oversees all aspects of press operations for IPW (formerly International Pow Wow), including management of the popular all-day Media Marketplace. Nearly 500 international and domestic business and consumer media from 70+ countries attend IPW.
She has been with U.S. Travel for more than two decades, holding positions in their market research, communications and tourism awareness departments.
Keefe-Reynolds has extensive media experience and has appeared live on CBS This Morning and ABC's World News Tonight, as well as many local network and national cable news programs. Born and raised in the Washington, DC area, she holds a bachelor's degree in speech communications from George Mason University and is an active member of the Public Relations Society of America. She and her husband reside in Fairfax, VA.
As the Director of Public Relations for Sonoma County Tourism, Birgitt is responsible for the communications and public relations strategy. Over 20 years in the tourism industry, Birgitt is known for cultivating media relationships, creating initiatives, managing tradeshows and events, and driving brand awareness. Successfully positioned Sonoma County as the wine & food capital in the world's most sustainable wine region in top outlets, she strives to get it recognized as the go-to well-being destination. Originally from Germany, she always thinks of the glass being half-full, preferably with Sonoma County wine.
Deborah Wakefield, vice president of communications and public relations for CityPASS, handles media relations for the company. Prior to joining City Pass in 2010, Wakefield worked for nearly 17 years as the vice president of communications and public relations for Travel Portland, the official convention and visitors bureau for Portland, Oregon. Wakefield is also a 20-year member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW).
CityPASS Overview: Since 1997, CityPASS ticket booklets and admission cards have been premier products for travelers who want to visit a city's top attractions while enjoying significant savings. The CityPASS program, which has sold more than 17 million booklets and boasts a 98 percent customer recommendation rating, is available in New York City, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California, Tampa Bay and Toronto. Media comps are available. For more information, visit CityPASS.com.
Heather Wyatt has over 20 years of experience in media, brand management, public relations strategy, business development and global partnerships. With a focus on travel and tourism, Wyatt recently joined Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) as a communications consultant responsible for public image, marketing, public relations, and messaging to support global cruise resumption efforts.
Prior to joining CLIA, Wyatt managed all communications strategy for National Geographic Travel, National Geographic Expeditions, and National Geographic Licensing and Consumer Products, where she was instrumental in creating the first-ever National Geographic Traveler luxury edition, co-founded the National Geographic Editorial Council, and developed the first-ever Digital Nomad social media franchise integrating on-the-ground reporting with custom content for commercial partnerships.
Wyatt is heavily involved in the travel industry having served on the U.S. Travel Communications Committee, the World Travel & Tourism Council Advisory Board, the TravMedia Advisory Board, and the Board of Directors for the Public Relations Society of America’s Travel and Tourism chapter.