For immediate release
March 21, 2007

Tourism Toronto Names International Tourism Marketer
As New President and CEO

Toronto, ON – Tourism Toronto, the Toronto Convention and Visitor Association, announced today that David Whitaker will join the organization as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 30, 2007. In this role he will assume strategic leadership of destination marketing and sales for the Toronto Region and to grow the economic and social contribution tourism makes to the region.

Mr. Whitaker comes to Toronto following 17 years in senior leadership roles with the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, most recently as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. He was an influential leader in transforming Miami’s global image over the past decade to become a premiere leisure and business travel destination. Like Toronto, Miami attracts significant visitors from overseas and offers a strongly international, cosmopolitan visitor experience.

“David knows how to sell cities. I am confident that David’s record of success in attracting new U.S. and international visitors can help ensure a thriving tourism industry in Toronto,” said Lyle Hall, Chair of Tourism Toronto’s Board of Directors.

Mr. Whitaker was selected following an international search led by Tourism Toronto’s Vice Chair Charles Cutts and a search committee that included members of the Board of Directors and members at large.

“Toronto is a great city and highly regarded travel destination. I am excited to be given the opportunity to help elevate the region’s profile to achieve its potential as one of the world’s prestige travel experiences,” said Mr. Whitaker. “I look forward to joining a strong team that has made great strides in the past five years. The tremendous surge in new cultural product, combined with an outstanding hotel product and tourism infrastructure, gives us a powerful foundation to attract more visitors and create more jobs throughout the region.”
 
Prior to his work in the tourism sector, Mr. Whitaker spent six years with the United Way of Greater Miami, including a period as Vice President of Marketing. He is a graduate of the University of South Florida where he earned a degree in Mass Communications/ Public Relations.

Bill Allen, Interim President of Tourism Toronto and former Ontario Deputy Minister of Tourism, will continue to serve as President until Mr. Whitaker begins.

Tourism Toronto is an industry association of more than 1,100 members established to strategically sell and market the Greater Toronto Region as a remarkable destination for tourists, convention delegates and business travelers around the globe. Tourism produces more than $4 billion in direct spending in the region and supports nearly 100,000 jobs.  For more information on Tourism Toronto, please visit, www.torontotourism.com.

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Note to editors: Photo available via contact below.

For more information contact:
Andrew Weir
Vice President, Communications
(416) 987-1741
aweir@torcvb.com