Black Meetings & Tourism - SUSAN PHILLIPS NAMED PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF ST. AUGUSTINE, PONTE VEDRA & THE BEACHES VISITORS AND CONVENTION

Industry Briefs
SUSAN PHILLIPS NAMED PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF ST. AUGUSTINE, PONTE VEDRA & THE BEACHES VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU
The St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau (VCB) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Susan Phillips as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bureau. Ms. Phillips will fill the role following Richard Goldman's recent retirement. Ms. Phillips joined the Bureau in January 2018 as Director of Tourism Promotion & Strategic Alliances, where she successfully worked to enhance Florida's Historic Coast as a popular tourism and meetings destination through promotion and strategic partnerships with corporate, media, and governmental projects to bring TV production, film, and other promotional opportunities to the destination. She has been responsible for the VCB's strategic planning; involved in brand development; and provided marketing agency supervision and oversight of the VCB's advertising agency, interactive website marketing agency, Hispanic PR media agency, and fulfillment and distribution agency. "The VCB Board's Executive Committee reviewed numerous applications and resumes of very qualified candidates throughout the United States," stated Kimberly Wilson, Chair of the VCB Board of Directors. "What stood out to us is that Ms. Phillips has a proven track record of success during her 35+ year career, and she has earned the confidence and respect of the local tourism industry during the past five years. With such an extensive experience in the travel, hospitality, and destination marketing industries, as well as her knowledge and love of our destination, we are confident that Ms. Phillips is the right person to lead the VCB to continued success in the years ahead." Prior to joining the VCB, Ms. Phillips served as Senior Vice President of Operations for 73 Deville, a creative marketing, advertising and public relations agency specializing in the tourism, hospitality, and real estate development industries. She also spent several years as the Director of Marketing for Visit Myrtle Beach (Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce / Convention & Visitors Bureau) and as the Director of Marketing and Executive Committee team member at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in Asheville, NC. In addition, Ms. Phillips served in key executive leadership and marketing roles at North Carolina's HomeTrust Bank and with the Asheville (NC) Regional Airport Authority. Before moving to Asheville, she spent nearly 15 years of her career at Delta Air Lines in Atlanta, Georgia, overseeing the strategic development, pricing, marketing, and overall management of the Delta Vacations worldwide tour product, representing $350 million in annual gross revenue. Ms. Phillips is a member of VISIT FLORIDA®, SKÅL International, the Florida Attractions Association, the St. Augustine Attractions Association, and the Women's Food Alliance. She is also a past member and secretary of the South Carolina Association of Tourism Regions (SCATR), as well as a graduate of the Leadership South Carolina Class of 2014. Prior to that, she was a member of Historic Hotels of America, the North Carolina Bankers Association, the North Carolina Airports Council, the American Association of Airport Executives, and the Public Relations Association of Western North Carolina, in addition to serving on various tourism, public relations, transportation, and economic development committees with the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau. Ms. Phillips earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. She resides in St. Augustine, Florida. Her four adult children (which includes a set of 23-year-old triplets) live in Washington D.C., North Carolina, and Florida. Located midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida's Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra, and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. For more information on events, activities, holiday getaways and vacation opportunities in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches, go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com , become a fan on Facebook or call 1.800.653.2489.

Industry Briefs

SUSAN PHILLIPS NAMED PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF ST. AUGUSTINE, PONTE VEDRA & THE BEACHES VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU

The St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau (VCB) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Susan Phillips as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bureau. Ms. Phillips will fill the role following Richard Goldman's recent retirement.

Ms. Phillips joined the Bureau in January 2018 as Director of Tourism Promotion & Strategic Alliances, where she successfully worked to enhance Florida's Historic Coast as a popular tourism and meetings destination through promotion and strategic partnerships with corporate, media, and governmental projects to bring TV production, film, and other promotional opportunities to the destination. She has been responsible for the VCB's strategic planning; involved in brand development; and provided marketing agency supervision and oversight of the VCB's advertising agency, interactive website marketing agency, Hispanic PR media agency, and fulfillment and distribution agency.

"The VCB Board's Executive Committee reviewed numerous applications and resumes of very qualified candidates throughout the United States," stated Kimberly Wilson, Chair of the VCB Board of Directors. "What stood out to us is that Ms. Phillips has a proven track record of success during her 35+ year career, and she has earned the confidence and respect of the local tourism industry during the past five years. With such an extensive experience in the travel, hospitality, and destination marketing industries, as well as her knowledge and love of our destination, we are confident that Ms. Phillips is the right person to lead the VCB to continued success in the years ahead."

Prior to joining the VCB, Ms. Phillips served as Senior Vice President of Operations for 73 Deville, a creative marketing, advertising and public relations agency specializing in the tourism, hospitality, and real estate development industries. She also spent several years as the Director of Marketing for Visit Myrtle Beach (Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce / Convention & Visitors Bureau) and as the Director of Marketing and Executive Committee team member at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in Asheville, NC.

In addition, Ms. Phillips served in key executive leadership and marketing roles at North Carolina's HomeTrust Bank and with the Asheville (NC) Regional Airport Authority. Before moving to Asheville, she spent nearly 15 years of her career at Delta Air Lines in Atlanta, Georgia, overseeing the strategic development, pricing, marketing, and overall management of the Delta Vacations worldwide tour product, representing $350 million in annual gross revenue.

Ms. Phillips is a member of VISIT FLORIDA®, SKÅL International, the Florida Attractions Association, the St. Augustine Attractions Association, and the Women's Food Alliance. She is also a past member and secretary of the South Carolina Association of Tourism Regions (SCATR), as well as a graduate of the Leadership South Carolina Class of 2014. Prior to that, she was a member of Historic Hotels of America, the North Carolina Bankers Association, the North Carolina Airports Council, the American Association of Airport Executives, and the Public Relations Association of Western North Carolina, in addition to serving on various tourism, public relations, transportation, and economic development committees with the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Ms. Phillips earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. She resides in St. Augustine, Florida. Her four adult children (which includes a set of 23-year-old triplets) live in Washington D.C., North Carolina, and Florida.

Located midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida's Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra, and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. For more information on events, activities, holiday getaways and vacation opportunities in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches, go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com , become a fan on Facebook or call 1.800.653.2489.