Liberia RPCV Robert Barrett Elected Association Chair of the California Travel Industry Association
LA INC.'s Robert Barrett Elected State Industry Association Chair
Monday April 14, 8:16 pm ET
LOS ANGELES, April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Robert Barrett, senior vice president, domestic marketing for LA INC., The Convention and Visitors Bureau, has been elected chair of the California Travel Industry Association (CalTIA), the organization representing and serving all components of the travel and tourism industry in the state. His election took place at the annual California Conference on Tourism, held recently in San Diego.
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"It is both a high honor and a great responsibility to take over as chair of CalTIA in the present time and industry environment," said Barrett. "As the principal organization serving the travel industry in California, CalTIA has the responsibility to represent and serve as the advocate for the industry on legislative issues. This means that we are taking the lead to reinstate tourism funds designated to be cut from the state budget. And we have to continually bring attention to the significance of our industry, particularly in such trying times."
Strongly supporting Barrett on his outlook is his immediate predecessor as CalTIA chair, John D. Dunlap III, president and CEO, California Restaurant Association. "Robert takes over the helm of CalTIA at a particularly opportune time. The economy is slowly rebounding and no one knows the industry more thoroughly than he does. Cultural attractions, lodging, restaurants, amusement parks and local sites all are important to the California travel experience. He knows them, their issues and how they fit and how the association can work with them. He is a savvy marketer who knows that the California travel industry must work together to market the state for maximum effect."
Barrett came to LA INC. seven years ago as associate vice president for cultural tourism. He was later promoted to senior vice president, domestic marketing. Before joining the bureau, Barrett served for 14 years as executive director of the Fresno Art Museum. A Peace Corps volunteer who served in Liberia, he is active in a number of travel industry and cultural organizations. He is frequently called upon as a speaker on travel industry issues, and as authoritative observer on cultural tourism matters.
The California Travel Industry Association (CalTIA), incorporated in 1981, is the official voice of the California travel industry. It is an independent, nonprofit association unifying California's many travel-related businesses to ensure the future health of tourism through their collective strength.
LA INC., The Convention and Visitors Bureau is a private, not-for-profit association dedicated to marketing Los Angeles as a destination for leisure, convention and corporate travel.
For further information, please contact Carol Martinez of LA INC., The Convention and Visitors Bureau, +1-213-236-2357, or fax, +1-213-452-1457, cmartinez@Lainc.us .
