Visit Orlando, The Official Tourism Association® for Orlando, has announced the community and business leaders joining the 2021 Board of Directors. A not-for-profit trade association that brands, markets and sells the Orlando destination globally, Visit Orlando represents over 1,100 member companies of Central Florida’s tourism community. But Visit Orlando also has a long history of scandals and controversies, so this is a board to keep your eyes on locally.
Brian Comes, Area Vice President for Hyatt Regency Orlando, will serve a two-year term as the new Board Chair through Dec. 31, 2022. The new Board of Directors will be:
- Barb Bowden, Area Managing Director, Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando
- Dan Giordano, General Manager, Rosen Shingle Creek
- Yogita Inamdar, Director-Social Responsibility, Inclusion & Diversity, Wyndham Destinations (county-appointed ex-officio)
- Bob Miles, President, Bags Inc.
- Kyle Miller, Park President, SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica and Discovery Cove
- Barbara Poma, Founder, OnePulse Foundation
- Terry Prather, Chief Operating Officer, LIFT Orlando
* These positions include elected, at-large and county-appointed directors.
The Directors continuing their terms are:
Executive Committee
- Chair: Brian Comes, Area Vice President for Hyatt Regency Orlando
- Treasurer: William A. Davis, President & Chief Operating Officer, Universal Orlando Resort
- Secretary: Harold Mills, Chief Executive Officer, VMD Ventures
- Past Chair: Don Engfer, Principal, Engfer & Associates
- Non-voting member: Casandra Matej, Visit Orlando’s new President & CEO
Board Members
- John Arie Jr., President & CEO, Fun Spot America Theme Parks
- Robert Bray, General Manager, Orlando World Center Marriott
- Phillip Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
- Designee of The Honorable Jerry Demings, Orange County Mayor, Orange County Government: Roseann Harrington, Chief of Staff, Office of the Mayor
- Designee of The Honorable Buddy Dyer, Mayor, City of Orlando: Brooke R. Bonnett, Director of Economic Development, City of Orlando
- William T. Dymond Jr., Shareholder, CEO & President, Lowndes
- Donna Dyson, Market President/Publisher, Orlando Business Journal
- Diana Font, President, DM Font Events
- Charlie Freeman, Chief Operating Officer, Orlando Magic
- Tim Giuliani, President and CEO, Orlando Economic Partnership
- Scott Hudgins, Chief Commercial Officer, Walt Disney World Resort
- Steven Jamieson, General Manager, The Mall at Millenia
- Richard Maladecki, President/CEO, Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association (February 15 will transition to Robert Agrusa)
- Paul S. Mears III, President, Hello! Destination Management
- Chris Mueller, General Manager, Hilton Orlando
- Fred Sawyers, Managing Director, Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek and Waldorf Astoria Orlando
- Atish Shah, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Xenia Hotels & Resorts
- Thomas Steinhauer, Regional Vice President & General Manager, Four Seasons Resort?Orlando
- Mark Tester, Executive Director, Orange County Convention Center
- Thibaut van Marcke, President/Senior Vice President, Dr. P. Phillips Hospital/Orlando Health
- Evan Wyant, Orlando Market President, Truist
