Syracuse CVB president to serve on national travel board

SYRACUSE — The Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) announced that David Holder, president, has been selected to serve on the United States Travel Association’s Destinations Council board of directors for a two-year term through 2015.

The U.S. Travel Association’s Destinations Council’s mission is to connect destination marketing organization (DMO) professionals from across the nation to provide a forum for DMOs to promote best practices, according to an SCVB new release. Additionally, the Destinations Council provides destination-marketing-specific insights to guide the U.S. Travel Association’s strategic direction and develops educational programs for the travel industry.

As a board member, Holder will have the opportunity to elevate the profile of the Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau and to interact with a diverse group of tourism peers from destinations throughout the country, the SCVB contends. Holder has more than 15 years experience in the tourism industry and has led the tourism marketing and sales initiatives of the SCVB as president since 2006.

The SCVB is Onondaga County’s accredited DMO for tourism-related economic development. The bureau says that direct visitor spending averages almost $800 million annually in Onondaga County, supporting more than 16,700 jobs in the county and generating more than $100 million in tax revenue.