eTourism Moves: New Hires & Promotions for September 2026

Summer break is over and there are a lot of new faces in new places within the eTourism community. Here’s a look at recent hires, promotions, and other personnel news.

Catherine Cambra

Hawai’i Visitors and Convention Bureau

Catherine Cambra has been named Island Director for the Island of Hawaiʻi after 15 stellar years serving as director of marketing at Fairmont Orchid, Hawaiʻi. In her new role, Cambra will oversee relationships with county leadership, community partners and industry members while advancing the state's tourism strategy forward.

“Catherine brings genuine, longstanding relationships with county leaders, cultural practitioners and community partners across Hawaii Island," said Elizabeth Loomis, vice president of island integration and operations at HVCB, in a news release. “Her firsthand understanding of this island will sharpen how we deliver on our contractual commitments and serve our members here.”

She takes over months after Samira Siale was named Island Director for the Kauai Visitors Bureau, following the retirement of longtime executive director Sue Kanoho.

Meryl Press Vissel

Choose Chicago

Meryl Press Vissel has joined Choose Chicago as Vice President of Communications & Content. It’s a newly structured leadership role that will oversee the organization’s communications, media relations and social media functions. Vissel brings more than a decade of communications experience across tourism, hospitality and real estate, most recently leading Corporate Communications for the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board.

“Meryl Vissel brings exactly the kind of global perspective and hands-on destination experience Choose Chicago needs as we enter this next chapter of transformation and growth,” said Kristen Reynolds, President & CEO of Choose Chicago. “From representing a Tier 1 destination with its own Tourism Improvement District, to shaping global media and content strategy around mega-events like the World Cup and the Olympics, Meryl has built her career at the intersection of world-class storytelling and world-class hospitality.

Julie Kinnear

Ottawa Tourism

Julie Kinnear is the new Vice President, Marketing & Communications at Ottawa Tourism, but is hardly new to the field. She has 25 years of experience in tourism, marketing, communications, most recently General Manager of the Hôtel-Casino du Lac-Leamy Complex and Casino de Mont-Tremblant with Loto-Québec, Julie previously served as President and CEO of Tourisme Outaouais where she led destination marketing and regional development efforts.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority

Shafia London has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority, succeeding Annette Mark. London has identified three strategic platforms that will help differentiate St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the global marketplace: adventure and nature, sailing, and culture and celebration.

Visit Tuscaloosa

Lindsey Lane has joined Visit Tuscaloosa as Director of Marketing and Communications, one of several new hires and promotions announced by the CVB. Lane most recently served as a tourism sales account executive at Carvertise, where she worked with destination marketing organizations and tourism brands across the Southeast. From 2022 to 2025, she served as a media planner at Miles Partnership, managing media planning and advertising for travel and tourism clients.

Meanwhile, Director of Tourism Jasmine Rainey will add group tour sales to her current responsibilities and Alicia Richards has been promoted to Director of Events and Community Engagement.

Symeria Thomas

Greater Birmingham CVB

Symeria Thomas has joined the Greater Birmingham CVB as Director of Communications. Her marketing background includes seven years at Development Counsellors International.

Visit Sandy Springs

Visit Sandy Springs along the Atlanta perimeter has announced two new promotions: Myriam Hysa is now Senior Director of Sales & Services and Samantha Marks is Senior Director of Marketing & Communication. Hysa was Director of Sales for four years at the DMO and marks was previously director of marketing and communications since 2015.

Baltimore County Tourism

Matthew Scales has started with Baltimore County Tourism as the Chief of Destination Marketing and Communications. He was previously Executive Director of Visit Harford and public relations specialist at Maryland Office of Tourism Development.

Sarah Hill

Visit the Northshore

Sarah Hill has earned a promotion to Marketing Director at Visit The Northshore in Louisiana. She joined Visit The Northshore in 2019 in Visitor Services and has steadily advanced within the organization, most recently serving as Senior Marketing Manager.

Oakley Swint

Visit Salt Lake

Oakley Swint has been promoted to Travel Trade & Experience Program Manager at Visit Salt Lake. She’s been with the CVB since 2024, earning promotions each year.

Stacy Binder

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin

Stacy Binder is the new Director of Marketing at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, an on-site property at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. She has more than 20 years of marketing experience and 16 years in hospitality, including leading the Starwood and Marriott field marketing teams in Florida and the Southeast. Binder has already launched the hotel’s first fully integrated summer marketing campaign and its first Disney-focused webpage.

Jessica Spindler

Vector Media

Jessica Spindler is the new Senior Director of Brand Partnerships leading the Tourism and Travel vertical at Vector Media. In her new role, she will help brands strategically grow their business through mobility marketing solutions including public transit, custom coaches, double deckers, experiential, and more.Most recently, Spindler served as Director of Tourism Partnerships at Carvertise.

Steven Incammicia

XNow

Steven Incammicia is Director of Travel & Tourism at XNow, an online ticketing and travel platform. He’s a veteran in travel, having worked at Twin Americas LLC, The Sightseeing Pass, and most recently, Planet Hollywood.

Graphic by Clint Poy