Gretchen Hall, CDME, is Destinations International new COO.
People on the Move
Read more about meeting and event planners and supplier professionals
who have changed roles within the industry.
Destinations International has named Gretchen Hall, CDME, as
the organization’s COO. Hall, who will start her new post on
April 1, has served as president and CEO of the Little Rock
Convention and Visitors Bureau in Arkansas for a decade. Her last day at the CVB is March 22. Hall has
also stepped down from her position as 2021-'22 chair of DI’s board of
directors.
In her new role, the tourism veteran will be responsible for
the strategic development, implementation, communication and retention of global
business and membership initiatives. She will be a member of the organization’s
executive leadership team and will be responsible for working with all
departments and team members.
"I have always been passionate about the travel and
tourism industry, and the impact it makes on our local communities,” said Hall.
“The dedicated team of professionals at Destinations International provides
vital tools, training and resources that support the growth and future success
of destination organizations around the world. For that reason, I am excited
and honored to join the team at Destinations International and help advance
their great work as our industry progresses beyond this pandemic."
DI president and CEO Don Welsh said, “Gretchen is an
experienced and proven leader in our industry and her community; we have been
very fortunate to work with Gretchen in her various roles on our board. She has
extensive knowledge of our industry, having led the Little Rock CVB for many
years, and her leadership and passion for the growth of destination
organizations will no doubt benefit our members around the world.”
Since Hall has stepped down as the chair of DI’s board, Butch Spyridon, CEO of the Nashville Convention
and Visitors Corp. and immediate past board chair, will resume the role for the remainder of the 2021-'22 term. Al Hutchinson, president and CEO
of Visit Baltimore, is scheduled to take over as board chair at DI's annual convention, taking place July 19-21 in Toronto.