North Carolina commerce official to lead National Council of State Travel Directors

RALEIGH, North Carolina – Lynn D.

RALEIGH, North Carolina – Lynn D. Minges, Assistant Commerce Secretary for Tourism, Marketing, and Global Branding, was elected today as chair of the National Council of State Travel Directors (NCSTD). Minges most recently served as Vice Chair of the organization and has been a board member since 1999.

NCSTD is an industry council of the US Travel Association, a national, non-profit organization representing all components of the US$758 billion travel industry, which aims to increase travel to and within the United States. Established in 1969, the NCSTD leverages the collective strength of state tourism offices to influence public policy issues impacting tourism.

โ€œLynn Minges is an internationally-recognized leader in the travel industry who knows the powerful economic impact travel and tourism can have on state and local communities,โ€ said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the US Travel Association, โ€œShe is an excellent advocate for North Carolina, and our industry will greatly benefit from Lynnโ€™s leadership as chair of the National Council of State Tourism Directors.โ€

The travel and tourism sector is a bright spot in the US economy, generating 7.4 million jobs with an estimated economic impact of US$758 billion in 2010.

In North Carolina, domestic visitors spent a record US$17 billion in 2010, an increase of 9 percent from 2009. Visitor expenditures directly generated 183,880 jobs and nearly US$4 billion in payroll income within North Carolina in 2010. Visitor spending in the state also directly generated close to US$1.5 billion in tax revenue for state and local governments in 2010, up 10 percent from 2009.

In her role as Assistant Secretary for Tourism, Marketing, and Global Branding for the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Minges provides leadership and strategic direction for the stateโ€™s tourism, film, sports, and wine industries while marketing the state as the preferred location for domestic and international business.

โ€œIt is my honor to represent North Carolina and partner with my colleagues across the country on major public policy issues affecting the tourism sector,โ€ Minges said, โ€œWorking together, we can provide a unified voice for our industry and advocate in support of favorable travel policies.โ€

Minges is a past Chair and executive committee member of Travel South USA. She also serves on the Business Advisory Council of the John A. Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University.

Under her leadership, the Department of Commerce has been recognized with numerous national and international awards for marketing excellence. Minges was recently recognized by Triangle Business Journal with their โ€œOutstanding Women in Business Award.โ€

Minges is a graduate of Peace College and North Carolina State University and has over 25 years of sales and marketing experience.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...