Will Seccombe

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (November 27, 2012)  Today, VISIT FLORIDA  the states official tourism marketing corporation  is proud to announce the selection of Will Seccombe as its new President and CEO. Seccombe, VISIT FLORIDAs Chief Marketing Officer since 2008, has been serving as the Acting President and CEO since Chris Thompsons departure to head Brand USA. Todays unanimous vote by the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors to have Seccombe become Thompsons permanent replacement is the culmination of a deliberate process by a six-member executive search committee in concert with the national recruiting firm SearchWide. With Will as our new President and CEO, VISIT FLORIDAs future is in great hands, said Glenn Hastings, Chairman of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors and Executive Director of the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council. In his four years as CMO, Wills vision and drive to succeed have elevated the states tourism marketing efforts to an unprecedented level and have put VISIT FLORIDA in a very strong position to pursue our vision of establishing Florida as the No. 1 travel destination in the world. During Seccombes four years as Chief Marketing Officer for VISIT FLORIDA, the organization has transformed into a national model for its highly-effective, public-private, industry-driven tourism marketing efforts. Since 2008, the Florida tourism industry has experienced record visitation, visitor spending and job creation. Under Seccombes direction, VISIT FLORIDA has achieved all-time highs on its return on investment of $258 in tourism spending and $15 in new sales tax collections for every $1 spent on tourism marketing. For the past four years, Will has been the creative genius behind all of VISIT FLORIDAs big ideas and the bulldog who sees those projects through to their successful conclusion, said Chris Thompson, President and CEO of Brand USA and former President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA. He is a proud and tireless representative of the Florida tourism industry and an innovative thinker who constantly challenges himself to stay on the cutting edge of travel marketing strategy. I have watched Will inspire and motivate the VISIT FLORIDA team to perform at the highest level and am confident that the organization and, by extension the industry, will continue to lead the nation with him at the helm. Seccombe has over twenty-three years of professional experience including nineteen years in the Colorado tourism industry. After holding executive positions in the ski industry, with the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau and PRACO, LTD, he founded Revolution Communications, LLC, a travel marketing firm based in Denver, Colorado. Since joining VISIT FLORIDA in 2008, Seccombe has been named one of the Top Twenty-Five Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International and is included in Social Media Marketing Magazines list of the Top CMOs on Twitter. His leadership efforts while at VISIT FLORIDA have led to numerous award-winning programs, including the Your Florida Side Is Calling advertising campaign, a rebranding of the VISITFLORIDA.com consumer website, the creation of the unique social media platform Florida Live, the in-state advocacy campaign Share a Little Sunshine, the Great VISIT FLORIDA Beach Walk grassroots photo fest and the highly-targeted Sunshine Moments social media campaign. Seccombe recently announced several new VISIT FLORIDA initiatives, including a new advertising campaign launching in January, a Florida lifestyle television show on the Cooking Channel hosted by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, a strong commitment to content through our expanded network of freelance journalists, and a multi-marketing platform for Viva Florida 500 to commemorate the states quincentennial in 2013. I am incredibly proud of what VISIT FLORIDA and the Florida tourism industry have accomplished together and am honored by the opportunity Ive been given to lead this amazing organization, said Seccombe. The record growth in visitation, our incredible strategic partnerships and the outstanding return on investment that our marketing efforts have achieved are truly a testament to the strength of Floridas tourism product and the creative and passionate work being done by VISIT FLORIDA and our partners statewide. I look forward to building on the momentum and energy that weve established so that the Sunshine State truly becomes the No. 1 travel destination in the world.

Mr. Seccombe has been a member of and served on the leadership boards of numerous national, regional, state and local trade associations and organizations. He is currently active in the following travel organizations:

"Brand USA Marketing Advisory Council: Vice-Chair

"U.S. Travel Association Board of Directors: Member

"National Council of State Tourism Directors: Member

"Association of Travel Marketing Executives: Member

"Destination Marketing Association International: Member

"Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International: Member

"National Western Association: Member

In 1989, Mr. Seccombe received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Marketing from the Southern Methodist University Edwin L. Cox School of Business. He and his wife, Maryanna, have four children, Elizabeth, Bo, Katie and Caroline.