Discover New England, a nonprofit cooperative destination marketing organization that promotes New England tourism internationally, has appointed Randy Fiveash as chairman of its board of directors. Fiveash, director of the Connecticut Office of Tourism, will serve as the chairman of the board, which includes tourism directors from all six New England states, for the next two calendar years.
As chairman of the board, Fiveash will work closely with Discover New England leadership and the board of directors to further the organization”™s mission to:
- Increase international awareness of New England as a memorable, high-quality, four-season destination.
- Assist New England hospitality businesses reach a global audience and generate new business from international markets.
- Expand international tour operators”™ knowledge of New England attractions and ensure they have the resources needed to showcase the best the region has to offer.
According to Discover New England data:
- The number of overseas visitors to New England has increased by 25 percent since 2012, reaching 2.2 million in 2015.
- Overseas visitors spent $2.1 billion in total direct spending in New England in 2015.
- The top five overseas visitor markets for New England in 2015 were: United Kingdom, China, Germany, France and India.
“As the Director of Tourism for the State of Connecticut, our partnership with Discover New England has been key to helping us grow Connecticut”™s $14.7 billion tourism industry sector,” said Fiveash.
“Strong partnerships with the state and organizations like Discover New England will continue to help us attract even greater investment from the international community, and create more jobs and opportunities for Connecticut and New England,” said Kevin A. Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority.
During his term as Discover New England chairman, Fiveash will continue to lead the Connecticut Office of Tourism.
