Bill McCreary of Starwood Hotels & Resorts to serve as Chairman of the Board
NEW ORLEANS (Jan. , 2011)— The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) inducted its 2011 Board of Directors . This esteemed group of business leaders provides the strategic direction for New Orleans’ $5 billion tourism industry and advances the interests of the CVB’s 1,000 members. Bill McCreary, Area Managing Director of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, will serve as Chairman of the Board.
Mr. McCreary graduated from Linfield College, Oregon, and holds a BA in Biology and a diploma with honors from the Educational Institute of American Hotel and Lodging Association. He is a Certified Hotel Administrator and holds a Doctorate of Business Administration, Honoris Causa from Webber International University of Florida. A veteran of more than 35 years in the hotel business, he began his career at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco and has served as President of Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, Chairman of the Florida Hotel and Motel Association, Director of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, Commissioner for the State of Florida Commission on Tourism and President of the Greater New Orleans Hotel and Lodging Association.
The 2011 Board of Directors Executive Committee:
- Bill McCreary, Area Managing Director, Starwood Hotels & Resorts (Chairman)
- Steve Pettus, Managing Partner, Dickie Brennan & Company (Past Chair)
- Fred Sawyers, Area General Manager, Hilton New Orleans Hotels (Chair Elect)
- Terry Epton, President, USA Hosts (Secretary)
- Al Groos, General Manager, Royal Sonesta Hotel (Treasurer)
At Large
- Iftikhar Ahmad, Director of Aviation, New Orleans Armstrong International Airport
- Darryl Berger, Owner, The Berger Company
- Katy Casbarian, Owner, Arnaud’s Restaurant
- Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich, Owner/Physician, Urgent Care Medical Facilities
- Ronald Markham, President & CEO, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
- Russell Miller, General Manager, Ritz-Carlton New Orleans
- John Payne, Central Division President, Caesars Entertainment Corporation
- Bob Brown, Managing Director, New Orleans Business Council
- Aaron Dirks, COO, Limousine Livery
- Ron Forman, President & CEO, Audubon Nature Institute
- Bonnie Helmker, General Manager, Freeman Company
- Michael Smith, General Manager, Hyatt Regency New Orleans
- Gil Zanchi, Area General Manager, New Orleans Marriott Hotels
- Martin Driskell, General Manager, InterContinental New Orleans
- Amy Reimer, General Manager, International House Hotel
- Melvin Rodrigue, Chairman, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
- Gregory Rusovich, Past President, New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation
- Doug Thornton, Regional Vice President, SMG
- Steve Woodruff, Operations Manager, Commander’s Palace
Honorary Positions
Stacy Head, Councilmember, City of New Orleans – District “B” (Jan. 1-June 30)
Kristin Palmer, Councilmember, City of New Orleans – District “C” (July 1-Dec 31)
A nominating committee identified and selected board candidates based on their industry knowledge, experience and diversity. The slate was elected by the CVB’s membership at the Annual Business Meeting held on January 24, 2011. In addition to hotels, restaurants, attractions, transportation and cultural economy-related businesses, the board includes leaders from the New Orleans Business Council, the Convention Center and the Superdome.
