Gilbert Named 2006 NTA Convention Chair

December 29, 2003

Bob Gilbert

December, 29, 2003 – Charlie McIlvain, CTP, 2003 NTA Chairman, has appointed Bob Gilbert, vice president of worldwide sales & alliances for Best Western International, the Convention chair of the 2006 NTA Annual Convention in Salt Lake City.

Gilbert, who has more than 30 years of North American and international hospitality and travel industry experience, has served on NTA committees and has been an active member of the association for 20 years.

"I’m excited and honored, and I’m going to be rolling up my sleeves and getting out there and generating as much awareness as possible for Salt Lake City and for NTA," Gilbert said. "I want to do everything I can to help promote the value of the convention, the association and the venue."

Gilbert’s diverse background will be an asset in the Convention chair role. Before joining Best Western, he served as chief executive officer of Creative Tourism, a management and marketing company providing travel industry clients with marketing and management solutions with a strong Internet emphasis. Previously, Gilbert was senior vice president marketing and sales for SuperClubs, one of the largest all-inclusive resort hotel chains. He served as vice president of Walt Disney Travel Company and also was vice president of sales and travel operations for The Disneyland Resort. At Choice Hotels International, he served as vice president of sales and travel industry marketing.

McIlvain said Gilbert’s visibility in the travel industry, his industry knowledge and his commitment to NTA were all factors in the selection process.

"The 2006 Convention will mark Salt Lake City’s third time to host NTA," said McIlvain. "That combined with Bob’s experience has the potential to make the 2006 convention one of the best in NTA’s history."