Fritz Smith Joins VISIT PHILADELPHIA Staff

Smith Fills New Role as Vice President of Hotel Initiatives

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. September 08, 2014

PHILADELPHIA - September 8, 2014 - VISIT PHILADELPHIA™ has announced that Fritz Smith will take a new position as vice president of hotel initiatives, starting this fall. In this role, Smith will lead the direction and management of strategic hotel programs and packages; oversee visitor, hotel, economic impact and program research; manage VISIT PHILADELPHIA's AAA/CAA marketing program; and serve as the company liaison for select regional, state and national relationships.

“We created this new role as a result of the environment we're working in—heavy competition, limited funding, tough projections for the upcoming years and an evolving visitor base as a new generation drives shifts in the travel marketing arena,” said Meryl Levitz, president and CEO of VISIT PHILADELPHIA. “We've worked with Fritz for years, and I'm confident that he'll take our hotel and research programs to new levels of innovation and success.”

Smith most recently worked as the deputy secretary for administration in the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Prior to that, he was vice president of tourism at Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, where he marketed Philadelphia to the international leisure and domestic group tour markets. He also previously acted as project manager at Delaware River Port Authority and held hotel management positions for 10 years in Washington, DC and Virginia. All together, Smith brings with him two decades of experience in the travel, tourism and economic development sectors.

“I look forward to joining the VISIT PHILADELPHIA team,” said Smith. “I've worked in Pennsylvania's tourism industry for years, and I know the importance of travel as an economic driver for the Philadelphia region. My goal is to continue and grow that impact.”

Smith is a member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the World Affairs Council, member of the Lower Merion Historical Society and volunteer for Tourism Cares.

Smith graduated from Elizabethtown College and currently lives in Exton, Chester County

VISIT PHILADELPHIA™, formerly known as Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases the number of visitors, the number of nights they stay and the number of things they do in the five-county area.

Greater Philadelphia's official visitor website and blog, visitphilly.com and uwishunu.com make up the most-visited website network out of the 10 biggest U.S. cities. Visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets.

CONTACT:
Cara Schneider
(215) 599-0789
[email protected]