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Hong Kong Tourism Board Appoints New Director, USA

Dépèche transmise le 9 septembre 2009 par Business Wire

Hong Kong Tourism Board Appoints New Director, USA

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced today the appointment of Mr. William B. Flora as Director for HKTB offices in the United States of America (USA), effective September 8, 2009.

In his new role, Mr. Flora will formulate and manage the HKTB’s marketing and communication strategies in the USA, contributing to the Board’s overall global planning. Acting as HKTB’s interface and key spokesman in the market, Mr. Flora will lead the HKTB USA team in building stronger partnerships with the media, travel trade and related parties in the country.

Mr. Flora joins the HKTB following a distinguished 30-year career in advertising and marketing, covering both the operational and management sides. Through the years, he has held senior positions in various large advertising agencies and corporations, including Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB), and TBWA CHIAT\DAY. His experience covers a wide range of sectors, from travel and automotive business to fast-moving consumer goods. Before joining the HKTB, Mr. Flora was Senior Vice President/ Group Management Supervisor of Dailey & Associates, managing the account of Princess Cruises & Cunard Line.

The US is the fourth-largest source market for visitors to Hong Kong. Owing to the economic downturn, visitor arrivals decreased by 12.5% to 608,043 year-on-year in the first seven months of 2009. In 2008, 88% of the overnight visitors from the USA went on multi-destination itineraries during their visit to Hong Kong, with more than half visiting Mainland China.

On welcoming Mr. Flora, HKTB Executive Director Anthony Lau said: “We are glad to welcome William to our team. I am sure his extensive knowledge and expertise in marketing will help us maintain a stronger brand presence of Hong Kong in the USA. In particular, his previous experience in the cruise sector will definitely be an asset to us, as we work with cruise lines and operators to develop new fly/cruise itineraries for the US consumers.

“With William now on board, we will further our effort in promoting multi-destination itineraries in the US, given the trend for combo travel,” Mr. Lau continued. “Leveraging on our position as the gateway to Mainland China, we will continue our collaboration with trade partners to develop and promote multi-destination itineraries anchoring on Hong Kong.”

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