Travel industry veteran serves second term in leadership position.
Mark W. Thompson, Executive Director of Visit Plano, has become the new Board Chair for the Texas Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (TACVB). His tenure began on August 12, 2020 at the organization’s virtual annual conference.
Thompson has been Executive Director of Visit Plano since 1988, and also served as the TACVB’s Board Chair in 2006-2007. In 2019, he received the organization’s prestigious Marion Szurek Legacy Award.
Most recently, Thompson was also honored with the Texas Department of Transportation’s 2020 Gene Phillips Hospitality Award, in recognition of his lifetime accomplishments in Texas travel and tourism.
Mark’s Travel & Tourism Background
Thompson began his Texas tourism career at the Tyler CVB in the mid 80’s, continuing at the South Padre Island CVB in the 90’s before joining Visit Plano. In 2015, he received his certification in Destination Management from Destinations International (DI) and he is also a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP). Mark is an active member in the National Tourism Association (NTA), Meeting Processionals International (MPI), Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI), Texas Society of Association Executives (TSAE), and the American Bus Association (ABA). He has also been an instrumental player in organizing activities for Team Texas, particularly for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.
Thompson has been a tourism leader not only in Texas but also nationally. He is past chair of the Dallas Fort Worth Area Tourism Council and a past board member for the Texas Travel Industry Association (TTIA). He has served on the Destination & Travel Foundation Board of Trustees, co-chaired the CDME Task Force, and served on the Destinations International Education Committee and the Business Intelligent Task Force. Mark is also currently serving on the board for VisitDFW.
His peers have recognized him both with TTIA’s Tall in Texas Award and the Mark of Distinction Award for his lasting impact on the industry.
The TACVB’s mission is to empower its members by providing premier destination organization education and resources. For further information, visit tacvb.org.
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