How an Outgoing Tourism Association CEO Pivoted Destination Marketing

Michael Gehrisch stepped down as president and CEO of Destination Marketing Association International this week after 15 years advocating for the tourism bureau industry. DMAI's COO Charles Jeffers assumes leadership responsibilities until the group's board of directors determines a successor. In a press release, Gehrisch said he was moving on to spend time overseeing family business investments, and he will consult with DMAI’s board on selecting his replacement. For any association CEO position, 15 years is a relatively long time, and Gehrisch told Skift this summer during the annual DMAI conference in Austin that he was reprioritizing certain values following the recent passing of his father. During his tenure, Gehrisch emphasized the role of destination marketing organizations (DMOs) as a vehicle for developing partnerships with local travel suppliers to drive economic development and job growth. He was also a strident advocate for educating elected officials and business stakeholders that the economic impact of tourism promotion extended well beyond filling hotel rooms. Gehrisch entered his position when the organization was originally calledÂ