U.S. Travel Association Announces New National Chair, Governing Committee Members

WASHINGTON (February 25, 2025) — The U.S. Travel Association announced on Tuesday that William (Bill) J. Hornbuckle, Chief Executive Officer and President of MGM Resorts International, was selected National Chair of the association’s board of directors. His appointment to a two-year term was formalized with a membership vote. A new slate of U.S. Travel Executive Board members and elected officers for the upcoming term was also announced.

“I’m grateful for this honor and excited to be joining U.S. Travel at such an important time. America remains at the forefront of travel and hospitality, and it’s vital that we do all we can to keep our industry and economy thriving,” said Bill Hornbuckle. “We are entering a period of once-in-a-lifetime events and opportunities unlike anything our country has seen in recent years. I’m proud to join this storied organization and look forward to helping the industry and the country succeed.” 

“We are grateful for Bill’s leadership and expertise as U.S. Travel pursues a bold agenda of growth and improvements to the traveler experience,” said Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “Bill’s prior leadership of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Travel and Tourism Advisory Board provides him a unique understanding of key issues and the levers that need to be pulled to achieve success in Washington.” 

Hornbuckle will succeed Chris Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton, whose term as national chair has concluded. 

“We express our sincere thanks to Chris Nassetta for his outstanding leadership and contributions during his tenure as our national chair,” Freeman said. “Chris shaped and sped our transition into a focused and sophisticated trade association.”

 Hornbuckle will work with association leaders to enact industry priorities, including maximizing a mega-decade of events like the 2025 Ryder Cup, 2026 World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics.

 The National Chair of the U.S. Travel Association leads an Executive Board comprised of 30 members representing all segments of the travel industry, and a board of delegates who support and advise the association. In this role, Hornbuckle will work closely with U.S. Travel’s Freeman and the executive leadership team to achieve the association’s mission of increasing travel to and within the United States.

2025 U.S. Travel Executive Board 

• National Chair: Bill Hornbuckle, CEO & President, MGM Resorts International
• Immediate Past Chair: Chris Nassetta, President & CEO, Hilton
• Vice Chair: Caroline Beteta, President & CEO, Visit California
• Vice Chair: Casandra Matej, President & CEO, Visit Orlando
• Treasurer: Michael A. Massari, Chief Sales Officer, Caesars Entertainment Inc.
• Secretary: Julie Coker, President & CEO, New York City Tourism + Conventions
• Doreen Burse, SVP, Worldwide Sales, United Airlines 
• Paul Cash, EVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts 
• Annika Chase, SVP, Commercial Strategy, Disneyland Resort, The Walt Disney Company
• Santiago Corrada, President & CEO, Visit Tampa Bay
• Melissa Froehlich-Flood, SVP, Global Corporate Communications and Public Policy, Marriott International, Inc. 
• Nate Gatten, EVP, American Eagle, Corporate Real Estate, and Government Affairs, American Airlines 
• Stephanie Glanzer, Chief Sales Officer & SVP, MGM Resorts International
• Jim D. Hagen, Secretary of Tourism, Travel South Dakota
• Christian Hempell, Chief Commercial Officer, Herschend Enterprises
• Helen Hill, President & CEO, Explore Charleston
• Laura Hodges Bethge, President, Celebrity Cruises (Royal Caribbean Group)
• Deana Ivey, President & CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp 
• Brett Keller, CEO, Priceline (Booking Holdings)
• Walt Leger III, President & CEO, New Orleans & Company
• Katherine Lugar, EVP, Corporate Affairs, Hilton
• Tim Mapes, SVP & Chief Communications Officer, Delta Air Lines, Inc.
• Tom Noonan, President & CEO, Visit Austin
• Ron Price, President & CEO, Visit Phoenix
• Peter Sears, Group President – Americas, Hyatt Hotels Corporation
• Diane Shober, Executive Director, Wyoming Office of Tourism
• Scott Strobl, EVP & General Manager, Universal Studios Hollywood (Universal Destinations & Experiences)
• Melvin Tennant, President & CEO, Meet Minneapolis 
• Rob Torres, SVP, Media Solutions, Expedia Group 
• Wit Tuttell, Executive Director, Visit North Carolina 
• Phillip A. Washington, Chief Executive Officer, Denver International Airport 

2025 U.S. Travel Finance Committee

• Committee Chair Michael A. Massari, Chief Sales Officer, Caesars Entertainment Inc. 
• Paul Cash, EVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
• Kaitlin Eskelson, President & CEO, Visit Salt Lake
• Mark Ezell, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development 
• Joe Marinelli, President & CEO, Visit Savannah
• Martha Sheridan, President & CEO, Meet Boston 

2025 U.S. Travel Nominating and Membership Committee 

• Committee Chair Helen T. Hill, President & CEO, Explore Charleston
• Marc Anderson, President & CEO, Visit San Antonio 
• Tammy Canavan, President & CEO, Visit Seattle 
• Annika Chase, SVP, Commercial Strategy, Disneyland Resort, The Walt Disney Company 
• Michael Dominguez, President & CEO, Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) 
• Elliott L. Ferguson II, President & CEO, Destination DC
• Michael Heckman, President & CEO, Houston First Corporation
• Vic Isley, President & CEO, Explore Asheville
• Mark Jaronski, Chief Marketing Officer, Georgia Department of Economic Development 
• Christine Maguire, Global VP, Commercial Business, Tripadvisor 
• Jack McNeill, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Delaware North
• Stephen Revetria, President, Giants Enterprises
• Dan Surette, Chief Sales Officer, Omni Hotels & Resorts
• Tim Wolfe, Director, Colorado Tourism Office 
• David Zielke, Director, Air Service Development, Port of Portland

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U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing the $1.3 trillion travel industry, an essential contributor to our nation's economy and success. U.S. Travel produces programs and insights and advocates for policies to increase travel to and within the United States. Visit ustravel.org for information and recovery-related data.