TIAC is pleased to announce that two of the leading women in tourism, Gisèle Danis and Carol-Ann Gilliard, have been named Co-Chairs of the 2012 Tourism Congress, to be held in Ottawa-Gatineau this November 19-21.

Currently the Vice President of Marketing for Tourism Calgary, Gisèle Danis is an accomplished marketer, communicator and, above all, a passionate leader in Canada’s tourism industry. Gisèle is one of Canada’s most successful tourism voices, having played a key part in numerous award-winning campaigns and marketing initiatives including the CTC’s wildly successfully Locals Know campaign. Earlier in her career, she served in Marketing, Sponsorship and Public Relations for the Walt Disney Company, in Marketing, Stakeholder Relations and Corporate Communications for Jasper National Park and as a TV reporter and anchor for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Gisèle was named one of the Top 25 Marketers in the world by Hospitality, Sales, Management Association International (HSMAI) in 2010.

Carol-Ann Gilliard has been Chief Executive Officer of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador (the province’s tourism industry association) since 2008. She has considerable experience in strategic analysis, planning and implementation, having worked in senior roles in both non-profit and government tourism environments since 1998. She is the Chair of the Atlantic Canada Tourism Caucus and serves as a Board member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Business Coalition. She is also a Business representative on the province’s Strategic Partnership Transportation Committee and provincial Air Access Advisory Committee.

TIAC looks forward to working with this year’s chairs, who will provide strategic guidance and help steer the program content, ensuring that TIAC continues to build on the success of the 2010 and 2011 editions of Tourism Congress.