OTTAWA, November 22, 2012 – The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is pleased to introduce Michael Crockatt, Vice President, Business Development & Marketing, Ottawa International Airport Authority, as the incoming chair of its board of directors.

Michael has served for the past six years as a member of TIAC’s Board of Directors. He also serves on the board of Ottawa Tourism as Vice Chair of the Board, Chair of the Sales and Marketing Council, and as a member of the Tourism Development Council. Michael serves on several committees with the Canadian Airports Council, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Skal Ottawa, and the Airports Council International-North America.

In 2010, Michael was a recipient of the Ottawa Business Journal Forty Under 40 Awards. In his previous involvement with the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, Michael was named Chairperson of the Year in 2003 for his leadership with the Chamber’s Transportation and Logistics Committee.

Michael is a graduate of the University of Manitoba, with a Master's degree focusing on the aviation industry and regional economic development.

“We are very excited to have Michael Crockatt take the helm of TIAC’s board of directors at a very critical juncture for the tourism industry,” said David Goldstein, TIAC President and CEO.  “Michael is a man of extraordinary vision, and his leadership will be invaluable as our sector looks for resourceful ways to improve its global tourism competitiveness in the coming years.”

TIAC also named two of Canada’s most respected tourism businesspeople as its vice-chairs: Heather McCrory, Regional Vice-President, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts and General Manager of the Fairmont Royal York and Pat Kelly, President and CEO of the Ottawa Convention Centre.

TIAC also wishes to thank Mr. Gopal Rao, regional VP of Sales and Marketing, Canada for InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and TIAC’s outgoing board chair for his extraordinary efforts over the past two years.  Under his stewardship, great strides were made on a number of issues of vital importance to the tourism industry.  TIAC is greatly appreciative of Mr. Rao’s dedication to the organization and to improving the overall health of this key export sector, and wishes him well as he embarks on the next phase of his personal and professional life as IHG’s new regional GM for Southwest Asia in Delhi, India.