The Little Rock Advertising Promotion Commission Names Interim Ceo For LRCVB

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (January 28, 2022) – The Little Rock Advertising & Promotion (LRA&P) Commission has named Gina Gemberling as interim President & CEO of the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB). Earlier this week current President & CEO, Gretchen Hall, announced she would be departing the post March 22 to take on the role of Chief Operating Officer for Destinations International.

The LRA&P Commission held a special called meeting today to make this announcement and discuss transition plans. Chairman Jim Keet stated, “In order to create a smooth transition in leadership and maximize the sixty days we have before Gretchen’s departure, we felt it was important to name an interim leader. Gina was an easy and obvious choice due to her experience in the industry and the excellent job she has done in her senior leadership role at LRCVB for the past four years.”

Gemberling joined the LRCVB in January 2018 as Vice President of Sales and Service and was promoted to Sr. Vice President of Sales and Marketing in the fall of 2020. She has dedicated her career to the tourism industry beginning in the hotel business prior to joining the Springfield Illinois Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB) in 1993 until she relocated to assume a role with the LRCVB team in 2018. Gina held several sales, service, and marketing positions in her 24 years at the SCVB and served as the Executive Director her final four years in the destination. She is also a Certified Destination Management Executive.

As LRCVB’s Sr. Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Gina oversees the sales and marketing divisions to create and execute strategies to positively position Little Rock as a destination for meetings, events, and leisure travel. She has led the sales and marketing teams through a merger and reorganization, capitalizing on the opportunities to expand efficiencies and enhance marketing and sales efforts by developing and implementing programs that deliver targeted, consistent messaging. Recent enhancements include expanding marketing efforts to targeted niche markets including cycling and the black consumer.

Keet also noted, “It is the goal of the A&P Commission to move promptly, yet prudently, in the search and selection of the next bureau leader. Additional transition plans will be announced soon.”