LRCVB S Gretchen Hall To Lead Board Of Prestigious Tourism Association

LITTLE ROCK (May 27, 2021) — Gretchen Hall, president and CEO of the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, will serve as board chair of the world’s largest association of destination organizations, Destinations International. She assumes her duties as board chair on July 1 and will serve for a one-year period.

Destinations International is a professional advocacy group representing approximately 600 member organizations including almost 6,000 destination professionals from around the globe. Hall will become just the sixth woman to serve as board chair since the organization’s founding in 1914.

Hall has worked for the LRCVB since 2001 and has served as president and CEO of LRCVB since 2011 and been recognized numerous times for her leadership in helping brand Little Rock as a travel and meeting destination. Her tenure will focus on providing research and tools to help Destinations International’s membership recover from the pandemic. Also, as a member of Destinations International’s committee on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, expanding these principles will be a priority during her time in office. Likewise, she will focus on growing the organization’s international presence as well as increasing the organization’s educational opportunities through advocacy and research.

While Hall will focus on growing Destination International’s brand, she anticipates her new leadership role will also enhance Little Rock’s reputation as a travel destination.

“I’m humbled to be one of only six women and first Arkansan to serve in this position over the course of the association’s 107 years,” Hall said. “The tourism industry represents such a diverse group of people from different walks of life and cultures, and it’s satisfying to see more leadership roles within the industry reflect that.”

“And in my role as board chair, I’m also eager to expose Little Rock to tourism professionals across the globe who may not realize all we have to offer here in central Arkansas.”

Hall currently serves as chair-elect on the board’s nine-member executive committee. She serves with committee members representing major-market destinations such as Nashville, Dallas, Baltimore, Palm Springs, San Diego, Phoenix and Banff, Canada.

As board chair, Hall will represent Destinations International at various conventions, conferences and events across the country and even the world.

Under her leadership, LRCVB completed the $70 million expansion and renovation of Robinson Performance Hall and Conference Center in downtown Little Rock. Additionally, Hall has received numerous accolades recognizing her work in advancing Little Rock as a travel destination including being named the 2019 Arkansas Tourism Person of the Year and the 2020 Governor’s Arts Community Development Award.

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The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB) is the official destination marketing organization for the City of Little Rock, charged with marketing and selling the city as a meeting, sports and leisure travel destination. The LRCVB also manages Statehouse Convention Center, Robinson Center, River Market and multiple parking facilities. LRCVB is primarily funded by a hotel, motel and restaurant tax.