The Hawaii Tourism Authority has tapped a Marriott hotel executive to lead its tourism marketing strategy.
Chris Tatum, currently area general manager of Marriott, becomes the first hotelier to take the tiop job at the HTA.
He was officially unveiled as new CEO following the end of the 51-day strike at Marriott hotels across Hawaii.
Tatum replaces former HTA president and CEO George Szigeti who left a month ago.
Tatum has a long three-decade career at Marriott, beginning straight out of college.
He has held varied positions including assistant housekeeping manager at the Maui Marriott in 1981, resident manager of the Kauai Marriott, and as general manager of the J.W. Marriott in Ko Olina and the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.
He also spent time overseas in management positions at Marriott hotels in Malaysia and Australia.
He currently serves as chairman of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.
"Chris Tatum has the ideal combination of qualities, experiemce and dedication to lead the HTA forward," said HTA board chairman Rick Fried.
