Regional Webinar: Tourism & Travel

Krissy Gathright
Krissy is a visionary, influential leader and has been an active participant in the hospitality and REIT industry for 25+ years. She retired from her role as COO of Apple Hospitality REIT (NYSE: APLE) in 2020 to focus on corporate board work, impactful philanthropic leadership and venture investing and advising. She is an experienced public company board member, serving on the Apple Hospitality REIT (APLE) and Spirit Realty Capital (SRC) Boards of Directors. She has been recognized as one of the most influential women in lodging by Hotel Management and Lodging magazines. She is a sought-after speaker, having spoken at numerous industry conferences and business forums. She served ten years as the President of the Courtyard Franchise Advisory Council and was also a founding member of the Hilton and Marriott Distribution Advisory Councils. She is a member of the Hospitality Investment Roundtable, an exclusive membership group comprised of leading senior executives for AHLA member companies, capital providers and professional service firms that meets to discuss and consider the most pressing issues and future developments facing the hospitality industry. Krissy also serves as a senior advisor for Derive Ventures, a hospitality-focused early-stage investor and advisory service firm. As an active participant in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, Krissy capitalizes on her skills as a strategic, analytical thinker, dynamic innovator, team builder and people connector to help new ventures transform industries and create value for stakeholders.

Rita McClenny
Rita serves as president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, a state agency charged with marketing the Commonwealth as a premier travel destination and film location.  The mission of VTC is to expand domestic and international in-bound travel and motion picture production to generate revenue and employment in Virginia.  A native Virginian, Ms. McClenny received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Fisk University.  She was born and raised in Southampton County and presently resides in the City of Richmond. Under Rita’s leadership tourism has grown 5% year-over-year and the agency has received several industry awards: among them U.S. Travel Association’s Mercury Award and Afar Magazine’s Distinguished Destination Award.  Rita has been recognized as a Virginia Business Top 500 Leader in the Commonwealth three years in a row (2021-2023). Tourism and film are instant revenue generators for Virginia. In 2022, tourism in Virginia generated $30 billion in direct spending, supported more than 210,000 jobs, and provided $2.2 billion in state and local taxes. Virginia was named a top state to both vacation and retire in 2023.

Duane Parrish
Duane is the Director for the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT). Parrish has dedicated over 35 years of his professional career to the hospitality industry, including extensive experience in hotel property management and development throughout South Carolina. He was appointed to his current cabinet position by Governor Nikki R. Haley in January 2011. Prior to his appointment as Director of SCPRT, Parrish served as President of the Premier Hospitality Group and was responsible for all daily operations, with oversight of various other divisions including development, human resources, accounting, and real estate sales.  Utilizing a hands-on approach to business, Parrish has led many properties under PHG management to receive special recognition for improvements in guest relations and overall performance. Parrish has also held several senior management positions within the hotel industry at distinguished organizations including Promus Hotels (now Hilton Hotels), Holiday Inns, and Ramada Inns. Parrish has opened, operated, or renovated 19 hotels ranging from a 32-room independent inn to a 260-room full-service hotel. His hospitality experience also includes management of the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. A graduate of the University of South Carolina in Business Administration, Parrish has served as an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston and Trident Technical College teaching hotel management and hospitality courses. He has also been an active member of the South Carolina Hospitality Association and once served as Chairman. Parrish has also served on a number of other boards for the Chamber of Commerce, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, various hotel associations, and two college advisory boards.

Wit Tuttell
Wit Tuttell was named Executive Director of Visit North Carolina in November 2013. He oversees the strategic planning, policy development, and marketing initiatives for North Carolina's official state tourism office and the industry sectors it serves. North Carolina's state tourism office, formerly the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film, and Sports Development, was transferred to the non-profit Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina in October 2014 and renamed Visit North Carolina. Tuttell has been in North Carolina tourism since 2006. During this time, the office has been recognized with numerous national awards for excellence in marketing and advertising. He has served as chair of the board of directors of Travel South USA and serves on the board of the U.S. Travel Association. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the tourism industry including working for Universal Studios Florida and the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau Inc. He graduated from the University of Florida and was also a reporter for the Anchorage (Alaska) Times.