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Kara Franker to Lead Florida Keys & Key West Tourism Organization
8/9/2024
KEY WEST, Florida Keys - Kara Franker, a nationally recognized tourism executive and travel communicator, is the new president and chief executive officer for Visit Florida Keys, the operations corporation for the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. Chosen after a nationwide search that yielded four finalists, Franker has been chief executive officer of Colorado’s Visit Estes Park since 2021. She is scheduled to begin her new position in the Keys Monday, Sept. 9, officials said Friday. “Kara’s diverse experience with tourism marketing, her legal and executive management background, and her enthusiasm and love of the Florida Keys make her a candidate exceptionally qualified to oversee Florida Keys tourism marketing,” said Diane Schmidt, a TDC and VFK board member and chair of the selection committee comprised of Keys community leaders. Franker is a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME), regarded as the tourism industry’s highest individual educational achievement by Destinations International. The organization is recognized for defining global quality and performance standards in destination marketing and management. She is the co-author of two tourism white papers on artificial intelligence and holds an executive certificate in artificial intelligence and business strategy from the MIT Sloan School of Management. “I am so excited to join the team in the Florida Keys,” said Franker. “It is a dream to represent such an incredible destination and community.” Among Franker’s top goals in the Keys is to achieve Destination Management Accreditation Program certification for the Florida Keys & Key West through Destinations International. Her planned initial activities include embarking on a listening tour to get to know Keys residents and stakeholders. “I will focus on continuing the great work that has already been done and strengthening our community engagement, while ensuring we maintain top market share through our marketing programs,” said Franker. Franker is an at-large board delegate to the U.S. Travel Association. She’s also a member of Destinations International’s CDME board, its foundation and its global leadership and governance and nomination committees. Franker previously served as a senior vice president of marketing and communications for Visit Lauderdale in Broward County, Fla. As founder of Kara Franker Inc. in Miami, she worked with clients VISIT FLORIDA and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau on strategic communications plans. A seasoned travel journalist, Franker has been a Florida expert and specialist for Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Coastal Living, Travel Channel, Travelocity, Orbitz and other brands. She served as editor-in-chief of several of Modern Luxury’s magazine titles in Palm Beach, Miami and Aspen. Also a Florida licensed attorney, Franker is a former Miami-Dade County assistant state attorney. She earned her law degree from the University of Denver and a B.S. in journalism and strategic communications from the University of Kansas. Florida Keys visitor information: www.fla-keys.com or 1-800-FLA-KEYS (1-800-352-5397) Contact: questions@exhibitormagazine.com |
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