| John Kelsh |
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GDS Principal John knew at age 21 that his interests pointed toward tourism development and he has never looked back, always seeking the next challenge in helping destinations get on the map. John worked three years by contract for Destination Development, International. John had a central role in developing the branding, product development and marketing plans for Ottawa, Illinois; Rapid City, South Dakota; Battle Creek, Michigan; Conroe, Salado and Marshall, Texas; Rock Springs, Wyoming; Moses Lake, Washington; and Pittsburg, Turlock and Stockton, California. He also participated in strategic planning for Pendleton, Oregon; Enumclaw, Monroe and Mason County, Washington. John's overseas consulting includes work in the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Australia and New Zealand. John received his Bachelors of Science degree in Transportation, Travel and Tourism at Niagara University and a Master's in Business Administration at the University of Hawaii. John was the first student intern with the United States Travel Service at the Department of Commerce in D.C .and was appointed by Hawaii's Governor to manage that State's first comprehensive statewide tourism development plan. During this period John also wrote Hawaii's hotel overbooking law, and managed the state contract with the Hawaii Visitor's Bureau. John's marketing experience includes managing tourism marketing accounts for Fiji, Maui, Samoa, Alaska and Continental Airlines. He consulted with the Alaska Visitors Association for 14 years and worked with over 25 small communities throughout the state as well as many other public and private Alaska clients. John is the author of "Destination: Alaska!" a ten-year tourism plan for the state, and he designed several of Alaska's tourism research methodologies. John has been a speaker a variety of tourism subjects in Asia, the U.S. and the Pacific Basin, and taught at the School of Travel Industry Management, University of Hawaii. |