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Maria Polk, President & CEO
2016 – Established VR Tourism News.com as the first and only newsletter for the tourism industry along with VRTravel.com, the website for all VR/AR/360 Travel, Attractions & Destinations showcase. In 1995, along with Joe King, founded Tours.com – The Only WorldWide Directory of Tours & Vacations tours.com & sightseeing.com. Developed the first door-to-door airport shuttle service in San Francisco, which became the prototype for the numerous companies providing such services today. (licensed through the Public Utilities Commission – PUC)American Express Travel in 1977 As Director, West Coast DSM. Established CENTRES – a Central Hotel Reservation and Marketing Service for independent hotels, which was acquired by a major subsidiary of the Greyhound Corporation. Served as Executive Director/General Manager for ASI – American Sightseeing Int’l, a 50 year-old worldwide association of vacation tour & sightseeing companies.
Lark Gould, Director of Content - Travel-Intel
Award-winning author, writer & journalist, Lark Ellen Gould has been in the travel business for 25 years. She started out covering war, famine & politics in Africa & the Middle East for such publications as the Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor & AP, eventually transitioned into writing about world travel, tourism & destinations for national & international magazines. She continues to cover the travel industry as editor of Travel-Intel Newsletter reaching over 103,000 opt-in travel agents weekly, primarily in North America & syndicated on many sites around the net.
Marijo Douglass, Executive V.P. Operations & Data Development
A long and diverse experience in the travel industry from management of outbound operations including budgeting and promotions to establishing an inbound start-up division for American Express and international hotel marketing in Taiwan and Canada. With this experience as Executive VP, responsible for achieving financial goals and objectives and increase operating performance. Responsible for verifying, processing and maintaining customer source submissions by reviewing data for deficiencies and resolving discrepancies.
Deborah Reinow, 2016-Present, Executive Editor, VRTourismNews
Vr Tourism News is the first and only VR Newsletter for the tourism Industry. Former Vice President of Tourism for the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau is well known in the US tourism industry having led the tourism promotion efforts for the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau for over 23 years.
Paul Vuksich, General Counsel
California lawyer specializing in business law also acted as primary litigation counsel in multiple state and federal venues. Experienced in corporate governance, financial reports, registrations statements, litigation, litigation management, regulatory compliance, securities law, intellectual property protection, business transactions, software licensing, employment law, real estate transactions, GAAP accounting, books and records maintenance and financial and tax planning. Served for a term on the California State Bar Association’s Law Office Management & Technology Committee. A graduate of the University of San Francisco School of Law & West Point.
Bruce Douglass (杜恩德)
Responsible for all China relationships within the tourism industry. Received his Bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies and his Master’s degree in Chinese. Worked and studied in Asia for a total of ten years. Worked in the travel and the hospitality industries in both Asia and North America for over thirty years for such travel industry giants as American Express and the Ritz Taipei.