On April 24, 2024, during City Destinations Alliance International Conference & General Assembly in Bologna, gathering an international audience of 225 tourism and city marketing professionals, Board Members, Treasurer, Vice-President and President were elected by the association’s members.
During the General Assembly, Barbara Jamison-Woods (London) was elected by the General Assembly as the President for a mandate of 3 years.
Barbara Jamison-Woods is a highly skilled professional with over 25 years of experience in global tourism and destination promotion. As the current Head of Europe for London & Partners, Barbara plays a pivotal role in enhancing London’s business tourism and events sector and attracting foreign direct investment. Her career includes significant contributions to major initiatives such as the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Barbara’s extensive industry knowledge covers various sectors, including youth and educational tourism, tourism, consumer travel and tour operating, as well as business and events, and city wide DMO management. She has lived and worked in France and Germany, gaining fluency in both languages, which has been instrumental in her international engagements.
Barbara has been part of the board for six years prior to her appointment to President, with three of the last years spent as Vice-President dedicated to City Marketing of City Destinations Alliance, where she utilised her deep knowledge to drive City Destination Alliance’s promotional efforts. Her leadership in this role and her commitment to the CityDNA’s mission— which is to collaborate, share knowledge, and support member growth—has made her a key asset to the organisation.
In recognition of her advocacy and investment in the meetings industry, Barbara received the IMEX Paul Flackett Lifetime Achievement Award. She also worked on the implementation of the CityDNA Mentor Programme aimed at supporting newcomers to the industry.
Barbara is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of leaders in tourism and city development, actively participating in initiatives like the newly formed CityDNA Advisory Council. Her experience, leadership, and industry connections continue to benefit the organisations she serves, making her a distinguished figure in her field.
Barbara Jamison-Woods, newly elected President of City Destinations Alliance said:
“I am honoured to take on the role of President at City Destinations Alliance, and I am excited to lead the organisation in promoting Europe’s strengths in attracting diverse visitors, the best talent, and future-proof investment. During my term, I will work on enhancing our collective efforts, building upon the amazing achievements of the Alliance to date. Alongside the board, and the CityDNA team, our aims will be to continuously advocate for the importance and relevance of our members.”
Patrick Bontinck (Brussels) was also voted as Vice-President for a duration of 1 year and Patrik Romano (Bologna) was designated as Treasurer for a mandate of 1 year.
The newly chosen board members are Maya Janssen (Amsterdam), Gary Breen (Dublin), Michaela Podoláková (Košice) and Jurgen Moors (Maastricht).
Michael Otremba (Hamburg) and Sabine Schwanz (Madrid) go on with their role as Vice-Presidents. Gerry Lennon (Belfast), Susanne Höller (Graz), Anne-Signe Fagereng (Oslo) and Miguel Angel Pérez (Valencia) continue their mandates as the association’s Board Members.
Current Executive Committee of City Destinations Alliance:
- Barbara Jamison, President (Head of Europe & Tourism Sector, London & Partners)
- Patrick Bontinck, Vice-President (CEO, VISITBRUSSELS)
- Michael Otremba, Vice-President (CEO, Hamburg Tourismus)
- Sabine Schwanz, Vice-President (Director Travel Trade & Connectivity, Madrid Destino)
- Patrik Romano, Treasurer (Managing Director, Bologna Welcome)
Current Board Members of City Destinations Alliance:
- Maya Janssen (Managing Director Insights & Marketing Strategy, amsterdam&partners)
- Gerry Lennon (CEO, Visit Belfast)
- Gary Breen (Head of Visitor Engagement, Dublin)
- Susanne Höller (Head of Destination Marketing, Graz Tourismus und Stadtmarketing)
- Michaela Podoláková (CEO, Visit Košice)
- Jurgen Moors (Director, Maastricht Convention Bureau)
- Anne-Signe Fagereng (Director of Marketing, VisitOSLO)
- Miguel Angel Pérez (Brand & Markets Director, VISIT VALÈNCIA)