Three New Members Appointed to the Board of Directors of the Canadian Tourism Commission

OTTAWA, February 21, 2008 — The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC), today announced the appointment of Mr. Scott Allison, Ms. Leah George-Wilson and Mr. Konstantinos (Kosta) Tomazos as members of the Board of Directors of the CTC.

"The Board of Directors' work in supporting and promoting Canada's tourism industry is vital to helping position Canada as a top tourism destination," said Minister Prentice. "I welcome Mr. Allison, Ms. George-Wilson and Mr. Tomazos to the Board and look forward to seeing the continued growth of tourism in Canada."

Mr. Allison is currently Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Marriott Hotels of Canada. Prior to joining Marriott Hotels, Mr. Allison was a partner with Experience Marketing Corporation where he provided marketing management and strategic counsel in the areas of travel, tourism, hospitality and entertainment. He also served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing with Delta Hotels and Resorts and Thomas Cook Group (Canada) Limited, and as President of Blyth and Company.

Ms. George-Wilson has been a member of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation since 1992 where she has served as a researcher and then Director of Treaty, Land and Resources. In 2001 and 2005 she was elected Chief, a position she holds today. She is a board member of Leadership Vancouver, is Co-Chair of the First Nations Summit Society and served on the board of the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce from 2004 to 2006.

Mr. Tomazos is currently President of Hospitality Investment and Management at CK Atlantis Inc. The company provides hospitality consulting services and acquires and manages full-service hotels in Canada and the U.S. Prior to this, Mr. Tomazos worked for 1 King West Inc. where he was Project Manager of Condominium Hotel Development. He has also held numerous senior positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. and the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel.

In 2001, Mr. Tomazos was honoured by Canadian Hotel Marketing & Sales Executives as General Manager of the Year.

The CTC is a national marketing organization. Its vision is to convince the world to explore Canada. With its partners in the tourism industry and all levels of government, it advertises and markets Canada in 10 countries around the world, conducts industry research and studies, and promotes product and industry development. For further information on the CTC, visit its website at http://www.canada.travel.

For more information (media only), please contact:

Deirdra McCracken
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jim Prentice
Minister of Industry
613-995-9001

Gloria Loree
Executive Director (Acting)
Communications & Public Relations
Canadian Tourism Commission
604-638-8407