Boston, Mass.—Attract China LLC has appointed Joseph A. McInerney, CHA as its first member of the company’s board of advisors. McInerney, emeritus president and chief executive officer of American Hotel & Lodging Association, is a hospitality veteran with more than 50 years of experience and was previously named “Tourism Man of the Year” by Pacific Area Travel Writers Association in 2007.
“Joe is a proven leader whose experience, vision and ability to bring people together will help Attract China solidify its preeminent foothold within the hospitality industry,” said Evan Saunders, CEO and co-founder of Attract China. “We also envision that Joe’s appointment will set the tone for us as we engage additional inspirational business thought leaders in other industries for inclusion on our board.”
After being named president and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association in October 2001, McInerney worked to reorganize the association by streamlining efficiency and strengthening its core operation. Since then he’s also consolidated its two affiliates to form the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit, charitable-giving and fund raising organization dedicated to providing educational scholarships, professional certifications, instructional materials, and funding for key industry research.
“Attract China is one of those rare companies that is successfully navigating between two different constituencies. In the West, they help companies communicate their message to Chinese travelers while in China they are very much oriented toward the consumer,” McInerney said. “While their approach is two-pronged, their business focus is singular, and I hope to help them in both markets.”
“We’re so very proud to have Joe McInerney serving on our Advisory Board,” stated industry veteran and Attract China Chairman, Melinda Bush. “Joe’s knowledge of the industry will make enormous contributions to Attract China and our nationwide expansion in 2014.”
