Chad Martin

About Chad Martin

In short, I am a full time advocate for travel to the State of Israel. I am passionate about my personal relationships with the travel industry, potential investors in Israeli tourism infrastructure and of course community leaders of nearly every imaginable background. I also pride myself on delivering prompt, high quality pro-tourism solutions, while finding the humor in even the most trying of times.In my many years in New York (nearly two decades), I have thrived in a diversity of roles. I began with start-ups then on to small businesses, continuing to established industry actors and then on to represent a luxury hotel thousands of miles away. In nearly every role, I worked in what I consider grassroots, people to people diplomacy - also known as global tourism, and in my case, specifically Israeli tourism. For nearly a decade, I have been proud to say that I do this in an official capacity for the Ministry of Tourism of the State of Israel, striving to maximize the number of outbound tourists from the Northeast Region of the United States and to promote investment in Israel\'s hospitality infrastructure. I do so because consider tourism to be by far the most effective, honest way to spread love, support and passion for this most special destination. Any who have visited know that Israel is a place that speaks for herself and as such, one that should be heard by all.

Experience

1. Director, Northeast Region

   Visit Israel

   May 2016 — Present

   Oversee and maximize production of world\'s largest market for tourism to Israel including 13 states and Washington, DC• Official spokesperson and head of office for the Israel Ministry of Tourism in the Northeast region of the United States• Lead major business development and strategic partnership efforts across travel industry, governmental (US and Israeli), and nonprofit verticals in Northeast and North America• Gold Magellan Award Recipient 2024 for destination marketing• Primary liaison to travel industry and Jewish community in North America, addressing major conferences and events including New York Times Travel Show, American Society of Travel Advisors Global Conference, JFNA General Assembly and many more• Brand destination among universe of outbound tourism markets in the Northeast and US• Create and execute strategic plan and budget for region and N. America with four other regional directors• Build and manage relationships with C- Suite and VP level executives of the travel industry, associations, governments and institutions• Plan and execute official visits to for elected and high ranking officials including the Minister of Tourism and Director General • Initiate, negotiate and execute agreements with partners such as Virtuoso, Internova, Signature, USTOA, JFNA, Hillel International, ASTA, US Chamber of Commerce and many others • Spearhead effort to recruit investment in Israel’s hotel real estate industry from North America• Generate mutually beneficial initiatives with state and local governments including mayoral and gubernatorial administrations. Includes executed agreements with New York State and the State of New Jersey• Develop comprehensive strategies with Israeli convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and convention centers to attract business events• Results reflected in 50% increase in US travel to Israel, from 620K in 2016 to nearly 1 million in 2019• Manage small staff, prioritizing major, high impact activities

Education

• Boardman High School

  High School Diploma

  1997 — 2001

• Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

  Overseas Student Program, Political Science and Hebrew

  2004 — 2004

• The Ohio State University

  BA, Maj: Political Science & Hebrew Min: International Studies

  2001 — 2005

Skills

• Leadership
• Market Research
• Non-Profits
• Tour Operators
• Nonprofits
• Product Management
• Luxury Brand Marketing
• Online Marketing
• Sales
• Hotels
• Online Advertising
• Hotel Management
• Presentations
• Business Intelligence
• Strategy
• Tourism
• Strategic Communications
• Middle East
• Solution Selling
• Problem Solving
• South America
• Diplomacy
• Business Relationship Management
• Hospitality Industry
• Advertising
• Hospitality
• Public Relations
• Product Marketing
• Leisure Travel
• Management
• Marketing Strategy
• Hospitality Management
• Public Speaking
• Marketing
• Business Development
• Non-Profit Consulting
• Tourism Management
• Account Management
• Revenue Analysis
• Creative Solutions