PHILADELPHIA, PA…March 31, 2015… After a rigorous nationwide search, the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) today announced Martha Falcon as its new Executive Director of Marketing and Communications. In this role, Falcon will oversee the PHLCVB Marketing and Communications team responsible for supporting the sales and marketing of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, through the design and implementation of marketing, advertising, public relations and digital campaigns that promote Philadelphia and the region.  

Falcon brings more than 30 years of marketing and advertising experience in the leisure, business and travel trade sectors of the travel and tourism industry to this leadership position. She recently moved to the greater Philadelphia area from Florida, where she developed her entire career in destination marketing and the cruise industry, including leading the creation and execution of campaigns for VISIT FLORIDA. Her senior-level marketing and management experience includes both advertising agency account service as well as in-house corporate marketing positions.

“Martha's extensive background in destination marketing brings a new perspective to our organization and she is a vibrant addition to our team,” said PHLCVB President & CEO Jack Ferguson. “We will draw upon her experience, creativity and demonstrated knowledge of our industry to continue the momentum of the PHLCVB marketing efforts, bringing even more conventions and visitors to the city we love.”

As Director of Marketing and Communications at Norwegian Cruise Line from 2006 through 2009, Falcon led the 15-member Marketing Services Department and external partner agencies responsible for all sales, marketing and brand materials for the organization and the fleet of 11 vessels. She then became the Group Business Director at DDB Miami/Alma DDB from 2009 through 2013 where she led the agency teams for clients such as VISIT FLORIDA, the state's official tourism marketing corporation, delivering an extensive, record-breaking, integrated advertising and industry co-operative marketing campaign for the destination. The VISIT FLORIDA campaign under Falcon's leadership won multiple industry awards including AAF's Mosaic Award and the ANA's Multicultural Excellence Award recognizing successful, integrated multicultural marketing and diversity efforts in advertising.                                                  

Additional clients under Falcon's leadership at DDB Miami and other Miami-based agencies included Discover The Palm Beaches, The Official Tourism Marketing Corporation for Palm Beach County, Carnival Cruise Line, The Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, AAA Travel Agency Partners and various Florida Sheraton hotels.

“I am truly excited to be leading the charge in promoting Philadelphia to meeting planners and visitors from around the world, especially as the city prepares to host a papal visit later this year and the Democratic National Convention in 2016,” said Falcon. “My career has been spent marketing top-tier brands, including the country's number one state for tourism, and I am looking forward to applying my knowledge in support of Philadelphia's hospitality and tourism industry.”

Falcon graduated from Villanova University in Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Marketing. She and her husband Errol have two adult sons and a daughter in high school, and currently reside in Moorestown, NJ.  

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Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), www.discoverPHL.com, a private non-profit membership corporation, is the official Tourism Promotion Agency for the City of Philadelphia globally, and the primary sales and marketing agency for the expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center. The PHLCVB competes with its counterparts worldwide for convention and tourism business. The organization has departments dedicated to the multicultural, sports, and life sciences markets. The PHLCVB incorporates the short code PHL, an open source graphic identifier for the City of Philadelphia into the Convention & Visitors Bureau brand identity. The graphic identifier and other assets for use by public, private and non-profit organizations can be found at www.PHLpartners.com.

Media Contact:
Khaila Edward
202.203.8279
khaila@discoverphl.com