Philadelphia, PA…February 11, 2015 - The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) has named Stefan Merkl as its new Senior International Tourism Sales Manager.

In this role, Merkl will be responsible for promoting the city in the emerging Asian and Middle Eastern markets, including China and India, with the goal of increasing visitation and tourism spending to Philadelphia. Merkl will work with tour operators on creating itineraries that incorporate Philadelphia to take advantage of the great value and world-famous landmarks the city offers. He will also expand the presence of Philadelphia at major tradeshows and events to secure improved visibility for the city.

“Asia and the Middle East are rapidly growing markets for overseas travel to the United States and Philadelphia,” said Brian Said, Executive Director of Tourism at PHLCVB. “In recent years, we have seen strong tourism growth and interest from international travelers coming to the city. 2015 is a pivotal year for Philadelphia and we are thrilled to have Stefan on our team to expand our growth as a unique international destination.”

Merkl brings with him extensive experience working in the tourism industry especially in the Asian markets.  Over the last nine years, he managed the sales and marketing efforts of San Francisco-based sightseeing operator Red and White Fleet. As a gateway city from Asia, Merkl built strong relationships with receptive and tour operators that handle inbound travel from China, Korea, Taiwan, and India to ensure the firm's services were integrated into tour programs for San Francisco. He looks forward to bringing his expertise to Philadelphia to help the city's accommodation and activity providers grow their presence in these markets.

Merkl is a well-known and respected leader in this industry. Last year, he was a Tour Operator's Industry's Choice Awards nominee for The Top People In Tour and Travel. In 2013, his team was recognized by the Receptive Services Association of America (RSAA) with the Chairman's Award for providing outstanding support in working with receptive tour operators in accommodating the needs of the international traveler. He served as a supplier board member of the RSAA and held positions on U.S. Travel's National Council of Attractions.

“I am thrilled with this opportunity to join the PHLCVB and to grow Philadelphia's brand internationally in Asian and Middle Eastern markets,” said Merkl. “Philadelphia is an exciting international destination featuring a unique combination of history, culture and modern innovation that will resonate with visitors from the region. It has always been a city that has fascinated me personally and I'm excited to work with the PHLCVB team to solidify Philadelphia's place as a premier global destination.

Merkl holds an MBA in Marketing & Finance from the Golden Gate University, CA. During his free time, he enjoys hiking, skiing, cooking, gardening and discovering new places.

To find out more about PHLCVB's work in the international markets, visit www.discoverPHL.com/international.

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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.