Ex-SeaWorld Orlando president to lead Visit Orlando board

Former SeaWorld Orlando President Terry Prather has been appointed to chair Visit Orlando's board of directors, the public-private marketing group announced this week.Prather will chair the board through 2024. He is the chief operating officer at Lift Orlando, a nonprofit working to revitalize the neighborhoods around Camping World Stadium, and led SeaWorld Orlando from 2010 to 2015.Prather is the first Black chair of Visit Orlando's board of directors, according to the organization funded largely by Orange County's tourism tax on hotels and other lodgings.He has previously served on boards for Visit Florida, the Florida Council of Tourism Leaders, Dr. Phillips Charities and Bethune-Cookman University.'As board chair, my three key priorities are to support the organization in the execution of our three-year strategic plan, help strengthen the travel and tourism industry and showcase the opportunities this industry provides for people of all backgrounds at every stage in their career,' Prather said in a statement.Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando, said Prather's experience in the travel and tourism industry and background in community service will benefit Visit Orlando.'I am looking forward to working in partnership with Terry and our 2023 board of directors to further our mission to be the most visited, welcoming and inclusive travel destination in the world,' Matej said in a statement.Visit Orlando has also appointed six new directors to its board, including leaders from SeaWorld's Aquatica and Universal Orlando Resort.They are Hilton Orlando General Manager Chris Mueller, GoPegasus Vice President Claudia Menezes, ProfitLand Partners CEO John de Armas, ICON Park President and CEO Chris Jaskiewicz, Universal Orlando Resort President and COO Karen Irwin and Aquatica and Discovery Cove Vice President of Operations Brad EMAIL and URL on Twitter