4th Annual Anastasia K. Mann Leadership & TTMA Landmark Awards Luncheon Slate Revealed

The Travel and Tourism Marketing Association is to hold its 4th Annual Anastasia K. Mann Leadership & TTMA Landmark Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, 11 October 2005 from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm, at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, Anaheim, California.

"This annual event recognizes and honors the very best in Southern California's travel tourism industry," said Ms. Joanie McClellan, Executive Director. She added that, "the October 11th event will honor Mr. Charles Ahlers, President of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau for his decades-long contribution to the growth and development of travel and tourism in Southern California."

Mr. Ahlers was named President of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau in 1992. As President he oversees the Bureau's convention and tourism marketing efforts and serves as its chief executive officer. Mr. Ahlers' history with Anaheim dates back to the 1970's when he held the position of Convention Sales Manager at the Bureau for seven years. Prior to his move back to Orange County, Ahlers served as Executive Director of the Portland Oregon Visitors Association from 1987 to 1992, Convention Director for the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau for 6 1/2 years, and Director of Sales for the Phoenix & Valley of the Sun Convention & Visitors Bureau.

During his 35-year career, Mr. Ahlers' service in the Visitor Industry includes a term as Chairman of the Board of the International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (IACVB) during 2000-2001 and a five-year membership on the IACVB Executive Committee. In January 2003, Ahlers assumed a three-year term as a Trustee on the Board of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Education Foundation. In recognition of his many contributions to the organization, Ahlers was presented the PCMA 2004 Chairman's Award at the PCMA Annual Convention in January 2005.

Mr. Ahlers also has served as a Director on the Board of PCMA, the Board of the International Association of Exhibition Management (IAEM), the Foundation Board of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Board of Directors of the California Travel Industry Association. Previous awardees include Huell Howser, host of PBS’s California Gold, and tourism luminaries, Ed & Lynn Hogan.

TTMA will also be honoring The Disneyland Resort® with its Landmark Award, which publicity acknowledges tourism landmarks representing vital and dynamic examples of historically and culturally significant places which play an important role in Southern California tourism. Last year’s award recipient was The Hollywood Museum, sited in the historic Max Factor Building in Hollywood.