The Travel Institute will not fill its president and CEO position
once David Preece departs at the end of January. Preece linked his
departure to slow industry acceptance of the organization’s new
strategic direction a strategy he designed and promoted since
joining the organization. Preece said “it’s no secret” that the
organization was having an identity crisis it was still the
Institute of Certified Travel Agents when he was hired and that
even then there was concern about the money being drawn from its
reserve fund.
“At that point, we had lost relevance and had two choices either
hang it up or reinvent ourselves,” he said.
After he leaves the Travel Institute at the end of January,
Preece said he hopes he will continue to be effective on its
behalf. During a transition period through the end of 2004, he will
continue to work with the board of trustees as they implement The
Institute’s new strategic plan.
