The Georgia Department of Economic Development recently named Mark Jaronski, a 25-year travel and tourism industry leader and veteran Disney marketing executive, to lead Explore Georgia, the state tourism office within the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Jaronski will guide the team responsible for attracting tourists from across the globe to Georgia’s destinations. Georgia attracted a record-setting 111.7 million international and domestic visitors, who collectively spent $36.9 billion in communities throughout the state and directly supported 478,000 jobs in 2018, which is the most recent year complete data is available.
Jaronski spent 16 years at The Walt Disney Company in Florida in a variety of marketing roles that included Manager of Disney Cruise Line Public Relations, Brand Manager of Walt Disney World theme parks, and Director of External Communications for Disney Parks Worldwide at the company’s headquarters in Burbank, California. Through the years, Jaronski served various chairmen and presidents of Disney businesses, providing public affairs counsel and leading the planning and implementation of key business initiatives, including new product launches and transformative guest experiences. Following Disney, Jaronski oversaw Global Communications for Visit Orlando, the official tourism association for Central Florida.
Most recently, Jaronski has served as CEO of Select Registry Distinguished Inns of North America since 2016. Select Registry has 300 independently run lodging businesses, including 12 in Georgia. He will be transitioning from Select Registry to Explore Georgia in the next 30 to 60 days.
Jaronski’s experience as a destination marketer and travel and tourism industry leader with a deep understanding of how to leverage resources to support the growth and economic impact of tourism, has delivered proven results. Jaronski is also former Chairman of the Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Travel Association’s Communications Committee.
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