Chicago City Wire

Choose Chicago, the official destination marketing organization for Chicago, said Tuesday that it has appointed David Whitaker as its new president and CEO.

In his new position, Whitaker will be leading Choose Chicago’s sales and marketing efforts focused on increasing overnight visitation from regional, national and international markets.

Whitaker previously worked as a president and CEO for Tourism Toronto, where he implemented an aggressive and successful strategy to reinvigorate Toronto as an exciting leisure and business travel destination, which included marketing and advertising focused on attracting high-value travelers from major U.S. cities, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, Japan and Brazil. Whitaker also spent 17 years with the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, where he most recently served as executive vice president and chief marketing officer helping shape Miami’s international image..

“We are proud and delighted to announce David Whitaker as the next CEO of Choose Chicago,” Desiree Rogers, Choose Chicago board chair, said. “David is an industry veteran who has successfully increased domestic and international visitation to two major North American cities. ... He is the kind of leader we need to move the needle and exceed Mayor (Rahm) Emanuel’s goal of 55 million visitors by 2020 and propel Chicago’s position as a leading U.S. destination for international travelers.”