Learn Tourism Appoints Industry Luminaries To Advisory Panel Boosting Global Connections, Professional Development And Tourism Innovation

Published on August 20, 2025

Learn Tourism, a forward-thinking nonprofit that boosts nan recreation manufacture done hands-on acquisition and workforce training, has conscionable announced 2 caller powerhouse names connected its Advisory Panel. Joining nan squad are Julie Coker, President and CEO of New York City Tourism + Conventions, and Dr. Renée Minnaar, laminitis of nan consulting patient Consult Renée. Their expertise strengthens Learn Tourism’s extremity of sparking caller ideas, sharing heavy knowledge, and encouraging eco-friendly maturation successful destinations everywhere. Their corporate insights will guideline nan nonprofit’s programs arsenic they style nan adjacent procreation of recreation professionals and leaders.

Julie Coker Brings Unmatched Destination Leadership Experience
Hailing from Wilmington, Delaware, Julie Coker has earned nickname arsenic an influential and innovative unit shaping nan world tourism industry. She was unanimously appointed President & CEO of New York City Tourism + Conventions connected October 22, 2024, officially assuming her domiciled connected December 9, 2024. Coker brings to nan position a wealthiness of acquisition gained from her tenure arsenic President & CEO of nan San Diego Tourism Authority, wherever she orchestrated a singular post-pandemic recovery. Under her guidance, San Diego saw record-breaking visitant spending, accrued edifice occupancy rates, and a revitalization of group business activity.

Before starring San Diego Tourism Authority, Coker held nan position of President & CEO astatine nan Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau. There, she successfully managed high-profile events, including nan 2016 Democratic National Convention and nan 2017 NFL Draft, demonstrating her expertise to coordinate large-scale operations and heighten destination visibility connected a world stage. Beyond her executive roles, Coker actively contributes to nan broader recreation and tourism ecosystem done information successful nan U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, nan U.S. Travel Association, Visit California, and respective different salient organizations shaping nan tourism industry. Her extended acquisition and strategical imagination make her an invaluable summation to Learn Tourism’s Advisory Panel.

Dr. Renée Minnaar Combines Academic Rigor pinch Practical Industry Insight
Dr. Renée Minnaar, PhD, brings an unparalleled operation of world excellence and applied tourism expertise to nan panel. Founder and Principal Consultant of Consult Renée since 2017, she has spent complete 2 decades shaping tourism and hospitality initiatives pinch a attraction connected research-driven solutions. Her expertise spans workforce development, destination management, and skills forecasting, providing captious insights into really destinations tin germinate sustainably while maximizing economical impact.

Holding a PhD successful Tourism Management and possessing specialized knowledge successful econometrics, Dr. Minnaar has worked extensively pinch governments, tourism boards, and backstage assemblage leaders crossed Africa and world markets. Her consulting, training, and world contributions bespeak a committedness to building robust tourism ecosystems that beforehand some maturation and organization well-being. With her analytical attack and heavy knowing of policy, research, and practice, Dr. Minnaar offers a position that bridges mentation pinch actionable solutions.

Expanding Learn Tourism’s Global Impact
The Learn Tourism Advisory Panel serves arsenic a cornerstone of nan organization’s mission, providing strategical guidance, penetration into manufacture trends, and support successful processing programs that meet nan move needs of tourism professionals worldwide. By welcoming Julie Coker and Dr. Renée Minnaar, Learn Tourism strengthens its capacity to foster connections betwixt destinations, recreation professionals, and section communities. Their mixed expertise ensures that nan academy remains astatine nan forefront of innovation, equipping participants pinch nan knowledge and skills required to navigate a quickly evolving tourism landscape.

The caller summation of Coker and Minnaar to nan Learn Tourism squad underscores nan academy’s dedication to acquisition that powers individual profession journeys while besides fostering sustainable and inclusive maturation crossed nan worldwide tourism industry. With their acquisition heading nan Advisory Panel, nan brace will steer nan improvement of programs that are not only current, but besides expect nan industry’s evolving needs and tackle nan analyzable challenges tourism faces today.

As Learn Tourism broadens its reach, welcoming these salient experts marks nan commencement of a promising caller chapter, further establishing nan academy arsenic a cardinal hub for cutting-edge knowledge, master growth, and life-changing learning successful nan recreation and hospitality field.