(ONTARIO, California, October 23, 2024) – His resume only begins to describe Michael Krouse’s nearly 40 -year impact on Southern California’s hospitality industry. As President and CEO of Greater Ontario California (GOCAL) and Regional Vice President, Convention Centers, for ASM Global, Krouse oversees some of region’s most popular venues, is a leading advocate for travel and tourism across the state, and is at the center of the Inland Empire’s emergence as a premier international destination. The IE’s location is ideal to access all that Southern California has to offer within an hour in any direction – mountains, deserts, beaches, major attractions and wine country.
Wednesday afternoon, the Travel and Tourism Marketing Association (TTMA) honored Krouse’s lifetime of achievement with its most prestigious individual recognition, the Anastasia K. Mann Award for selfless and dedicated contributions to promoting travel and tourism in Southern California. Krouse was recognized along with LA Live, TTMA’s Landmark Award winner, during ceremonies at the Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles,
As this year’s Anastasia K. Mann honoree, Krouse joins a who’s who of travel and tourism executives who have received the award, including Javier Cano, Los Angeles Area General Manager for Marriott International; Barb Newton, President and CEO of the California Travel Association; Caroline Beteta, President and CEO of Visit California; Roger Dow, former President and CEO of the US Travel Association; Ernest Wooden Jr. former President and CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board; Brad Burlingame, Past President of Visit West Hollywood and Anastasia K. Mann, the award’s namesake.
“It’s an unbelievable honor to be in the company of industry icons and to be recognized by my peers for work I love doing,” Krouse said. “Travel and tourism play such an important role in enhancing the quality of life of our region, driving business and economic growth and creating job and career opportunities that help families and entire communities reach new levels of prosperity.”
As Regional Vice President for ASM Global, Krouse is responsible for the oversight of 12 convention centers, two convention and visitor bureaus, two arenas, three performance centers, four water parks, one sports complex and the California Welcome Center at Ontario Mills Mall. Krouse serves as President and CEO of GOCAL, Toyota Arena and the Ontario Convention Center, while overseeing the Greater Ontario Tourism Marketing District, which features 68 hotels and 6,749 hotel rooms. The Tourism Marketing Districtgenerates more than $100 million in annual economic impact and is the hub of a growing regional hospitality industry that employs 186,000 workers in the Inland Empire.
Krouse’s tireless advocacy of Greater Ontario and the IE has helped position the fast-growing region as a premier international destination with Ontario International Airport that makes “So Cal, So Easy.”
“We are the new center of Southern California. It’s where people are coming to live. It’s where people are coming to work. And it’s where visitors from all over the world are coming to enjoy themselves,” Krouse said.
Earlier in his career, Krouse spent more than 25 years in a variety of senior hotel sales management positions, where he was charged with overseeing more than 22 hotels and multiple brands simultaneously. Key positions that he held during this time included Interstate Hotels and Resorts Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, and Hilton Hotels Corporation Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the West for more than 13 years.
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