City Destinations Alliance elects new Board Members

On April 9, 2025, during the City Destinations Alliance International Conference & General Assembly in Budapest – which brought together an international audience of 250+ leisure and business tourism professionals – the association’s members elected new Board Members, as well as the Treasurer and Vice-Presidents.

During the CityDNA General Assembly, Patrick Bontinck (Brussels) and Sabine Schwanz (Madrid) were re-elected as Vice-Presidents for a term of three years. Patrik Romano (Bologna) was also re-elected as Treasurer, for a three-year mandate as well. Łukasz Wysocki (Gdańsk) was newly elected and Miguel Angel Pérez (Valencia) was re-elected as Board Members, each for a term of three years.

“Joining the CityDNA Board is an incredible opportunity to represent destinations that are often considered ‘second choice’ but are full of unexploited potential. In Gdańsk, we’ve shown that with creativity, purpose, and a great team, you can turn that into a strength. I’m particularly passionate about advocating for accessibility—not only as a principle of inclusion, but as a strategic lever for destinations to become more welcoming and resilient. This is both a professional mission and a personal one for me.” said Łukasz Wysocki, President of the Board, Visit Gdansk.

Barbara Jamison-Woods (London) continues in her role as President, while Michael Otremba (Hamburg) also remains Vice-President.

Maya Janssen (Amsterdam), Gerry Lennon (Belfast), Gary Breen (Dublin), Susanne Höller (Graz), Michaela Podoláková (Košice) and Jurgen Moors (Maastricht) continue their respective mandates as Board Members of the association.

“This new Board perfectly reflects the strength and continuity of our Alliance. We are proud to welcome new perspectives while maintaining the experience and commitment of our long-standing Board Members. This combination of fresh energy and proven leadership ensures we stay focused on what matters most: supporting our members, driving meaningful collaboration, and positioning European destinations as resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking places to live, work, and visit.” said Barbara Jamison-Woods, President of City Destinations Alliance.

Current Executive Committee of City Destinations Alliance:

• Barbara Jamison, President (Head of Europe & Tourism Sector, London & Partners)
• Patrick Bontinck, Vice-President (CEO, visit.brussels)
• Michael Otremba, Vice-President (CEO, Hamburg Tourismus)
• Sabine Schwanz, Vice-President (Director Travel Trade & Connectivity, Madrid Destino)
• Patrik Romano, Treasurer (Managing Director, Bologna Welcome)

Current Board Members of City Destinations Alliance:

• Maya Janssen (Managing Director Insights & Marketing Strategy, amsterdam&partners)
• Gerry Lennon (CEO, Visit Belfast)
• Gary Breen (Head of Visitor Engagement, Fáilte Ireland, Dublin)
• Łukasz Wysocki (President of the Board, Visit Gdansk)
• Susanne Höller (Head of Destination Marketing, Graz Tourismus und Stadtmarketing)
• Michaela Podoláková (CEO, Visit Košice)
• Jurgen Moors (Director, Maastricht Convention Bureau)
• Miguel Angel Pérez (Brand & Markets Director, VISIT VALÈNCIA)

The article City Destinations Alliance elects new Board Members first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.