Central Florida VCB Names Kris Keprios New Tourism Sales and Marketing Manager

The Central Florida Visitors and Convention Bureau (VCB) has selected a new Tourism Sales and Marketing Manager after Fay Downing, who held the position for 19 years, retired at the end of the 2011. Kris Keprios, who has been with organization for nine years, in the position of Communications Specialist, has been selected for the position. Keprios is a graduate of Florida Southern College and started his career as an intern with The Central Florida VCB (known locally as Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing) in 2003. The role of Tourism Sales and Marketing Manager involves developing and overseeing The Central Florida VCB’s strategic marketing plan and all advertising, sales and promotions that are done to promote Central Florida’s Polk County as a tourism destination throughout the U.S. and internationally. In addition to tourism marketing, Keprios will be charged with overseeing tourism sales initiatives that involve consumer travel shows, group travel, meetings and conventions and other tourism sales initiatives. “Throughout his nine years with us, Kris has produced results, demonstrated leadership and has established critical contacts within the tourism industry,” said Central Florida VCB Director, Mark Jackson.

Keprios graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Florida Southern College in 2003 and has lived in Polk County for 30 years. He is also a graduate of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Tourism Marketing College, a three-year educational program for tourism industry professionals and is a member of the Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association, where he served as President in 2008-2009. Keprios was also selected as the Southeast Tourism Society’s “Rising Star” in 2008, an award that recognizes extraordinary performance by one person in the Southeast region who is new to the travel and tourism industry and shows the greatest potential for future leadership in the industry.