March 7, 2012 - BOSTON, MA:  The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) is pleased to announce it has elected David R. Giblin, a 30-year Marriott veteran, as the 2012 Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Giblin has served on the GBCVB Board since 2006. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) and the Mass Lodging Association (MLA), and is a Trustee of Marlborough Hospital / UMass Memorial.

For the past 12 years, Mr. Giblin has served as a Greater Boston Marriott General Manager, at the Boston Marriott Copley Place since 2005, and previously at the Boston Marriott Quincy and the Boston Marriott Newton hotels. Prior Marriott executive leadership roles have taken Mr. Giblin from Bermuda, to New York, to Chicago, and throughout the Midwest.

"This city is truly a world-class destination, and I'm so proud of the success we've had, year after year, continuing to draw new visitors and convention delegates from around the globe. I look forward to working with the GBCVB Board, the staff, and the Boston and Cambridge visitor industry to make Boston and the region the most vibrant, enticing, and competitive destination ever," Giblin said.

Mr. Giblin traveled to Tokyo recently during a GBCVB and MCCA sales mission to promote the new Japan Airlines nonstop Tokyo-Boston service, beginning April 22, 2012. The GBCVB estimates a continued surge in overseas visitors, and the strongest year for convention business since 2007, with more than 21 million visitors traveling to Boston and Cambridge this year, 2% more than in 2011.

A native of Marblehead, Mr. Giblin holds a bachelor's degree from Trinity College and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. Mr. Giblin and his wife, Sharon, reside in Westborough with their three children.