The U.S. Travel Association selected MGM Resorts International CEO Bill Hornbuckle as national chair of the association’s board of directors, the organization announced Wednesday.
Hornbuckle, appointed to a two-year term in the role through a membership vote, succeeds Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta, whose term has ended.
In his role as national chair, Hornbuckle will work with association leaders to “achieve the association’s mission of increasing travel to and within the United States,” according to a Wednesday release.
Americans are already expected to make leisure travel a priority this year, according to Deloitte’s 2025 travel industry outlook published this month. And group travel is also slated to increase this year, driven by flourishing sports tourism, hospitality pros shared with Hotel Dive earlier this year.
As national chair, Hornbuckle will specifically focus on “maximizing a mega-decade of events,” including the 2025 Ryder Cup in Farmingdale, New York; the 2026 World Cup in multiple host cities; and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
Hornbuckle will lead a 30-member executive board representing all segments of the travel industry, per the association. The board comprises CEOs of state tourism bureaus for California, North Carolina and South Dakota, as well as those for cities including Orlando, Florida; Austin, Texas; New York City; Minneapolis; and Phoenix. Executives from Caesars Entertainment, Marriott International and Hyatt Hotels also sit on the board.
