Great Lakes USA (GLUSA) has appointed Cathy Domanico as its new Tourism Director.
Ms Domanico brings more than 30 years of experience in senior leadership roles in sales and marketing within regional, national and global organisations to her new role.
Her appointment comes at an exciting time for Great Lakes USA. Two new flights going into the region have recently been announced, starting May 2025. Delta Air Lines is launching a new flight from Dublin into Detroit four flights a week; and Aer Lingus will launch Europe’s first direct flights to Indianapolis, Indiana.
Her career includes client/creative management in marketing agencies, an adjunct professorship, numerous board appointments, as a marketing leader in global travel and tourism, and in museum experiential marketing.
She most recently served as CEO/Executive Director of the La Grange (Illinois) Business Association. Prior to this, she was the Vice President of Global Trade Development for Brand USA, the tourism and marketing agency for the United States. She was responsible for the management of 22 international offices and developed global strategies to help bring leisure travellers to the United States. She also served for 11 years as the Vice President of Tourism and Leisure Sales for Choose Chicago, the official tourism and marketing agency for the City of Chicago.
“Cathy’s deep experience with international marketing as well as business development, marketing and managing tourism programs will help promote our region as a tourism destination,” said David Naftzger, Executive Director of the Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers.
The Great Lakes USA is the largest expanse of freshwater in the world with a unique and diverse landscape. This region, which is the size of continental Europe, includes the U.S. states of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.