PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (November 20, 2007) – The Bay County Tourist Development Council has appointed former Georgia tourism official Daniel J. Rowe as CEO of the Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau. In this capacity, Rowe will also serve as president of the Bay County Tourist Development Council.

“I am extremely excited to join the tourism community in one of America’s top beach destinations,” says Rowe. “The dramatic transformation of Panama City Beach will allow for even more growth in 2008 – from the development of new oceanfront accommodations to a new state-of-the-art international airport. With so many new offerings, the future is exciting for Panama City Beach.”

Rowe brings more than 22 years of experience to his new position. From 2005 to 2007, Rowe served as deputy commissioner for tourism of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. During this time, Rowe made significant contributions to Georgia’s bustling tourist industry, leading a staff of 80 while managing a $12 million operating budget to promote tourism statewide.

Rowe also co-founded and served as managing director of the Tourism Development Alliance of Georgia, a private group that advocated statewide tourism strategies in the business sector and lobbied the state government for legal and tax reforms to aid tourism development.

During his esteemed career, Rowe has served in a number of tourism management, marketing and sales leadership positions in Georgia and Colorado, including as marketing director of the Brasstown Valley, GA, Resort, sales director of the Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center in Peachtree, GA, and marketing and sales director of The Aspen Institute, Aspen Meadows in Aspen, Colo. He received a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University in 1985.

About Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach boasts 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordering the clear, emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay. The Northwest Florida destination was cited as one of America’s Most Beautiful Beaches by Condé Nast Traveler 2006. Additional recognition as a top beach destination comes from The Travel Channel, USA Today, Southern Living, Dr. Beach and the Clean Beaches Council. Family attractions, championship golf courses, sporting events, first-rate dining, predictably sunny weather and a vast number of recreational activities draw visitors to this seaside destination annually. For more information, call 1-800-PCBEACH (850-233-5070) or visit www.thebeachloversbeach.com.