After a nationwide search conducted by SearchWide Global, an executive recruitment firm for travel and leisure industries, the board of directors of Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism (BWCT) has hired Dylan Deane-Boyle as the organization's new president & CEO. Deane-Boyle will start his new role effective January 17, 2023. He will replace Sandy Ward, who will retire at the end of 2022 and has served as the organization’s CEO since early 2017.
"We chose SearchWide Global because they understood BWCT’s unique leadership requirements and the challenge in replacing Sandy Ward. The countywide search committee could not be happier with the unanimous decision to hire Deane-Boyle. During the lengthy process, he quickly rose to the top of all candidates. We are very excited for the community to meet him!" said BWCT board member and Inn at Lynden General Manager Teri Treat, who co-chaired the search committee along with Dana Weber from Best Western Plus at Bellingham International Airport.
Deane-Boyle holds a BS in Marketing from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an MS in Parks, Tourism, & Recreation from the University of Montana. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Whitefish Convention and Visitors Bureau in Whitefish, Montana and was recently recognized as one of his destination’s top 20 Under 40 young professionals.
Deane-Boyle has served on the Glacier Country Regional Tourism Board, the Montana Tourism Advisory Council Research Committee, the Rail Service Competition Council, the Whitefish Sustainable Tourism Management Plan Committee, and the City of Whitefish Crisis Communications Partnership. He is also the former chair of Glacier Airline Enhancement Retention Outreach.
"I am honored to continue the legacy of leading BWCT, and I look forward to building upon the strong foundation Sandy has set. My family and I are thrilled to become part of the community of Bellingham and Whatcom County and enjoy the wonderful experiences that make this area truly special,” said Deane-Boyle.
Visit Bellingham | Whatcom County is an independent, 501 (c)(6) nonprofit economic development organization whose purpose is to improve the economy by marketing Bellingham and Whatcom County as premier, year-round visitor, sports, outdoor recreation, arts and cultural, and meetings destinations, and which supports all travel, tourism, and hospitality businesses and nonprofits in Whatcom County.
