ISRAEL TOURISM VETERAN, ELIEZER HOD, APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF ISRAEL GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICE, WESTERN USA

PRESS RELEASE
ISRAEL TOURISM VETERAN, ELIEZER HOD, APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF ISRAEL GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICE, WESTERN USA
New York - September 30, 2009: One of Israel's most seasoned tourism professionals has been appointed Director of the Israel Government Tourist Office (IGTO) in the Western USA, says Arie Sommer, Israel Tourism Commissioner, North America. "I am delighted to welcome Eliezer back to the U.S.," commented Sommer, "and I know he will do a super job in this vital region of the country, not only with the traditional sources of travelers, but particularly in the Hispanic and Christian markets." The appointment to Los Angeles is Eliezer Hod's fourth overseas posting. From 1979 to 1984, he served in Paris as director of the IGTO for France, Spain and Belgium. From 1989 to 1993, he was based in Atlanta as director of the IGTO in the Southern USA, and from 1995 to 1999, he served in London as the director of the IGTO in the UK and Ireland. Born in Spanish Morocco, Eliezer Hod immigrated to Israel at the age of 15. He earned his B.A. degree at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, majoring in world history and the history of Islamic countries. He joined the Ministry of Tourism in 1972. Prior to his most recent appointment, he was based at the headquarters of the Ministry in Jerusalem where in the post of Director of Product Development, Mr. Hod was in charge of the ministry's publications and its involvement in international travel trade exhibitions in Israel and around the world. Married with three children, Eliezer Hod has received multiple awards in Israel and internationally in the field of tourism, and he is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Hebrew. "In 2008, more Americans than ever before visited Israel, and despite the global economic downturn, travel to Israel has been only marginally impacted," says Hod. "I am excited to be charged with increasing even further the number of residents of the western states who come to Israel."For more information, visit www.goisrael.com.
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Media contacts:
Mark Liebermann at WEILL Gail Barzilay at the Israel Ministry of TourismE-mail: mliebermann@geoffreyweill.com E-mail: gailbarzilay@imot.org
Tel: 1-866-PR-WEILL Tel: 212-499-5647Joe Diaz Julie Cooper Israel Ministry of Tourism - Southern Region Israel Ministry of Tourism - Midwest RegionE-mail: joediaz@imot.org E-mail: juliec@imot.orgTel: 404-541-2770 Tel: 312-803-7077Dan ManorIsrael Ministry of Tourism - Western RegionE-mail: danm@imot.orgTel: 323-658-7463
ISRAEL GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICES ◦ NORTH AMERICA New York ◦ Director: Michal Itzik◦ 212-499-5651Atlanta ◦ Director: Joe Diaz ◦ 404-541-2770Chicago ◦ Director: Uri Steinberg ◦ 312-803-7080Los Angeles ◦ Director: Eliezer Hod ◦ 323-658-7463Canada ◦ Director: Oded Grofman ◦ 416-964-3784
Geoffrey Weill AssociatesInformational material is disseminated on behalf of the Israel Ministry of Tourism. Additional information available at the Department of Justice