David K. Preece, M.S., C.T.C., brings nearly 30 years of business experience to his faculty role at Brigham Young University-Hawaii. His professional career was divided between two industry sectors: consumer goods marketing, and tourism and travel management. This varied background is leveraged in teaching business management department courses in strategy, marketing, integrated marketing communications, sales, and tourism destination management. David’s classes are engaging, rigorous, and real-world focused, and his student evaluations are consistently strong.
David serves as the founding Academic Director of BYU–Hawaii’s Center for Hospitality & Tourism. Made possible by the generous support of the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, the Center’s purpose is to support the growth goals of the Hospitality & Tourism Management (HTM) major: Academic Enhancement, Program Expansion, Industry Engagement (hospitality.byuh.edu).
David is widely recognized as an innovative marketing and tourism consultant on subjects such as marketing trends, branding, integrated communications, tourism attractions, sustainable destination development, and cultural and eco-tourism.
He is the founder and active principal of two consulting firms: NEXT youth sports which partners with sports-oriented communities to generate economic growth through youth sporting events and programs (nextyouthsports.com); and the Pacific Tourism Institute which consults on sustainable development and training with destinations and attractions (pacifictourisminstitute.com).
His role prior to joining the BYU–Hawaii faculty was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, where he oversaw the strategic direction and operations of this non-profit tourism marketing organization for the Northern Illinois region (gorockford.com).
Prior to joining the RACVB, David was Vice President of Travel Trade Marketing at Classic Vacations in San Jose, California (Expedia, Inc.). He was responsible for brand stewardship, strategic marketing plans, corporate communications and partner marketing programs (classicvacations.com). David was previously the President and CEO of The Travel Institute in Wellesley, Massachusetts, the industry’s educator and grantor of professional certifications, where he directed the Institute’s strategic evolution and rebranding (thetravelinstitute.com).
His professional introduction to tourism was in Hawaii, first as Vice President of Marketing and Sales for top visitor attraction the Polynesian Cultural Center (polynesia.com), and later as Vice President-North America of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (gohawaii.com). David began his business career in consumer brand management and advertising, working at well-known agencies Ogilvy & Mather/New York and Tracy-Locke/Dallas, and at consumer packaged foods companies such as M&M/Mars, Famous Amos, and Gerber. David holds a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications from Northwestern University, and his undergraduate communications degree is from Brigham Young University.
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS, PUBLICATIONS, PAPERS AND PROJECTS
Hospitality and Tourism Marketing Best Practices Professional Development Course, June 2014. Two-day program for industry managers in Nadi in collaboration with Fiji National University.
Training Course on Planning and Management of Ecotourism, November 2013. Presentations on sustainable ecotourism experiences at a five-day seminar in Fiji for global public/private tourism leaders. Organized by Tokyo-based Asian Productivity Organization.
Cultural Tourism: Planning, Product and Promotion, October 2013. Presentation and workshop with the senior leadership delegation from Yunnan Nationalities Village in China. Focus was on innovation and sustainability in cultural tourism experiences.
Digital Inspiration: Five Important Lessons from the LDS Church Social Media Strategy, October 2013. Seminar with global chapter leaders of the BYU Management Society that presented the Church’s effective digital media strategies and how they can be successfully applied.
All-Star Ballpark Heaven/Field of Dreams Youth Sports Venue Marketing Research, April-June 2013. Contracted to design and conduct two critical market surveys among key target groups to confirm this Iowa-based project’s viability, support business strategy, and secure investors.
Contribution of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing to Hawaii’s Economy and Brand Image, March 2011. Collaborated with a BYUH colleague and students to direct the design and implementation of an economic impact study commissioned by the lifestyle brand Vans.
MEMBERSHIPS, RECOGNITIONS AND SERVICE
Chair, BYU–Hawaii Business Management Department (2014-2015)
Certified Teacher of the Case Study Method, Harvard Business School Seminars (2013)
Honolulu Chapter Board Member, BYU Management Society
Faculty Advisor, Ho’okipa Society, the BYU–Hawaii Student Hospitality Association
Certified Travel Counselor (CTC), The Travel Institute professional designation (2002)
Member, American Marketing Association; Destination Marketing Association International; Association of Travel Marketing Executives; The International Ecotourism Society