COLUMBIA, S.C.—Experience Columbia SC has named Columbia native Rick Lackland vice president of its convention & visitors bureau (CVB), placing the hospitality sales veteran in charge of efforts to attract meetings, conventions, and events to the region.
Lackland will oversee convention sales and work with local governments, hospitality partners, and community stakeholders to bring business that generates economic impact across the Columbia area.
Lackland’s hospitality career spans more than three decades. He began with Hilton Hotels as a sales manager for Hampton Inn before advancing through national and global sales leadership roles. Most recently, he served as director of sales and marketing for DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Columbia.
A University of South Carolina graduate, Lackland says the position offers an opportunity to combine his professional experience with a commitment to his hometown. “I wasn’t looking for a new position, but I was looking at this one,” Lackland says. “I’ve always had a close relationship with Experience Columbia SC, and throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to travel with the team, participate in site visits, and tell Columbia’s story. I realized this was the opportunity to use my experience, my relationships, and my passion for this city to make a difference and help take Columbia to the next level.”
Experience Columbia SC president and CEO Bill Ellen says Lackland’s industry experience and local relationships will support the organization’s convention sales strategy. “The vice president of the CVB plays a critical role in driving visitation and the economic impact that tourism brings to our region,” Ellen says. “Rick’s proven track record in hospitality sales, his longstanding relationships throughout the industry, and his genuine passion for Columbia make him an exceptional leader to help strengthen our position as a premier destination for meetings, conventions, and events.”
Lackland pointed to downtown development, expanded air service at Columbia Metropolitan Airport, the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, and the city’s restaurant offerings as factors supporting growth in the meetings market. “It’s an exciting time for Columbia,” he says. “The transformation of our downtown districts, the expansion of air service at Columbia Metropolitan Airport, our outstanding convention center, and an incredible restaurant scene have created a destination that’s increasingly attractive for meetings and events. Add to that the University of South Carolina, our status as the state capital, and the investment from companies like Scout Motors and Amazon, and Columbia has tremendous momentum.”
Lackland says collaboration among hotels, business organizations, and community partners will remain essential to expanding the destination’s visitor economy. “I’ve spent years building relationships with our hotel partners, chambers of commerce, industry associations, and community organizations across the region,” he says. “Those partnerships are essential to growing Columbia’s visitor economy, and I look forward to bringing people together to create even more opportunities for our destination.”
