TourismOhio has new director

SANDUSKY — The state agency charged with boosting tourism in Ohio has a new boss.Matthew MacLaren will take over as the director of TourismOhio in January. He replaces Mary Cusick, who left in August.MacLaren recently served as senior vice president of member relations for the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Before that, he was president and CEO of the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association.A TourismOhio spokeswoman said MacLaren isn't doing interviews yet, as he hasn't started the job.But Larry Fletcher, executive director of Lake Erie Shores and Islands, said MacLaren is a good pick for the job.Fletcher, whose agency promotes tourism in both Erie and Ottawa counties, said he knows MacLaren well from when MacLaren ran the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association."I think he's an excellent choice," Fletcher said. "He knows the state quite well. He knows the tourism industry quite well. He knows our area of the state quite well."Fletcher knows the politics associated with the position and knows state lawmakers who deal with tourism, Fletcher said. He also obviously knows a lot about the lodging industry, he said."He really understands our industry," Fletcher said.TourismOhio indicated MacLaren will work with the TourismOhio Advisory Board to promote Ohio's new slogan for tourism, "Ohio. Find It Here."The agency also indicated MacLaren is an Ohio native and a graduate of The Ohio State University, where he studied political science and business, and the Capital University Law School.Reach reporter Tom Jackson at jackson@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @jacksontom.Matt MacLaren