Video replay of Crossroads of the American Revolution’s April 4 Annual Meeting is available on our YouTube channel here.
Crossroads Trustee Patrick Murray reviewed the organization’s achievements over the past year, including our first audio tour, “Ten Crucial Days,” and our plans for additional tours. He also provided updates on our Heritage Partners program and the additional Crossroads-branded signage installed at locations across the state in 2021.
Heritage tourism expert Cheryl Hargrove presented findings and recommendations on New Jersey’s readiness for the 250th anniversary commemoration of the United States in 2026. She also offered steps historic sites can take now to position themselves as attractive destinations for heritage travelers and promote their offerings via low- and no-cost media.
New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism Executive Director Jeff Vasser filled the group in on plans for marketing the state as a destination for 250th travelers.
More about our speakers
Cheryl Hargrove is President of Hargrove International, Inc. With an emphasis on cultural heritage tourism, Cheryl has worked with a diverse collection of clients over the last three decades. Cheryl utilizes her international network and broad industry experience to offer clients added value and access. A native Georgian, Cheryl has consulted on cultural heritage tourism projects in all 50 states and more than 15 countries.
Author of Cultural Heritage Tourism: Five Steps for Success and Sustainability (Rowman & Littlefield, May 2017), Hargrove is frequently asked to speak on trends and best practices in cultural heritage tourism.
The former Associate Director for National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations, Cheryl is perhaps best known as the first Director of Heritage Tourism for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She developed the key steps and principles for sustainable tourism focusing on history and culture and produced the publication Getting Started: How to Succeed in Heritage Tourism and companion video, Preserving the Past … Building the Future. In partnership with the National Trust, she also helped develop content for www.culturalheritagetourism.org.
A Certified Tour Guide, Hargrove has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Georgia and a Masters in Tourism Administration from The George Washington University (GWU). She also holds a Certificate for Tourism & International Cooperation for Development from the UNWTO Themis Foundation and The George Washington University. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Coastal Georgia Historical Society.
Other tourism industry experience includes six years with Explore Georgia, the state tourism office (most recently as the Director of Industry & Partner Relations); director of public relations, and the UK office, for Travel South USA and the 1982 World’s Fair.
Jeffrey Vasser was nominated by Governor Phil Murphy to serve as Executive Director of the NJ Division of Travel & Tourism in May 2018 and was confirmed by the NJ Senate the following September. Jeff brings significant experience to his current role. Before joining the Division, he served as CEO of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association where he was responsible for marketing the hotels, restaurants, and attractions in the region. Prior to that, Jeff served as president of the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority for 11 years, overseeing the daily operations of the public authority responsible for two major convention and event facilities and marketing the destination that anchors the region’s $8 billion tourism industry.
Earlier in his career, Jeff served as a Senior Consultant with the Public Sector/Gaming and Entertainment Group of Deloitte & Touche having done feasibility studies for tourism, arts and culture, and sports-related clients. From there, Jeff was Chief Financial Officer of Cipriani International, a $60 million hotel, retail, and foodservice firm overseeing areas such as finance, human resources, facilities, and IT. Jeff began his career in hotel operations with Four Seasons Hotels.
Jeff is a graduate of Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration with a concentration in hospitality management. He also received his Master of Public Administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and is a graduate of Atlantic City High School. He resides in Linwood with his wife Angie and two sons, Carson and Zachary.
