Visit Loudoun, or the Loudoun Convention and Visitors Association, has named Patrick Kaler president and chief executive officer.

Kaler was previously the senior director of travel industry and tourism development for LA Inc., The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Los Angeles. Kaler will start March 15.

“Patrick brings a wealth of destination management experience to the county, and we are very excited to welcome him as Visit Loudoun’s new leader,” said Carolyn Howell, chairwoman of the board of directors of Visit Loudoun. “We are confident that Patrick’s deep sales and marketing background coupled with his experience in generating international tourism, and his work in both large and small markets, will greatly benefit tourism in Loudoun.”

Kaler has nearly 20 years of travel and tourism experience. He oversaw LA Inc. offices in multiple international markets, including China, Europe, Japan and Latin America, and he managed major international and domestic travel trade sales and marketing initiatives.

Kaler has also served as executive director of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority/Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority/Lake Tahoe Gaming Alliance; Great Lakes of North America; and the Galena/Jo Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau; and has held senior positions with Keeshin Destination Chicago and the Champaign-Urbana Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“I am honored to have been selected to lead tourism efforts in a destination with an abundance of appeal and opportunity,” Kaler said. “I look forward to bringing both new business and leisure travelers to Loudoun to promote economic growth, create jobs, expand the tax-base, and make the county a better place to live and work.”

Kaler replaces Visit Loudoun’s former president and chief executive officer, Cheryl Kilday, who resigned July 7 to take the position of president and chief executive officer of the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau in Spokane, Wash. Rick Webster had served as interim director.