Patrick Kaler has more than 30 years’ experience in the travel and tourism industry, and currently serves as President and CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara, the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center and the Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission. A native of Rantoul, Illinois, Kaler holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration from Western Illinois University, and a Master’s of Science in Tourism from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
He began his tourism career with Hilton Hotels before returning to Central Illinois as Director of Sales and Marketing at the Champaign-Urbana Convention & Visitors Bureau. Kaler also served as Executive Director of the Galena-Jo Daviess County Convention and Visitors Bureau, General Manager of Keeshin Destination Chicago and Executive Director of the Great Lakes of North America. Kaler has also held President and CEO and senior executive leadership positions with Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board and Visit Loudoun.
In 2014, Kaler was elected to the U. S. Travel Association Board of Directors, and serves on the board of directors of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Western New York Youth Sports Advisory Council, Explore Buffalo, Buffalo Civic Auto Ramps, Buffalo State Hospitality and Tourism Advisory Board, and serves on the board and executive committee of the Frank Lloyd Wright Martin House, and New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association.