Kyle Edmiston, CDME

Kyle Edmiston is the President/CEO of the Visit Lake Charles serving in that capacity since 2019.  Previously, he was the Director of the Louisiana Office of Tourism under two different Lt. Governor administrations and was President/CEO of Experience Ruston.

Kyle was awarded the Destinations International Destination Organizational Leadership Award in 2023 and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) Joe D. May Excellence in Public Policy Award.  In 2022, he was named the Marion “Butch” Fox Advocacy Award by Louisiana Travel Association.  In 2017, Kyle was honored as the National State Tourism Director of the Year by his colleagues, and he was named one of the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in the United States for Marketing by Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI).  He was awarded the Southeast Tourism Society Rising Star Award in 2009 and earned his Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) from Destinations International in 2008.

Currently, he serves on the Executive Committee of the Destinations International Board of Directors as Chair-elect and is a member of the U.S. Travel Association Board of Delegates.  He serves the SOWELA Foundation Board of Directors, LA Travel Association Chairmans Circle, LA Tech National Alumni Association board, and is a member of The Phoenix Group. He is a past chair of the Brand USA Board of Directors, the Travel South USA Board of Directors, Louisiana Travel Association Board of Directors, and the Louisiana Association of CVBs.